Stuff Smith - The Complete Verve Stuff Smith Sessions [1999] (4 x CDs)

 

JAZZ SUNDAY

STUFF SMITH

Stuff Smith - The Complete Verve Stuff Smith Sessions [1999] (4 x CDs)

It is a shame that Stuff Smith did not live to see the revival of interest in swing violin due to his premature death in 1967, almost three decades prior to the passing of fellow violinist Stephane Grappelli. Almost all of Smith's recordings languished out of print until a two-CD set finally appeared on Verve, soon followed by this more complete four-CD Mosaic collection of Smith's recordings for the label, which adds three completely unissued sessions and five additional previously unreleased tracks. The first two studio dates were scheduled for release but never put out by Verve, yet the music is simply astonishing. Smith is in top form throughout all ten sessions. The supporting cast is tremendous: pianists include Jimmy Jones, Carl Perkins, Oscar Peterson, Wynton Kelly, Shirley Horn (who was overlooked and credit was originally given to John Eaton, who likely appears on two tracks), and Paul Smith. Bassists include Red Callendar, Curtis Counce, Ray Brown, Red Mitchell, and Milt Hinton; other important musicians are Dizzy Gillespie, Barney Kessel, Alvin Stoller, J. C. Heard, Kenny Burrell, and fellow violinist Ray Nance. Smith plays quite a few enjoyable originals (including his blazing "Hillcrest," the very catchy "Calypso," and the exotic "Desert Sands"), but he also covers an extensive collection of Gershwin songs and other standards from some of the best composers of the Great American Songbook, and classic songs from the playbooks of Duke Ellington and Fletcher Henderson. While some tracks are clearly stronger performances than others, there is not one song that won't be devoured eagerly by fans of Smith's swinging jazz violin. The detailed liner notes and rare session photographs add to the considerable value of this limited-edition boxed set, which should be considered an essential acquisition by fans of swing. (AMG review by Ken Dryden)

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Pt.1    Pt.2 

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Track lists

CD1

01 Stuff Smith - Hillcrest 3:41

02 Stuff Smith - The Blues I Know 5:30

03 Stuff Smith - Skip It 4:05

04 Stuff Smith - Uh Ruh 3:32

05 Stuff Smith - My Thoughts 3:43

06 Stuff Smith - Live And You'll Learn 4:52

07 Stuff Smith - Night Falls Again 5:35

08 Stuff Smith - Minuet In Swing 3:01

09 Stuff Smith - Midway 4:01

10 Stuff Smith - I Lost My Heart By The River 5:48

11 Stuff Smith - Won't You Take A Lesson In Love? 4:13

12 Stuff Smith - What I Say 4:37

13 Stuff Smith - It's Wonderful 4:03

14 Stuff Smith - Coming Through The Rye 2:43

15 Stuff Smith - Ja-da 4:00

CD2

01 Stuff Smith - Indiana 3:25

02 Stuff Smith - Blow Blow Blow 5:27

03 Stuff Smith - Calypso 5:31

04 Stuff Smith - I Wrote My Song 3:18

05 Stuff Smith - Oh, But It Is 4:18

06 Stuff Smith - Stop-look 3:24

07 Stuff Smith - Would You Object? 2:30

08 Stuff Smith - Crazy Rhythm 2:25

09 Stuff Smith - Rio Pakistan 11:30

10 Stuff Smith - It's Only A Paper Moon 8:30

11 Stuff Smith - Purple Sounds 10:10

12 Stuff Smith - Russian Lullaby 7:59

13 Stuff Smith - Oh, Lady Be Good 4:10

CD3

01 Stuff Smith - Desert Sands 8:14

02 Stuff Smith - Soft Winds 6:12

03 Stuff Smith - Time And Again (don't You Think?) 7:03

04 Stuff Smith - It Don't Mean A Thing 4:28

05 Stuff Smith - In A Mellow Tone 9:53

06 Stuff Smith - I Know That You Know 9:37

07 Stuff Smith - Heat Wave 7:28

08 Stuff Smith - Things Ain't What They Used To Be 6:20

09 Stuff Smith - Body And Soul 10:26

CD4

01 Stuff Smith - Wonderful 3:45

02 Stuff Smith - A Foggy Day 3:19

03 Stuff Smith - I Loves You Porgy 3:20

04 Stuff Smith - Somebody Loves Me 3:42

05 Stuff Smith - Strike Up The Band 2:54

06 Stuff Smith - Oh, Lady Be Good 2:21

07 Stuff Smith - Fascinating Rhythm 2:48

08 Stuff Smith - The Man I Love 3:45

09 Stuff Smith - They Can't Take That Away From Me 5:10

10 Stuff Smith - Love Is Here To Stay 3:46

11 Stuff Smith - Nice Work If You Can Get It 4:05

12 Stuff Smith - Whatcha Gonna Do, When You Dance Past 42? 2:13

13 Stuff Smith - Blue Violin 3:05

14 Stuff Smith - Undecided 2:39

15 Stuff Smith - Nice And Warm 3:16

16 Stuff Smith - Take The A Train 4:12

17 Stuff Smith - Up Jumps Sally (take 10) 2:29

18 Stuff Smith - Up Jumps Sally (take 11) 2:52

19 Stuff Smith - Miracles 2:51

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