ZIGGY ELMAN- Boppin' With Zig
Sounds of Yesteryear DSOD2098
Ziggy Elman (t) with his own orchestras and varied personnel including Charlie Shavers(t); Louis Bellson (d); Babe Russin (ts)
Recorded NYC 1947-1952
Sounds of yesteryear indeed as the earliest tracks here are 1947. These are all orchestras fronted by Elman after he left the Benny Goodman Orchestra. The two CD set offers 53 tracks over the six years covered and many different line ups. Early tracks from ’47 offer vocals from Virginia Maxey and Bob Manning. Manning is a good case in point, he was a first rate singer in the relaxed crooner style of the day but he was unlucky enough to come to prominence at the same time as Frank Sinatra was exciting all the bobby soxers and he tended to get overlooked so often that he eventually sank into obscurity. A pity really because he had it all: delivery, phrasing, ability to swing with a big band and a great voice. So once again, it seems, timing is everything. Try Beside You and Ivy to get an idea of his ability. Ms Maxey had a good, clear voice too and I’ve no idea what happened to her.
I’m not sure Boppin’ With Zig was the right title here; the time was right but Elman and his various orchestras are firmly in the swing era big band style throughout all tracks. Bop was safely in the hands of Diz, Fats, Miles and company and Mr. Elman continued playing bright, brassy trumpet much as he had done with Benny Goodman. Some tracks here benefit, if that’s the word from vocal choirs, sandwiched in neatly between Ziggy trumpet solos. An unnamed clarinet player has some tasty solos but in the main it is Mr. Elman swinging his trumpet but certainly not boppin’ unless he thought it meant something else. He was though an accomplished and interesting soloist and if 52 tracks are not too many for you this collection will revive many memories of an era in jazz.
Most of the music is made up of standards and played as they are here in the swing manner makes this 2 record set a strong nostalgia trip for older enthusiasts and anyone who likes swing big bands.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
Sounds of Yesteryear DSOD2098
Ziggy Elman (t) with his own orchestras and varied personnel including Charlie Shavers(t); Louis Bellson (d); Babe Russin (ts)
Recorded NYC 1947-1952
Sounds of yesteryear indeed as the earliest tracks here are 1947. These are all orchestras fronted by Elman after he left the Benny Goodman Orchestra. The two CD set offers 53 tracks over the six years covered and many different line ups. Early tracks from ’47 offer vocals from Virginia Maxey and Bob Manning. Manning is a good case in point, he was a first rate singer in the relaxed crooner style of the day but he was unlucky enough to come to prominence at the same time as Frank Sinatra was exciting all the bobby soxers and he tended to get overlooked so often that he eventually sank into obscurity. A pity really because he had it all: delivery, phrasing, ability to swing with a big band and a great voice. So once again, it seems, timing is everything. Try Beside You and Ivy to get an idea of his ability. Ms Maxey had a good, clear voice too and I’ve no idea what happened to her.
I’m not sure Boppin’ With Zig was the right title here; the time was right but Elman and his various orchestras are firmly in the swing era big band style throughout all tracks. Bop was safely in the hands of Diz, Fats, Miles and company and Mr. Elman continued playing bright, brassy trumpet much as he had done with Benny Goodman. Some tracks here benefit, if that’s the word from vocal choirs, sandwiched in neatly between Ziggy trumpet solos. An unnamed clarinet player has some tasty solos but in the main it is Mr. Elman swinging his trumpet but certainly not boppin’ unless he thought it meant something else. He was though an accomplished and interesting soloist and if 52 tracks are not too many for you this collection will revive many memories of an era in jazz.
Most of the music is made up of standards and played as they are here in the swing manner makes this 2 record set a strong nostalgia trip for older enthusiasts and anyone who likes swing big bands.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
