The Seven Ages of Jazz: A Live Concert Presentation

This two-LP set is long overdue to be reissued in full on CD; thus far, only a few selected numbers have reappeared. In 1958, critic Leonard Feather organized a concert that featured music from what he called "the seven ages of jazz": folk, blues, ragtime, Dixieland, swing, bop and modern. There are several surprises to this all-star affair, including Don Elliott's flexibility (playing Dixielandish trumpet, boppish mellophone, and impressions of various top players on vibes), pianist Dick Hyman's rare appearance on clarinet during the New Orleans jazz numbers, and a brief free improvisation on "Jazz Lab." The other performers include bluesman Brownie McGhee, pianist Willie "The Lion" Smith, Georgie Auld on alto and tenor, trombonist Tyree Glenn, trumpeter Buck Clayton, tenor great Coleman Hawkins, Billie Holiday (among her final recordings), Maxine Sullivan, bassist Milt Hinton and drummer Don Lamond. Very interesting music with more than its share of highlights.