Chu Berry - 1937-1941 (The Chronological Classics, 784) (1994)

One has to invest in a few discs to track down most of Chu Berry's recordings as a leader. And while some of his best sides are available from Commodore, there are still many cuts from throughout his career that have been hard to come by. Now, Classics has collected a good chunk of the tenor luminary's solo sides on this welcome collection -- in lieu of a badly needed and thorough retrospective that should include both solo material and tracks from Berry's numerous dates with Cab Calloway, Fletcher Henderson, Lionel Hampton, Billie Holiday, Dizzy Gillespie, and scores of other bandleaders and vocalists, this remains the best roundup available. Bookended by a 1937 session with his Stompy Stevedores and four 1941 sides featuring Charlie Ventura (including two alternate takes), this disc's main attraction has to be the eight numbers from Berry's respective 1938 and 1941 sessions with Roy Eldridge and Hot Lips Page. A solid collection that's perfect for newcomers. Now all we need is for the Smithsonian's music arm to resurrect its invaluable, multi-label reissue series, so Berry can finally get his due.

Tracks:

01 - Now You're Talking My Language
02 - Indiana
03 - Too Marvelous For Words
04 - Limehouse Blues
05 - Chuberry Jam
06 - Maelstrom
07 - My Secret Love Affair
08 - Ebb Tide
09 - Sittin In
10 - Stardust
11 - Body And Soul
12 - Forty Six West Fifty Two
13 - Blowing Up A Breeze
14 - On The Sunny Side Of The Street
15 - Monday At Mintons
16 - Gee-Aint I Good To You
17 - Dream Girl Part-1
18 - Dream Girl Part-2
19 - Get Lost Part-1
20 - Get Lost Part-2

Personnel:

Chu Berry - Composer, Sax (Tenor)
Buster Bailey - Clarinet
Danny Barker - Guitar
Al Casey - Guitar
Big Sid Catlett - Drums
Israel Crosby - Sax (Baritone)
Roy Eldridge - Trumpet
Clyde Hart - Piano
Horace Henderson - Piano
Milt Hinton - Sax (Baritone)
Harry Jaeger - Bass
Keg Johnson - Trombone
Lawrence Lucie - Guitar
George Matthews - Trombone
Leroy Maxey - Drums
Al Morgan - Sax (Baritone)
Hot Lips Page - Composer, Trumpet, Vocals
Benny Payne - Piano, Vocals
Irving "Mouse" Randolph - Trumpet
Artie Shapiro - Sax (Baritone)