AMG Review of Complete Jazz at Philharmonic on Verve 1944-1949

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

Starting in 1944 and continuing for 13 years, producer Norman Granz put on a series of touring all-star jam sessions that frequently matched together many of the top swing and bop musicians on standards and ballads. Critics of the period called the music exhibitionistic and did not think much of the howling audiences, but in reality, the performances were often quite rewarding and consistently exciting. This miraculous ten-CD set has every existing JATP performance from the 1944-1949 period, including plenty of unissued performances. The highlights are many including a Nat King Cole/Les Paul tradeoff on "Blues," some screaming Illinois Jacquet solos, Flip Phillips' masterful use of repetition on "Perdido," Charlie Parker creating remarkable solos (particularly on "Lady Be Good" and "Embraceable You"), Ella Fitzgerald holding her own with the very best players of the day, etc. In addition to the jams, there are individual features for Slim Gaillard (the humorous "Groove Juice Symphony"), Meade Lux Lewis, Billie Holiday, the Gene Krupa Trio (including a mini-set from 1952 that was originally included as part of a late-'40s album), Coleman Hawkins, Ken Kersey, Slam Stewart, and Lester Young, among others. A special bit of history is included: Oscar Peterson's first performance in America, which is played to a visibly impressed audience. Among the other all-stars heard from are Roy Eldridge, Buck Clayton, Dizzy Gillespie, Howard McGhee, Bill Harris, J.J. Johnson, Trummy Young, Willie Smith, Hank Jones, Ray Brown, and Buddy Rich, among many others. In addition, on the final disc, there are a few numbers from a Leonard Feather-sponsored concert in 1947 that used similar personnel (including a showboating Charlie Shavers). Every true jazz fanatic has to own this set, which has extensive liner notes and is housed in an attractive box. Get it while you can!