Freddie Slack - Mosaic Select 18 [2005] (3 x CDs)

SUNDAY JAZZ

FREDDIE SLACK

Freddie Slack - Mosaic Select 18 [2005] (3 x CDs)

Mosaic Select 18 brings together a vivid slice of Freddie Slack’s recorded legacy, presenting a focused view of his work for Capitol Records during the first half of the forties. Released in 2005 as a limited, numbered three‑CD set, it follows the label’s familiar archival approach, gathering masters, alternates and ensemble features with careful attention to discographical accuracy. Slack’s name is often linked to boogie piano, yet this collection shows a musician with broader interests, moving between jump blues, small group swing and polished studio arrangements that reflect the changing tastes of wartime America.

The earliest sides highlight Slack’s command of rhythm. His piano lines move with crisp articulation, shaping the drive of the Will Bradley Orchestra and later the boogie‑leaning units he led under his own name. Capitol’s sessions from 1942 and 1944 reveal how he balanced energy with clarity, using tight arrangements that left room for soloists to shine. The presence of vocalists like Ella Mae Morse adds colour, especially on sides that blend pop phrasing with blues inflection. These tracks show how Slack helped define a style that sat comfortably between dance music and early rhythm and blues.

The middle portion of the set focuses on small group dates, where Slack’s piano becomes more conversational. The interplay between horns and rhythm section feels relaxed yet purposeful, shaped by musicians who understood how to keep the music light without losing swing. Mosaic’s mastering brings out the warmth of these sessions, allowing listeners to hear details that earlier reissues often softened.

The final disc includes rarities and less familiar titles, offering a fuller picture of Slack’s studio activity. These pieces show his interest in arrangement, harmony and ensemble texture, revealing a musician who could adapt to different settings while keeping his identity intact. Mosaic Select 18 stands as a thoughtful document of an artist whose contributions to American piano music deserve careful listening.

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Track lists

CD1

01 Freddie Slack - Doll Dance 3:00

02 Freddie Slack - Cow Cow Boogie 3:14

03 Freddie Slack - The Air Minded Executive 2:47

04 Freddie Slack - He's My Guy 2:42

05 Freddie Slack - Mister Five by Five 3:03

06 Freddie Slack - The Thrill is Gone 2:58

07 Freddie Slack - Riffette 3:02

08 Freddie Slack - I Got a Break Baby 3:18

09 Freddie Slack - Mean Old World 2:55

10 Freddie Slack - Old Rob Roy 3:13

11 Freddie Slack - Waitin' for the Evening Mail 3:15

12 Freddie Slack - Wreck of the Old 97 2:36

13 Freddie Slack - Get on Board, Little Chillun 3:04

14 Freddie Slack - I Lost My Sugar in Salt Lake City 3:11

15 Freddie Slack - Mr. Anthony's Blues 2:34

16 Freddie Slack - Small Batch O'Nod 3:02

17 Freddie Slack - Furlough Fling 2:45

18 Freddie Slack - Ain't That Just Like a Man 3:09

19 Freddie Slack - The Gee Chi Love Song 2:59

20 Freddie Slack - The Gee Chi Love Song 3:01

21 Freddie Slack - Cuban Sugar Mill 3:07

22 Freddie Slack - Sit and Nip 3:03

23 Freddie Slack - Slightly Barbaric 3:11

24 Freddie Slack - Bashful Baby Blues 2:54

CD2

01 Freddie Slack - Soft Jive 3:08

02 Freddie Slack - A Kiss Goodnight 2:46

03 Freddie Slack - A Cat's Ninth Life 2:40

04 Freddie Slack - Beverly Boogie 2:42

05 Freddie Slack - Rib Joint 2:55

06 Freddie Slack - Behind the Eight Beat 2:46

07 Freddie Slack - Southpaw Serenade 2:45

08 Freddie Slack - Kitten on the Keys 2:37

09 Freddie Slack - Strange Cargo 3:01

10 Freddie Slack - Blackout Boogie 2:33

11 Freddie Slack - The House of Blue Lights 2:53

12 Freddie Slack - Hey Mr. Postman 3:04

13 Freddie Slack - Your Conscience Tells You So 2:52

14 Freddie Slack - Pig Foot Pete 2:54

15 Freddie Slack - Blackout Boogie 2:27

16 Freddie Slack - Is I Gotta Practice, Ma? 2:41

17 Freddie Slack - On the Road to Mandalin 2:24

18 Freddie Slack - The H.C. Potter's Ball 2:39

19 Freddie Slack - The Necessary Evil Blues 3:13

20 Freddie Slack - Half After 2:38

21 Freddie Slack - Cocktail Repartee 2:49

22 Freddie Slack - What is This Thing Called Rebop? 3:04

23 Freddie Slack - The Brown Danube 2:58

24 Freddie Slack - Boogie in G 2:43

25 Freddie Slack - Lullaby 2:57

CD3

01 Freddie Slack - Humoresquire 2:57

02 Freddie Slack - Celeste Boogie 2:55

03 Freddie Slack - Boogie Minor 2:52

04 Freddie Slack - St. Louis Blues 3:09

05 Freddie Slack - Chopstick Boogie 2:54

06 Freddie Slack - Be-Bop Boogie 3:03

07 Freddie Slack - Two Left Hands 3:00

08 Freddie Slack - Strollin' 3:09

09 Freddie Slack - Ooh Ooh Baby 2:57

10 Freddie Slack - Steal Away Easy Baby 3:01

11 Freddie Slack - Mister Freddie's Boogie 2:19

12 Freddie Slack - Whatever Happened to Ol' Jack? 2:58

13 Freddie Slack - Untitled Tune 2:39

14 Freddie Slack - Ukulele Swing 2:12

15 Freddie Slack - Choppin' the Boogie 2:18

16 Freddie Slack - Untitled Original 2:17

17 Freddie Slack - Big Boy 3:11

18 Freddie Slack - Hard Hearted Hannah 3:18

19 Freddie Slack - Cheatin' on Me 3:19

20 Freddie Slack - Manhattan Serenade 2:43

21 Freddie Slack - Rock A Bye Bay 3:02

22 Freddie Slack - That Russian Winter 2:52

23 Freddie Slack - Without a Song 2:30

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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