The Changing Face Of Harlem (24/48 vinyl rip)

An utterly terrific set that would cost a minor fortune to replicate! Almost like taking a walk down 52nd Street in 1944. The close proximity of recording dates on the majority of these sessions (mid to late 1944) suggests to me that they are part of the rush to the studios at the end of the first musician's union ban on recording.

"This double LP from 1976 features 32 selections taken from the later years of World War II, when swing was gradually turning into bop. There are sessions by the Buck Ram All-Stars, altoist Pete Brown, trumpeter Hot Lips Page, tenor-saxophonists Ben Webster and Herbie Fields, guitarist Tiny Grimes, singer Miss Rhapsody and trumpeter Benny Harris. The sidemen feature many illustrious names including trumpeters Frankie Newton and Emmett Berry, trombonists Tyree Glenn and Vic Dickenson, altoist Earl Bostic, Don Byas, Budd Johnson and Ike Quebec on tenors, vibraphonist Red Norvo, pianists Teddy Wilson and Johnny Guarnieri and (on two of the Tiny Grimes recordings) altoist Charlie Parker. Since the contents of this very enjoyable and historical two-fer have not been coherently reissued on CD, this is one to search for." AMG