Complete Norman Granz Jam Sessions
When people think of classic jam sessions, they usually think of full-tilt bopping and wailing, of cutting contests, of jazz-style chorus lines. And with the extroverted likes ofIllinois Jacquet,Dizzy Gillespie, andLionel Hamptonkicking up their heels, there certainly was no lack of excitement. But, as revealed by this five-disc set of the 10 Norman Granz-produced "Jam Session" recordings from the early to mid 1950s, the faded format may have attained its greatest art--and showed the most heart--in the ballad playing. Exhibit A from this collection: a medley of standards recorded in 1952 on which a succession of superstars including the extraordinary one-two-three punch ofCharlie Parker,Ben Webster, andJohnny Hodgespack worlds of pungent emotion into their abbreviated segments.Unlike the Granz-supervised jams heard on a previous box set,The Complete Jazz at the Philharmonic on Verve: 1944-49, which were captured in concert, these were recorded in and conceived for the studio. As a result, they feature a bit less grandstanding and a bit more attention to detail. A close-knit group of greats--includingBenny Carter,Oscar Peterson,Stan Getz,Roy Eldridge,Flip Phillips,Buddy DeFranco, andBuddy Rich--shows off a mastery of pacing and continuity, as well as tone and rhythm, in making 20-plus-minute tunes ebb and flow, build and resolve. Clocking in at 27:36, "Funky Blues" offers a priceless opportunity to hear Eldridge side by side with Gillespie, the man to whom he passed down the lessons ofLouis Armstrong. One small caveat: you'll wish the tracks were indexed, especially during your navigation of the ballad medleys.--Lloyd Sachs