The first of two volumes by trumpeter
Jabbo Smith in 1929 and 1930 features the trumpeter leading his own groups as well as appearing as a sideman. The sound is amazing on this vintage material, with
Smith's powerful trumpet in the forefront, along with tight ensembles made up of various supporting musicians, including
Omer Simeon,
Charlie Irvis,
Benny Waters (near the beginning of his very long career), and
Edgar Sampson, to name a few. While
Smith never came close to achieving the success of
Louis Armstrong and his erratic behavior contributed to the decline of his career, this music is an excellent collection of classic jazz. Even though
Smith disavowed being a part of sessions led by either
Alex Hill or
Lloyd Smith, several of these selections are included since they were previously thought to feature him and previously reissued with his actual work.
Chris Albertson's informative liner notes are an added bonus.