The fourth volume in Jazz Oracle's
Ben Pollack reissue program covers the period right after
Benny Goodman and cornetist
Jimmy McPartland had departed. They were soon replaced by clarinetist
Matty Matlock and trumpeter
Charlie Teagarden, but the main star throughout is trombonist/singer
Jack Teagarden. This CD has 13 selections recorded by
Pollack's
Park Central Orchestra and by the same basic group under the names of
Gil Rodin and
Jack Teagarden, plus ten alternate takes. Because
Pollack sought to balance the commercial with the artistic, there are vocalists on every song, including
Smith Ballew,
Scrappy Lambert,
Eddie Gale, and (on three unfortunate examples)
Pollack himself. Fortunately,
Jack Teagarden gets to sing on five of the numbers, including (under
Rodin's name) "Beale Street Blues" and two versions of "If I Could Be With You." (plus three alternate takes). There are enough worthwhile moments (particularly from
Teagarden) to make this a worthwhile acquisition for fans of classic jazz, but
the Ben Pollack Orchestra rarely lived up to its great potential.
–
Scott Yanow, Rovi