Jazz: Some Beginnings

In the late '70s Folkways released a series of samplers that documented aspects of early jazz, sometimes in hodgepodge fashion. This LP is one of their more interesting sets, containing a lot of rarities including prejazz items from Bert Williams, James Reese Europe and Fred Van Eps, blues by Margaret Johnson and Sara Martin and performances that feature Gene Fosdick's Hoosiers, Merritt Brunies, Johnny DeDroit and the Good Time Band among others. Although it is not essential, this Folkways album contains some recordings that even veteran collectors may not already own.