Two rare De Franco CDs = Great jazz
Steve Emerine | Tucson, AZ United States | 08/13/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is another of Lone Hill Jazz's efforts to find and repackage rare American jazz, and it's a winner. "Generalissimo" and "Live Date!" were recorded in April of 1958 by clarinetist Buddy De Franco and some great jazz instrumentalists. The former album, a play on De Franco's last name and that of the Spanish military leader, features Harry "Sweets" Edison on trumpet, Bob Hardaway on tenor, Jimmy Rowles on piano, Barney Kessel on guitar, Curtis Counce on bass and Alvin Stoller on drums, playing standards,be-bop and ballads. "Live Date!", which actually was recorded in a studio, features Hardaway and Kessel, plus Herbie Mann on flute, Victor Feldman on vibes, Pete Jolly on piano and accordion, Scott LaFaro on bass and Stan Levey on drums in the same general format, including a three-ballad medley.The star, of course, is De Franco, but the other players have time to swing, too. "Tin Reed Blues," included on the original "Live Date!" session, is omitted because of time considerations, but Lone Hill has included it on another of De Franco CD package, "I Hear Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw." Recording quality, liner notes and reproductions of the original LP covers are all top-notch."