Vol. 4, 1929-1930

RELEASE
April 23, 2002
LABEL
Jazz Oracle
GENRES
Jazz, Dance Bands, Swing, Early Jazz

Album Review

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

Track Listing

  1. From Now On
  2. Keep Your Undershirt On
  3. Reaching for the Moon
  4. I'm Following You
  5. Crying' for the Carolines
  6. Rollin' Down the River
  7. If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)
  8. There's a Wah Wah Gal in Agua Caliente
  9. Beale Street Blues
  10. If I Could Be With You
  11. Son of the Sun
  12. You're Simply Delish
  13. Just a Little Dance, Mam'selle
  14. Rollin' Down the River
  15. Rollin' Down the River
  16. If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)
  17. If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)
  18. If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)
  19. There's a Wah Wah Gal in Agua Caliente
  20. There's a Wah Wah Gal in Agua Caliente
  21. Beale Street Blues
  22. You're Simply Delish
  23. Just a Little Dance, Mam'selle