Search - Various Artists :: Capitol Records' From The Vaults: Capitol Jumps

Good Sampler, But Could Have Used More "Jump"

Robert | 06/22/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm happy Capitol released this single CD, because I'd been looking at Mosaic's Capitol Jazz set for sometime but couldn't bring myself to drop the $200 it costs. This disc features a mix of vocal and instrumental tunes from 1943-1953, with a strong emphasis on jazz and early r&b. Although there are a few chestnuts thrown in, most of these cuts are pretty rare. Its great to hear so much "new" music from this era. The artists are mostly well-known (Kenton, Benny Carter, Billy May, Ellington), but there are a few I was unfamiliar with. That said, what disappointed me was that a number of the selections strayed pretty far from the "jumpin" theme. It's not that the cuts aren't strong, but just how does Johnny Mercer doing "One for My Baby and One More for the Road" belong in here? This is definitely not a bad disc, but it didn't fully deliver what I'd expected. Decent remastering job. Cool retro packaging."

One of the best reissue albums ever

James McLean | Oakland, Ca. | 01/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this is an incredible album you will listen to over and over. Billy Vera has done an exceptional producing job here and I hope he gets back into the Capitol vaults for another one."