Popularly known as the husband of
Betty Grable and virtuosic leader of a sweet band that was sometimes garnished with a string section,
Harry James was also an exceptionally fine jazz trumpeter who made great records as an inspired sideman with
Ben Pollack,
Miff Mole, the Rhythm Wreckers,
Teddy Wilson,
Billie Holiday,
Lionel Hampton, and
Benny Goodman. As for his own authentically swinging big band, Hep Records presents Harry James & His Music Makers as documented on a series of historical airchecks. This excellent album provides some of the best big-band jazz by
Harry James that you will ever find anywhere. These archival rarities were drawn from three different installments of The Chesterfield Show broadcast over CBS from Los Angeles in late 1943 and early 1944; three shows presented at the Meadowbrook Gardens in Culver City and aired over the KHJ Mutual-Don Lee Network between December 1, 1945, and February 22, 1946; a Coca-Cola-sponsored broadcast emanating from Los Angeles during August of 1946; and an exciting live remote from the Marine Ballroom on the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, NJ, on June 7, 1950. During this time period,
James had two master jazz musicians in the band:
Duke Ellington's composer, arranger, and valve trombonist
Juan Tizol, featured on his own amazing "Keb-Lah"; and
Jimmie Lunceford's alto saxophonist
Willie Smith, featured as a soloist on "I Don't Know Why" and as a singer on "Coffee Time." Pop vocals are supplied by
Ginnie Powell,
Marion Morgan, and Buddy Moreno. The musicianship on this album is stunning. Baritone saxophonist
Bob Poland is spotlighted on "Slap Happy,"
Duke Ellington's feature for
Harry Carney, and tenor saxophonist
Corky Corcoran handles "It's the Talk of the Town" with just the right amount of backing from ten string players and big-band continuo. There is an unusually high number of excellently arranged instrumentals on this compilation. "In a Mist," composed by
Bix Beiderbecke, was arranged by
Neal Hefti. "Carnival," composed by
Harry Warren, was arranged by
Billy May. "Friar Rock" and "Eight Bar Riff" were composed by
James, who co-wrote "The Beaumont Ride" with
Ray Conniff, who devised the arrangement. Johnny Thompson, who appears to have been lightly obsessed with condiments and comestibles, wrote "The Gravy Train" and "Jump Sauce." And the profoundly groovy "9:20 Special" was composed by
Buster Harding and
Count Basie's alto man
Earle Warren. There's a lot of solid jazz in this packet, interspersed with square little announcements by well-intentioned radio MCs. Among various and sundry
Harry James aircheck compilations, this one certainly rates near the top of the heap. ~ arwulf arwulf