Early Black Swing, 1927-1934. - sound recording reviews

National Review, Oct 13, 1989 by Ralph de Toledano

Early Black Swing, 1927--1934

Early Black Swing, 1927--1934 (RCA-Bluebird 9583-2 RB). Among the young fry, there's the idea that Benny Goodman and the other Swing Era greats sprang full armed in 1936. Like Athena out of the brain of Zeus. Do not believe it, Uncle. They were playing it in Harlem, Kansas City, and Chicago before the Swing Era stars were starring. Fletcher Henderson, in New York, was leading a band which included some of the greatest sidemen of jazz, including the Bixian Joe Smith. Bennie Moten was laying the groundwork for the powerhouse Basie band. Duke ellington had recorded the great standards which would be imitated by every band from here to West Overshoes. On this recording, you can hear these great jazz orchestras of the pre-Swing era. What the later agreegations owed to them is manifest--and so much fun to listen to.