Town Hall Concerts, Vol. 4

AMG Review of Town Hall Concerts, Vol. 4

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

Although they were never able to get a paying sponsor, the Eddie Condon Town Hall Concerts (a weekly half-hour radio show) was quite popular at the time and became legendary. For Volume 4 of this colorful series of well-recorded two-CD sets (which is highly recommended to all followers of Chicago jazz), there are four complete programs featuring a remarkable ensemble of top musicians (virtually all of whom are showcased individually and collectively in logical fashion): trumpeters Billy Butterfield, Bobby Hackett, Jonah Jones, Max Kaminsky and Muggsy Spanier, trombonists Bill Harris, Miff Mole and Benny Morton, baritonist Ernie Caceres, clarinetists Edmond Hall, Joe Marsala and Pee Wee Russell and pianists James P. Johnson, Willie "The Lion" Smith, and Gene Schroeder in addition to guest drummer Gene Krupa and singer Lee Wiley.