The Complete Norman Granz Jam Sessions [Box set] [Original recording remastered]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
When people think of classic jam sessions, they usually think of full-tilt bopping and wailing, of cutting contests, of jazz-style chorus lines. And with the extroverted likes of Illinois Jacquet, Dizzy Gillespie, and Lionel Hampton kicking up their heels, there certainly was no lack of excitement. But, as revealed by this five-disc set of the 10 Norman Granz-produced "Jam Session" recordings from the early to mid 1950s, the faded format may have attained its greatest art--and showed the most heart--in the ballad playing. Exhibit A from this collection: a medley of standards recorded in 1952 on which a succession of superstars including the extraordinary one-two-three punch of Charlie Parker, Ben Webster, and Johnny Hodges pack worlds of pungent emotion into their abbreviated segments.

Unlike the Granz-supervised jams heard on a previous box set, The Complete Jazz at the Philharmonic on Verve: 1944-49, which were captured in concert, these were recorded in and conceived for the studio. As a result, they feature a bit less grandstanding and a bit more attention to detail. A close-knit group of greats--including Benny Carter, Oscar Peterson, Stan Getz, Roy Eldridge, Flip Phillips, Buddy DeFranco, and Buddy Rich--shows off a mastery of pacing and continuity, as well as tone and rhythm, in making 20-plus-minute tunes ebb and flow, build and resolve. Clocking in at 27:36, "Funky Blues" offers a priceless opportunity to hear Eldridge side by side with Gillespie, the man to whom he passed down the lessons of Louis Armstrong. One small caveat: you'll wish the tracks were indexed, especially during your navigation of the ballad medleys. --Lloyd Sachs

The Complete Norman Granz Jam Sessions, Music, Norman Granz, Ballads, Bop, Box Sets (Audio Only), Jazz, Pop, Standards

Average customer rating:

Nobody else digs jam sessions?

It doesn't get any better

The Complete Norman Granz Jam Sessions
Norman Granz
Manufacturer: Verve
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | Jazz | Styles | Music
Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
Verve | Verve Music Group | Specialty Stores | Music
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ASIN: B00030EJSG
Release Date: 2004-11-09

Tracks:

Jam Blues - Ray Brown
Ballad Medley: All The Things You Are/Dearly Beloved/The Nearness Of You/I'll Get By/Everything Happens To Me/The Man I Love/What's New?/Someone To Watch Over Me/Isn't It Romantic? - Ray Brown
What Is This Thing Called Love - Ray Brown
Funky Blues - Ray Brown

Tracks:

Apple Jam - Count Basie
Ballad Medley: Indian Summer/Willow Weep For Me/If I Had You/(I Don't Stand) A Ghost Of A Chance With You/Love Walked In/Sophisticated Lady/Nancy (With The Laughing Face)/I Hadn't Anyone Till You - Basie
Oh, Lady, Be Good! - Count Basie
Blues For The Count - Basie

Tracks:

Jamming For Clef - Lionel Hampton
Rose Room - Lionel Hampton
Stompin' At The Savoy (Part 1) - Ray Brown
Stompin' At The Savoy (Part 2) - Ray Brown

Tracks:

Blue Lou - Lionel Hampton
Just You, Just Me - Lionel Hampton
Jam Blues - Lionel Hampton
Balld Medley: Tenderly/I've Got The World On A String/What's New?/I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good/Don't Blame Me/Imagination/Someone To Watch Over Me/Body And Soul/She's Funny That Way - Lionel Hampton

Tracks:

Funky Blues - Ray Brown
Lullaby In Rhythm - Ray Brown

Amazon.com

When people think of classic jam sessions, they usually think of full-tilt bopping and wailing, of cutting contests, of jazz-style chorus lines. And with the extroverted likes of Illinois Jacquet, Dizzy Gillespie, and Lionel Hampton kicking up their heels, there certainly was no lack of excitement. But, as revealed by this five-disc set of the 10 Norman Granz-produced "Jam Session" recordings from the early to mid 1950s, the faded format may have attained its greatest art--and showed the most heart--in the ballad playing. Exhibit A from this collection: a medley of standards recorded in 1952 on which a succession of superstars including the extraordinary one-two-three punch of Charlie Parker, Ben Webster, and Johnny Hodges pack worlds of pungent emotion into their abbreviated segments.

Unlike the Granz-supervised jams heard on a previous box set, The Complete Jazz at the Philharmonic on Verve: 1944-49, which were captured in concert, these were recorded in and conceived for the studio. As a result, they feature a bit less grandstanding and a bit more attention to detail. A close-knit group of greats--including Benny Carter, Oscar Peterson, Stan Getz, Roy Eldridge, Flip Phillips, Buddy DeFranco, and Buddy Rich--shows off a mastery of pacing and continuity, as well as tone and rhythm, in making 20-plus-minute tunes ebb and flow, build and resolve. Clocking in at 27:36, "Funky Blues" offers a priceless opportunity to hear Eldridge side by side with Gillespie, the man to whom he passed down the lessons of Louis Armstrong. One small caveat: you'll wish the tracks were indexed, especially during your navigation of the ballad medleys. --Lloyd Sachs

Customer Reviews:

Nobody else digs jam sessions?.......2006-06-14

Ladies and gentelmen, I implore you to give this fine box set the attention it so richly deserves. Norm Granz was many things to many people, but the man knew how to pair musicians and record the results. This collection is a testament to that ability.
These 5 discs from '52 to '54 are an assembly of 9 previously issued LP's. Some, like the ballad medleys are broken down so that each man gets a shot at a tune. Others, like the last session are just a free-for-all. Pretty much anybody that was half-way popular at the time is on here, so this is worth checking out just for a historical perspective. It would seem that the most glaring omission is Lester Young, but by this time he wasn't in good enough shape to be relied on for a project of this nature. Too bad, because this is one for the books. Granz liked to make sure he had burners (pref. a blues), and a long ballad where everybody got a look.
I like to factor out how much the discs are each costing as a percieved value scale when I'm shopping for box sets. $12 each is about as good as it gets. Especially when you factor in the attractive metal-topped box and the gorgeous booklet. Buy this before it's too late.

It doesn't get any better.......2005-08-28

I owned most of these recordings on LPs many years ago, and have waited to hear them on CD. They sound so superb, and particularly the bass lines, which never sounded so good on the old discs. I'm sure musicians still have jam sessions, but if so they seem to escape the scope of modern recording companies. I guess it is not commercial. The jam session is the very essence of jazz. A group of musicians improvising on a theme, without the interference of A&R men, and recording company executives. And when the musicians include Charlie Parker, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gilespie, Ben Webster, Count Basie, Benny Carter, Ray Brown, to mention a few, playing what they want to play, it has to be as they say as good as it gets.
Five great CDs. I wouldn't be without them.

Something that has always intrigued me is the lack of recognition given to Norman Granz, who produced these sessions.
He has single handedly recorded some of the finest American music ever, and without his influence we may never have had the Art Tatum Solo Masterpieces, or the Ella Fitzgerald Songbooks, and so many more. Couldn't someone give him at least a Grammy posthunously?

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