The Jazz Scene by Various Artists

This famous 78rpm album, released in 1949, was one of the two gorgeous albums Norman Granz ever produced (the other was “The Astaire Story” 4LP cloth-bound album). It definitely was the product of “Norman Granz' dream”. The album consists of 21 tracks of various styles, from great mainstream sessions such as Lester Young Trio and Willie Smith Quintet; Duke Ellington's small combo session with strings; Neal Hefti's huge orchestra with Charlie Parker's alto sax overdubbed; Coleman Hawkins's magnificent tenor solo; Machito's latin ensemble; Charlie Parker's awesome quartet session; Bud Powell Trio's yet another fine performance; to avant-garde/abstract big-band by Ralph Burns, George Handy... What makes this album so special (as well as superb quality of every performance) is the well-manufactured cloth-bound album itself, and dozen of great b/w photographs by Gjon Mili. This album itself surely represents what the Jazz scene was like in the 1940s, from Norman Granz' own perspective. THE JAZZ SCENE is a reissue of the 1950 limited-edition album by the same title. Disc 1 is the original recording and Disc 2 contains previously unreleased tracks and takes from the original sessions. It will be packaged in a cloth-covered 80-page folio with all the original notes and photos. Epic's Jazz Scene box set collects over 30 performances from big band and swing artists like Billy Strayhorn, Coleman Hawkins, Neal Hefti, and Ralph Burns. Ralph Burns' "Music for a Stripteaser" and "Sprang," Bud Powell's "Cherokee," Lester Young's "Back to the Land," Duke Ellington's "Sono" and "Frustration," and Willie Smith's "Not So Bob Blues" are among the highlights of this intriguing jazz collection. ~ Heather Phares In 1949 producer Norman Granz released a remarkable album of 78s that consisted of a dozen selections (many of them specially recorded for the occasion) that perfectly summed up the modern jazz scene of the time. The deluxe set consisted of two Duke Ellington features for baritonist Harry Carney with strings, a pair of complex Neal Hefti arrangements, small-group sides by Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell and altoist Willie Smith, Machito's "Tanga," major works by arrangers Ralph Burns and George Handy and, as the piece-de-resistance, Coleman Hawkins's pioneering unaccompanied tenor solo "Picasso." Now all of this music has been reissued on a very attractive double-CD set that also contains five alternate takes plus three previously unknown Billy Strayhorn piano solos, further examples of Lester Young and Willie Smith, an obscure Hawkins session with J.J. Johnson from 1949, a few numbers from a forgotten Flip Phillips session and three selections by Ralph Burns in 1955, two of which feature explosive trumpet work from Roy Eldridge. The new packaging is magnificent with many Gjon Mili photographs of the top jazzmen of the era and extensive liner notes. This was one of the top reissues of 1994 and is essential for all serious historical jazz collections. A Verve Label Group Release; This Compilation ℗ 1949 UMG Recordings, Inc.