#chuberry

First-ever LP issue of these great 78rpm recordings on the Commdore label – Chu Berry on tenor with Roy Eldridge and Hot Lips Page on trumpet, depending on the tracks – and two more with Lucky Thompson on tenor in Page’s group! (Dusty Groove).

Rесоrdеd with Cab Calloway аnd His Orсhеѕtrа іn New Yоrk Cіtу, Auguѕt 24, 1937.

1. 00:00:00 Lester Young – She’s Funny That Way 2. 00:03:22 Coleman Hawkins – It’s The Talk Of The Town 3. 00:06:29 Charlie Parker – My Old Flame 4. 00:09:46 Johnny Hodges – Night Wind 5. 00:12:57 Lester Young – I’m Confessin’ (That I Love You) 6. 00:15:29 Chu Berry – On The Sunny Side Of The Street 7. 00:19:35 Flip Phillips – Sweet And Lovely 8. 00:24:37 Coleman Hawkins –  Someone To Watch Over Me 9. 00:27:28 Willie Smith – The Way You Look Tonight 10. 00:30:37 Lester Young – Something To Remember You By 11. 00:33:22 Ben Webster – I Got It Bad 12. 00:36:19 Charlie Parker – Don’t Blame Me 13. 00:39:10 Chu Berry – A Ghost Of A Chance 14. 00:42:10 Lester Young – East Of The Sun 15. 00:45:21 Benny Carter – Stairway To The Stars 16. 00:48:32 Coleman Hawkins – What Is There To Say? 17. 00:51:54 Babe Russin – Like Somone In Love 18. 00:54:57 Lester Young – Polka Dots And Moonbeams 19. 00:58:41 Charlie Parker – The Gypsy 20. 01:01:46 Coleman Hawkins – Sophisticated Lady 21. 01:04:57 Sidney Bechet – When It’s Sleep Time Down South 22. 01:07:54 Buddy Tate – Blue And Sentimental 23. 01:11:00 Lester Young – These Foolish Things 24. 01:14:12 Coleman Hawkins – I’m Through With Love

This import covers Chu Berry’s initial foray into solo territory. Cut between 1936-1939, the 24 cuts find the tenor saxophone luminary in the stellar company of trumpeters Roy Eldridge and Hot Lips Page, the irrepressible trombonist Keg Johnson, pianist Jess Stacey, and drummer Cozy Cole. Lionel Hampton and Benny Goodman also contribute to the party, but in cameo roles. Of particular note are the sides Berry recorded with Eldridge from 1938: it’s a set that ranges from rambunctious swingers (“Forty Six, West Fifty Two”) to glowing ballads (“Stardust”), all the while showing off Berry’s full tone and agile phrasing on a variety of tempi. The mix continues apace with blues, proto-bop workouts, and some nice vocals featuring Page in a gruff and whiskey-soaked mood. Along with Commodore’s Memorial disc, this collection makes for a welcome addition to the sparse Chu Berry catalog (Stephen Cook/AllMusic).

One has to invest in a few discs to track down most of Chu Berry’s recordings as a leader. And while some of his best sides are available from Commodore, there are still many cuts from throughout his career that have been hard to come by. Now, Classics has collected a good chunk of the tenor luminary’s solo sides on this welcome collection – in lieu of a badly needed and thorough retrospective that should include both solo material and tracks from Berry’s numerous dates with Cab Calloway, Fletcher Henderson, Lionel Hampton, Billie Holiday, Dizzy Gillespie, and scores of other bandleaders and vocalists, this remains the best roundup available. Bookended by a 1937 session with his Stompy Stevedores and four 1941 sides featuring Charlie Ventura (including two alternate takes), this disc’s main attraction has to be the eight numbers from Berry’s respective 1938 and 1941 sessions with Roy Eldridge and Hot Lips Page. A solid collection that’s perfect for newcomers. Now all we need is for the Smithsonian’s music arm to resurrect its invaluable, multi-label reissue series, so Berry can finally get his due (Stephen Cook/AllMusic).