Swing Time's
Rarest Recordings of Irving Fazola traces this New Orleans clarinetist's recording activity from 1936 to 1945. The selection is similar but not identical to that of ASV/Living Era's Faz. Both compilations touch upon
Fazola's work with
Ben Pollack,
Glenn Miller,
Jess Stacy,
the Rhythm Wreckers, and the
Seger Ellis Choirs of Brass Orchestra. Swing Time includes no
Muggsy Spanier or
Bob Crosby sides, opting instead for rarer recordings by the
Leon Prima and
Claude Thornhill bands. Oddly enough, neither this set,
ASV's nor the U.K. Jazz Band label's
Mostly Faz include examples of his work with
Harry James or
Billie Holiday. Yet each of these
Fazola collections will work well as an introduction to his brief but fruitful career as one of the great archetypal swing and Dixieland clarinetists.