The Phoenix index., 1941-08-09
RATING THE RECORDS
By FRANK MARSHALL DAVIS

week, starting off with another al
bum allied Gems of Jazz, Volume
g." This follows two previously re-
leased anthologies containing plat
ters originally WaXed for European
consumption but just made avalla-
BILE for the first time at home. Still
more Gems" will follow later.
Horace Fletcher Henderson, Spike
Hughes and Joe Venuit lead the
units heard here. The biscuits were
cut, incidentally, between 1882 anu
1884 and. like the previous albums,
feature some of the biggest colored
and white names in swing.
The Horace and Fletcher Hender-
son bands are the same Personnel
at the time Included Russell Smith,
Bobby Stark. Red Allen, trumpets:
Dickie Wells, Claude Jones, from
bones; Hilton jefferson, Russell
Procope. altos; Coleman Hawkins,
tenor; Horace, piano: Bernard Ad-
olson, guitar; Walter Johnson,
drums. and John Kirby. bass. Their
sides are QUEER NOTIONS. MIN
ME THE MOOCHER'S WEDDING
DAY. I'M RHYTHM CRAZY NOW,
HAPPY FEET and OIL MAN
RIVER.
This stuff has to be good, with 6
lineup like that and the Henderson
arranging genius to boot. Hawkins
was at his best on these, with AL
len and Wells not far behind.
ScreWiest number of the lot is
"Queer NCtions.' Hawkins orig
lnal and this is supposedly the first
hot version of "Cl' Man River" with
Red warbling the burning vocal.
The other sepia contribution is q
piano solo by Ford Lee WASHINGTON,
better known as Buck" of Buck
and Bubbles. He improvised on
OLD FASHIONED LOVE and
proves both disciple of Hines as
well as original This is reuutedly
the only important appearance on
wax of the noted entertainer.
The remaining four sides in this
alhum Of six records feature white
stars: Joe Venuit, violin; Benny
Goodman. clarinet: Bud Freeman
tenor sax; Adrian Rollini, bass sax;
Joe Sullivan. piano; Dick McDon-
ough. guitar. and Neil Marshall,
0rumS. Their tunes are SWEET
LORRAINE and DON'T THE UP
TOWN LOWDOWN: JAZZ ME
BLUE and IN DE RUFF. the latter
a direct steal from Sugar Foot
stomp"
For anybody who likes pure un-
adl'itorated jazz, this album is rec
commended. Those who have the
first two volumes of Gems" can't
a'1ord to ignore this new anthology.
Louis Jordan, the man with a
terrific little band. this week offers
us best platter since do You Cali
mat A Buddy" Title is BROTH
EhLY YLOVE. a sharp and mellow
SLOW blues with good lyrics. Those
deep piano chords behind the vocal
are in the groove. Other side is
SANA-WOOGIE in which Louis
Jumps boogie woogie with the also !
Blng Crosby, backed by Brother
Bob's Bob Cats and the Merry
Macs, gives good treatment to that |
beautiful Indian tune, PALE
MOON. Companion Piece is WHO |
CALLS, a nostalgia western song
Jimmy LuncefCro departs from |
Jump and jive to produce PEACE
AND LOVE FOR ALL, subtitled,
a PRAYER for moderns" with Dan
Grlssom singing the telling lyrics.
Ihls is q serious Sonp about the |
war, How and dramatic. On the |
fIlpover, BLUE PRELUDE, the boys
get i'll the groove with piano and |
alto stealing the show. Tempo |
however, is faster than 1 like for
this piece. Woody Herman GETS hot
this week with NIGHT WATCH
Man and HEY DOC, two barrel
hollse Swingaroos that bounce from
the first note. That nasty flugel
horn gets a workout on the first
and second has jive lyrics.