The Complete Norman Granz Jam Sessions

[bolivarblues]

I just got this one a couple of days ago, so I've only been able to scratch the surface of all the treasures contained within these 5 discs. The musicians involved in these jam sessions represent some of the greatest of that era that falls in between swing and bebop, as well as some of the top boppers of the time. Right off the bat, disc one gives you Benny Carter, Johnny Hodges, Charlie Parker, Ben Webster, Oscar Peterson and Barney Kessell, all in one group! And there's plenty of solo time for everyone involved; the liner notes are nice in that they denote the order of the solos, though in most cases the musicians have such an easily indentifiable sound that they're not necessary. Elsewhere, we get the likes of Sweets Edison, Stan Getz, Count Basie, Buddy Rich, Roy Eldridge (in the same group with Dizzy Gillespie on discs four and five!), Illinois Jaquet, and Lionel Hampton, just to name a few. We are so fortunate that Granz had the foresight to assemble such a stellar cast during their prime and document these jam sessions on record; the sound quality of the remastered discs is quite good, too.

What are your favorite performances from this collection? If you don't have the box set, what are you favorites from any of the various Norman Granz Jam Session albums (one through nine)? This one is definitely a must-have; for those who are interested, you can get it through yourmusic.com for $34.95.

Edited February 23, 2007 by Frankie Machine

[kh1958]

I bought this at the Tower liquidation sale but haven't had the chance to listen yet. Maybe this weekend.

I'm only previously familiar with the jam session with Charlie Parker--a classic session.

[Big Beat Steve]

I don't have the box set either but most of the individual Jam Session LP's.

My favorite is Jam Session #1 with Charlie Parker, of course (Jam Blues, Ballad Medley, Funky Blues, etc.).

Put on the record, take out Esther Bubley's "Charlie Parker" book with the full pictorial record of that session and the music really comes alive - almost as if you'd been at the session ...

[brownie]

Wish there had been books similar to the Esther Bubley one for the other Jam Session gatherings! This was one of the best book on jazz photography to be published.

As for a favorite Jam Session, Il love 3 and 4, the ones with Sweets, de Franco, Benny Carter and Willie Smith, Wardell Gray and Stan Getz, Basie...

But 1 and 2 were something, too!

[montg]

I think the Basie jam is my favorite, but they're all magnificent. Leafing through the pictures of the booklet is a joy--it really is a wonder that so many hall of famers were gathered into one studio.

The Prestige jam sessions from this era are also recommended.

[montg]

A great jam session needs, imo, an insistent and driving rhythm section that doesn't lag, and individual voices...not good if you need the liner notes to tell you who's soloing. It seems like everybody was recording jam sessions in the 50s, Prestige, Columbia, Verve, BN, but now maybe it's a bit of a lost art.

[Larry Kart]

This set really took me back to my youth -- some of these were among the first jazz LPs I heard. IIRC there's a moment on Jam Session 5 or 6 where Jacquet, backed some riffing from the other horns, kind of does an imitation of a four-engine propeller aircraft buzzing past, a doppler effect thing. Whatever, that moment utterly transfixed me back then -- more like an isolated "cool" bit on a pop record would have, but that's the way it goes (or went). I played it over and over.

Edited February 24, 2007 by Larry Kart

[BruceH]

I have a lot of this stuff on vinyl, but I should get this just to have it in digital form, and in one place.

[Guy Berger]

I recently got this box. Have listened only to the 1st disc so far (the Bird + Benny + Rabbit session) but it's M A G N I F I C E N T . Wow. A must-hear.

[king ubu]

Yes, wonderful music - beginning to end!

But I think I'm in that Basie camp as far as favorites go!

[Big Al]

Count me as a fan of Jams 3 & 4 (no pun intended). Kinda bittersweet looking at the booklet now, realizing how many of these guys were still with us when this box was released.

[Guy Berger]

Count me as a fan of Jams 3 & 4 (no pun intended). Kinda bittersweet looking at the booklet now, realizing how many of these guys were still with us when this box was released.

I was thinking the same thing!

Are the live JATP recordings on the same level?

[jazzbo]

Some of the performances are. Mostly it's a slightly different thing in the jamming, and some are not really jam oriented.

I'm happy to have both sets. Need to respin both sets soon.

Edited May 21, 2012 by jazzbo

[king ubu]

Still waiting for the huuuuuuuuuuge fifties JATP Verve box, alas

(I know, I know, Mr. Ayers )