VA - Columbia Small Group Swing Sessions 1953-62 (2005)

A Real Golden Age of Jazz
Mention of a so-called “golden age” is nothing new in the arts. As a creed it says, in brief, that at some time in the remembered recent past things seemed good, even better in every way than they are now. It satisfies the longing that seems to live in every breast, for a simpler time when basic rules were clear and everybody worked comfortably within them. Imagine, a Wednesday afternoon call at the 802 union floor, with Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster or Illinois Jacquet among the available tenor players. No stars, these, at least not to bandleaders. Just guys available to do gigs, needing the money — some things, naturally, never change — and happy for the work. Now all three are gone. But that was New York in the late ’50s, in every important respect a golden age, when just about everyone was available, and could be hired with a phone call. Performers were at their best, audiences numerous and avid, for what they did, with money to be earned. Opportunities to record, additionally, came up frequently, with producers who invariably understood their music and allowed them lots of leeway, muscle room, for stretching

Disc 1 (57:42)
1. Ruby Braff's All-Stars – As Long As I Live (03:05)
2. Ruby Braff's All-Stars – Blue, Turning Grey Over You (02:53)
3. Ruby Braff's All-Stars – If I Had You (03:05)
4. Ruby Braff's All-Stars – It's Been So Long (03:10)
5. Ruby Braff's All-Stars – I'm Shooting High (01:55)
6. Ruby Braff's All-Stars – Star Dust (03:06)
7. Ruby Braff's All-Stars – How Long Has This Been Going On? (03:29)
8. Ruby Braff's All-Stars – Here's Freddie (04:46)
9. Ruby Braff's All-Stars – You're Lucky To Me (Alt. Take) (03:07)
10. Ruby Braff's All-Stars – You're Lucky To Me (03:08)
11. Ruby Braff's All-Stars – Just One More Chance (03:37)
12. Ruby Braff's All-Stars – 'S Wonderful (Alt. Take) (02:51)
13. Ruby Braff's All-Stars – 'S Wonderful (02:51)
14. Ruby Braff's All-Stars – Indian Summer (04:02)
15. Ruby Braff's All-Stars – Moon Glow (Alt. Take) (03:19)
16. Ruby Braff's All-Stars – Moon Glow (03:20)
17. Ruby Braff's All-Stars – When My Dreamboat Comes Home (03:23)
18. Ruby Braff's All-Stars – Too Marvelous For Words (02:35)

Disc 2 (01:07:09)
1. Ruby Braff – No One Else But You (05:42)
2. Ruby Braff – How Can You Face Me? (Take 1) (05:17)
3. Ruby Braff – How Can You Face Me? (Take 2) (05:19)
4. Ruby Braff – I Thought I Heard Buddy Bolden Say (Take 2) (09:07)
5. Ruby Braff – I Thought I Heard Buddy Bolden Say (Take 3) (09:08)
6. Ruby Braff – Keep Young And Beautiful (Take 4) (05:59)
7. Ruby Braff – Keep Young And Beautiful (Take 5) (06:02)
8. Ruby Braff – Oh, Lady Be Good (06:51)
9. Ruby Braff – Falling In Love With You (Take 1) (06:16)
10. Ruby Braff – Falling In Love With You (Take 2) (07:28)

Disc 3 (01:09:15)
1. Buck Clayton & Marlowe Morris Trio – I Want A Little Girl (02:25)
2. Buck Clayton & Marlowe Morris Trio – Blue Moon (02:27)
3. Buck Clayton & Marlowe Morris Trio – Basic Organ Blues (05:48)
4. Buck Clayton & Marlowe Morris Trio – Hammond Stomp (02:35)
5. Buck Clayton & Marlowe Morris Trio – 'S Wonderful (06:08)
6. Buck Clayton – Jive At Five (09:17)
7. Buck Clayton With His All-Stars – Cookin' Joe (07:06)
8. Buck Clayton With His All-Stars – Lovedrop (04:40)
9. Buck Clayton With His All-Stars – Wooster-Shire (06:51)
10. Buck Clayton With His All-Stars – Thou Swell (04:08)
11. Buck Clayton With His All-Stars – I Hadn't Anyone Till You (03:01)
12. Buck Clayton With His All-Stars – At Sundown (04:44)
13. Buck Clayton With His All-Stars – Makin' Whoopee (04:37)
14. Buck Clayton With His All-Stars – You Can't Fight The Satellite Blues (05:28)

Disc 4 (01:17:26)
1. Buck Clayton And His Orchestra, Jimmy Rushing & Ada Moore – Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home (#1) (00:43)
2. Buck Clayton And His Orchestra, Jimmy Rushing & Ada Moore – Pretty Little Baby (01:30)
3. Buck Clayton And His Orchestra, Jimmy Rushing & Ada Moore – I've Got A Feeling I'm Falling (02:28)
4. Buck Clayton And His Orchestra, Jimmy Rushing & Ada Moore – If I Could Be With You (02:44)
5. Buck Clayton And His Orchestra, Jimmy Rushing & Ada Moore – Ain't She Sweet (02:40)
6. Buck Clayton And His Orchestra, Jimmy Rushing & Ada Moore – Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home (#2) (02:18)
7. Buck Clayton And His Orchestra, Jimmy Rushing & Ada Moore – You're My Thrill (03:33)
8. Buck Clayton And His Orchestra, Jimmy Rushing & Ada Moore – Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea (02:42)
9. Buck Clayton And His Orchestra, Jimmy Rushing & Ada Moore – Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good To You (02:38)
10. Buck Clayton And His Orchestra, Jimmy Rushing & Ada Moore – Cool Breeze Woman (02:28)
11. Buck Clayton, Jimmy Rushing & Ada Moore – I Can't Give You Anything But Love (02:03)
12. Buck Clayton, Jimmy Rushing & Ada Moore – The Blues (01:20)
13. Buck Clayton, Jimmy Rushing & Ada Moore – Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home (#3) (00:57)
14. Buck Clayton, Jimmy Rushing & Ada Moore – After You've Gone (03:20)
15. Buck Clayton, Jimmy Rushing & Ada Moore – Conclusion (00:25)
16. Buck Clayton – Sunday (05:15)
17. Buck Clayton – Swingin' Along On Broadway (06:44)
18. Buck Clayton – Night Train (07:06)
19. Buck Clayton – Buckini (05:22)
20. Buck Clayton – Moon Glow (06:52)
21. Buck Clayton – Swingin' At The Copper Rail (03:24)
22. Buck Clayton – Mean To Me (06:12)
23. Buck Clayton – Outer Drive (04:42)

Disc 5 (01:14:41)
1. Marlowe Morris – On The Trail (04:45)
2. Marlowe Morris – Play The Thing (03:09)
3. Marlowe Morris – Sympathetic Blues (02:37)
4. Marlowe Morris – Up, Down And Around (02:48)
5. Marlowe Morris – I Loves You, Porgy (04:26)
6. Marlowe Morris – Stompy Jones (Alt. Version) (03:29)
7. Marlowe Morris – No No No (04:08)
8. Marlowe Morris – Moonlight In Vermont (02:50)
9. Marlowe Morris – Stompy Jones (04:09)
10. Marlowe Morris – Marlowe's Blues (04:15)
11. Marlowe Morris – Jitterbug Waltz (03:20)
12. Illinois Jacquet And His Orchestra – Satin Doll (04:04)
13. Illinois Jacquet And His Orchestra – Pucker Up (03:07)
14. Illinois Jacquet And His Orchestra – Ydeen-O (02:19)
15. Illinois Jacquet And His Orchestra – Banned In Boston (02:36)
16. Illinois Jacquet And His Orchestra – Indiana (05:44)
17. Illinois Jacquet And His Orchestra – Reverie (04:17)
18. Illinois Jacquet And His Orchestra – How Now? (03:07)
19. Illinois Jacquet And His Orchestra – Frantic Fanny (02:19)
20. Illinois Jacquet And His Orchestra – Stella By Starlight (02:51)
21. Illinois Jacquet And His Orchestra – Imagination (04:21)

Disc 6 (01:17:55)
1. Kenny Burrell & Illinois Jacquet – Mambo Twist (Alt. Take) (03:47)
2. Kenny Burrell & Illinois Jacquet – Mambo Twist (03:05)
3. Kenny Burrell & Illinois Jacquet – The Switch (Alt. Take) (05:04)
4. Kenny Burrell & Illinois Jacquet – The Switch (05:05)
5. Kenny Burrell & Illinois Jacquet – Funk Junction (03:06)
6. Kenny Burrell & Illinois Jacquet – Mood Indigo (04:40)
7. Kenny Burrell & Illinois Jacquet – The Squeeze (04:17)
8. Kenny Burrell & Illinois Jacquet – How Could You (03:53)
9. Coleman Hawkins & Clark Terry – Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me) (06:03)
10. Coleman Hawkins & Clark Terry – Squeeze Me (04:58)
11. Coleman Hawkins & Clark Terry – A Tune For The Tutor (06:24)
12. Coleman Hawkins & Clark Terry – Michelle (03:27)
13. Coleman Hawkins & Clark Terry – Don't Worry 'Bout Me (03:14)
14. Coleman Hawkins & Clark Terry – Feedin' The Bean (06:16)
15. Coleman Hawkins & Clark Terry – Ain't Misbehavin' (08:07)
16. Coleman Hawkins & Clark Terry – Tommy's Blues (06:29)

Disc 7 (01:11:36)
1. Herb Ellis And The All-Stars – Harper's Ferry (05:06)
2. Herb Ellis And The All-Stars – It Makes No Difference Now (03:57)
3. Herb Ellis And The All-Stars – Herb's Here (04:55)
4. Herb Ellis And The All-Stars – Poor Darlin' Nellie (03:39)
5. Herb Ellis And The All-Stars – I Won't Love You (08:12)
6. Herb Ellis And The All-Stars – Willow Weep For Me (03:54)
7. Herb Ellis And The All-Stars – You'd Better Know It (04:49)
8. Herb Ellis And The All-Stars – Symphony (03:19)
9. Herb Ellis And The All-Stars – Things Ain't What They Used To Be (03:56)
10. Herb Ellis And The All-Stars – Too Bad (03:41)
11. Herb Ellis And The All-Stars – Old Folks (03:33)
12. Herb Ellis And The All-Stars – Roy Showed (04:44)
13. Herb Ellis And The All-Stars – Gravy Waltz (03:05)
14. Herb Ellis And The All-Stars – Broadway (04:16)
15. Herb Ellis And The All-Stars – It Don't Mean A Thing (05:54)
16. Herb Ellis And The All-Stars – Alicia (04:36)

Disc 8 (01:02:22)
1. Ben Webster & Harry Edison – Did You Call Her Today? (08:53)
2. Ben Webster & Harry Edison – Did You Call Her Today? (Alt. Take) (08:50)
3. Ben Webster & Harry Edison – Kitty (Alt. Take) (08:00)
4. Ben Webster & Harry Edison – Kitty (07:58)
5. Ben Webster & Harry Edison – Embraceable You (04:06)
6. Ben Webster & Harry Edison – How Long Has This Been Going On? (Alt. Take) (03:51)
7. Ben Webster & Harry Edison – How Long Has This Been Going On? (05:27)
8. Ben Webster & Harry Edison – Better Go (09:12)
9. Ben Webster & Harry Edison – My Romance (06:05)