Don Redman And His Orchestra - The Chronological Classics, 3 Albums

The first great arranger in jazz history, Don Redman's innovations as a writer essentially invented the jazz-oriented big band with arrangements that developed yet left room for solo improvisations.

After graduating from college at the age of 20 with a music degree, Redman played for a year with Billy Paige's Broadway Syncopators and then met up with Fletcher Henderson. Redman became Henderson's chief arranger (although Fletcher was often later on mistakenly given credit for the innovative charts) in addition to playing clarinet, alto, and (on at least one occasion) oboe. Redman, whose largely spoken vocals were charming, recorded the first ever scat vocal on "My Papa Doesn't Two Time" in early 1924, predating Louis Armstrong. Although his early arrangements were futuristic, they could be a bit stiff, and it was not until Armstrong joined Henderson's orchestra that Redman (learning from the brilliant cornetist) began to really swing in his writing; "Sugar Foot Stomp" and "The Stampede" are two of his many classic charts.

It was a shock to Fletcher Henderson when Redman was persuaded in 1927 by Jean Goldkette to direct McKinney's Cotton Pickers. Redman soon turned the previously unknown group into a strong competitor of Henderson's, composing such future standards as "Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You" and "Cherry." He sang more, emphasized his alto over his more primitive sounding clarinet (guesting on some famous recordings with Louis Armstrong's Savoy Ballroom Five in 1928), and made a strong series of memorable records. In 1931, Redman put together his own big band which lasted (if not prospered) up until 1941. After that, he freelanced as an arranger for the remainder of the swing era, led an all-star orchestra in 1946 that became the first band to visit postwar Europe, and eventually became Pearl Bailey's musical director. Although he recorded a few sessions in the late '50s, Don Redman's main significance is for his influential work of the 1920s and '30s.


Tracks:



Don Redman And His Orchestra - 1931-1933 {The Chronological Classics, 543}

01. Trouble, Why Pick On Me? (2:50)
02. Shakin' The African (2:53)
03. Chant Of The Weed (3:17)
04. Shakin' The African (2:42)
05. I Heard (3:16)
06. How'm I Doin'? (Hey-Hey) (2:55)
07. Try Getting A Good Night's Sleep (2:59)
08. Got The South In My Soul (2:54)
09. If It's True (3:19)
10. It's A Great World After All (2:48)
11. You Gave Me Everything But Love (2:53)
12. Tea For Two (3:08)
13. Hot And Anxious (2:46)
14. I Got Rythm (3:10)
15. Pagan Paradies (3:08)
16. Two-Time Man (2:55)
17. Underneath The Harlem Moon (3:06)
18. Ain't I The Lucky One? (2:43)
19. Doin' What I Please (2:53)
20. Nagasaki (3:06)
21. Doin' The New Low-Down (instr.) (2:31)
22. Doin' The New Low-Down (vocal) (3:07)
23. How Ya Feelin'? (3:02)
24. Shuffle Your Feet / Bandanna Babies (2:45)



Don Redman And His Orchestra - 1933-1936 {The Chronological Classics, 553}

01. Mommy, I Don't Want To Go To Bed (3:11)
02. How Can I Hi-De-Hi (When I Feel So Low-De-Low) (3:17)
03. Shuffle Your Feet / Bandanna Babies (2:48)
04. Sophisticated Lady (2:48)
05. I Won't Tell (3:09)
06. That Blue-Eyed Baby From Memphis (2:55)
07. It's All Your Fault (2:52)
08. Lazy Bones (3:04)
09. Watching The Knife And Fork Spoon (3:01)
10. I Found A New Way To Go To Town (3:08)
11. You Told Me But Half The Story (3:08)
12. Lonely Cabin (3:03)
13. She's Not Bad (2:56)
14. No One Loves Me Like That Dallas Man (2:52)
15. Our Big Love Scene (2:54)
16. After Sundown (2:56)
17. Puddin' Head Jones (2:54)
18. My Old Man (3:02)
19. Tired Of It All (3:07)
20. Keep On Doin' What You're Doin' (2:51)
21. I Wanna Be Loved (2:59)
22. Got The Jitters (2:56)
23. Christopher Columbus (2:30)
24. A Little Bit Later On (2:31)
25. Lazy Weather (2:33)



Don Redman And His Orchestra - 1936-1939 {The Chronological Classics, 574}

01. Moonrise On The Lowlands (2:46)
02. I Gotcha (2:36)
03. Who Want To Sing My Love Songs? (3:06)
04. Too Bad (2:29)
05. We Don't Know From Nothin' (3:03)
06. Bugle Call Rag (2:43)
07. Stormy Weather (2:40)
08. Exactly Like You (2:32)
09. The Man On The Flying Trapeze (2:45)
10. On The Sunny Side Of The Street (2:27)
11. Swingin' With The Fat Man (2:56)
12. Sweet Sue - Just You (2:24)
13. That Naughty Waltz (2:31)
14. I Got Ya (2:32)
15. I'm Playing Solitaire (3:28)
16. Auld Lang Syne (2:35)
17. Sweet Leilani (2:37)
18. 'Deed I Do (2:52)
19. Down Home Rag (2:36)
20. Margie (2:22)
21. Millenberg Joys (3:12)
22. Three Little Maids (2:44)
23. The Flowers That Bloom In The Spring (2:50)
24. Jump Session (2:55)
25. Class Will Tell (2:52)