Search - Bobby Hackett :: Jazz Ultimate/Coast Concert

The all-time best Bobby Hackett album?

Nick DeCarlis | Gainesville, FL USA | 03/15/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This double CD consists of two very similar albums released by Capitol in 1955 and 1957. The first was Coast Concert, with Bobby Hackett playing a cornet. The latter album featured Hackett on trumpet, a fact well-documented by photographs taken during the session. Joining him on some of the first album and all of the second was trombonist Jack Teagarden. If there was ever a better match of tone, technique and lyricism, I haven't heard it. Many Hackett fanatics consider Jazz Ultimate to be the very best single album Bobby ever made, and it's hard to argue with. Most would describe it as "Dixieland" but Bobby preferred to call it "Chicago Style." Call it what you will, but this is tasty music played in a timeless, no-gimmicks style. These albums represent the first CD re-releases of Hackett's Capital jazz library (excepting some high-priced collector's editions), and you should buy this double CD while you can."

JAZZ ULTIMATE, For Real

Michael D. Robbins | San Antonio, Texas United States | 06/01/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD reissues two great Chicago-style dixieland albums from the mid-1950s. JAZZ ULTIMATE emphasizes Chicago-style, while COAST CONCERT - not a live recording, despite its title - emphasizes dixieland. This music is among the best of its genre, on a par with Muggsy Spanier's GREAT SIXTEEN and the Decca CHICAGO JAZZ album.Bobby Hackett was a superb melodist on cornet and trumpet, generally playing in the middle range of his horn. He was the lyrical link between Bix Beiderbecke and Miles Davis. Jack Teagarden was the greatest jazz trombonist. Like fine brandy, he mellowed with age. These two stars are aided by Abe Lincoln (trombone), Matty Matlock (clarinet), Peanuts Hucko (clarinet and tenor sax), and Ernie Caceres (baritone sax and clarinet).This is music of uniform high quality. Hackett and Teagraden excelled on slow ballads, "New Orleans," for example, and "I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plans" and "It's Wonderful." Hackett would typically paraphrase the melody, while Teagarden would improvise around it. This was laid-back playing, before anyone knew what laid-back was. On the slow blues, "55th And Broadway," Teagarden opens with a chorus that is instantly identifiable as his playing. He is followed by Hackett playing half-valve, in the manner of Rex Stewart. "Basin Street Blues" was a Teagraden set piece, but it is as fresh as ever. "That's A Plenty" illustrates the more extrovert side of these players. The nine selections of COAST CONCERT come before the eleven numbers of JAZZ ULTIMATE on the CD, although the cover listing has it the other way around. The only liner notes are facsimile reproductions of the original album back covers. These weren't very informative in the first place, and are reduced to an unreadable size to fit the CD format. But, it is the music that counts."

There's Not Much Additional That Can Be Said.......

Robert J. Ament | Ballwin, MO United States | 07/22/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"but when I found this had been reissued, I bought it despite the fact that I had already burned a cd of my own from my old vinyl. I think enough of this music to want it "fresh" from the studio recording once more, minus the surface noise and minor scratches accumulated over 40+ years. Read the reviews written earlier and you will reach the only conclusion possible that this is an essential to your collection.To hear the great Bobby Hackett and Jack Teagarden together in their prime, not to mention the great cast of supporting musicians, is well worth the price. I don't have very much New Orleans or Chicago style jazz in my collection but this is one of the exceptions, simply because it is the BEST!"