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Stuff Smith where to start?

Jazztropic

By Jazztropic
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Ken Dryden Experienced

Ken Dryden

Posted
Posted

The Verve boxed set issued by Mosaic was pulled prior to the end of the normal lease period because of unstated legal problems. But look for the 2 disc Verve compilation released a few year ago, the collaborations with Stephane Grappelli, Violin Summit (oop) with Ponty, Grappelli & Asmussen. There are also a number of LPs that have never been out on CD; I've always liked his final album, Black Violin, issued by BASF/MPS.

AB Fable also has put out several excellent compilations of Smith's private recordings.

Peter Friedman Grand Master

Peter Friedman

Posted
Posted

I very much enjoy these two Stuff Smith Quartet CDs from 1965 in Copenhagen. Stuff is joined by Kenny Drew, N.H.O.P, and Alex Riel.

Stuff Smith - Live At The Montmartre - Storyville 4142

Stuff Smith - Swingin" Stuff - Storyville 101 8397

jazztrain Contributor

jazztrain

Posted
Posted

I very much enjoy these two Stuff Smith Quartet CDs from 1965 in Copenhagen. Stuff is joined by Kenny Drew, N.H.O.P, and Alex Riel.

Stuff Smith - Live At The Montmartre - Storyville 4142

Stuff Smith - Swingin" Stuff - Storyville 101 8397

The Hep label has just reissued the Stuff Smith and His Onyx Boys sides (with some previously unrealeased airchecks) from 1936-1937. This is essential material, and one expects that the transfers would be better than those on some previous reissues.

BruceH Newbie

BruceH

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That Verve 2-CD set mentioned earlier is great! It's actually got three albums on it, so it's one of those 3-fer-two deals...and one of the albums has Dizzy Gillespie on it. I've seen it around used and I can't say enough good things about it. :tup Great place to start with Stuff.

  • 6 years later...
king ubu Explorer

king ubu

Posted
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Spinning the Stuff Smith I have (the Mosaic plus some earlier and some later stuff, but not too much) .... and checking out the Storyvilles, I don't find much real info on them.

The "Masters of Jazz" I guess is a compilation?

And is there any overlap between the others? Does anyone have them all and can shed some light?

"Hot Stuff" then seems to include the entire OOP "Live at Montmartre" (#1-9) and adding four more tracks (#10-13) - the first four of the other OOP disc, "Hot Violins" ... but where's the remaining six tracks from there? On "Five Fine Violins" you get two of those six tunes, but are they the same recordings? You also get all four tunes that are on "Hot Stuff" also - but again, same recordings? Some of it all may be on "Masters of Jazz", too ... what a mess! Can anyobo

There seem to be lengthy Jazzhus Montmartre dates from:

March 18, 1965 (9 titles, "Live at Montmartre", later on "Hot Stuff", I assume)

March 23, 1965 (9 titles + unissued "Caravan", "Swinging Stuff", the Storyville CD of the same name also has "Caravan" plus 3 titles from March 4)

Then, if I get the blurb on the Storyville site right, the disc titles "Five Fine Violins" holds the entire April 4, 1965 session with Stuff pairing up with the violin of Poul Olsen (new name to me, I must confess). So that date was expanded from three released plus two known unreleased titles to 12 titles?

Then there's the session with Henri Chaix, poss. rec. Geneva May 29, 1965 (10 tracks, and for once a clear case)

On June 4, 1965, Smith recorded for Swiss Radio with the Jazz Live Trio (released on a 4CD set "Jazz in Switzerland")

Next up was "Stuff and Steff" (reissued in the Jazz in Paris series, again a clear case), then some more Paris material (with Smith forced to use an acoustic violin as the promoters failed to put the promised amp on stage, or so I read).

Then, as we get into 1966, there's more from Copenhagen:

January 30-31, 1966 (5 titles with Svend Asmussen, 4 on "Hot Violins", but only the last four are on the recent CD titled "Hot Stuff" - where is "When You're Smiling", the first of the five?)

On September 27, 1966, another date for Swiss Radio took place (part of a fairly recent TCB disc which I don't yet have, but it's been on the to-buy-list for a while).

October 13, 1966 saw Smith in Warsaw at the Jazz Jamboree (4 titles, 3 on a Muza LP)

Then, in 1967 it's back to Copenhagen:

February 18, 1967 (4 tunes, 2 on "Hot Violins", 2 unissued)

Now this is far from complete I assume ... ?

I guess I can happily buy "Hot Stuff", "Swinging Stuff", "Five Fine Violins" and the disc with Chaix ... but I won't have it all then, as far as I can see - but right now I'm rather confused.

jazztrain Contributor

jazztrain

Posted
Posted

Although arguably not relevant to the "where to start" question regarding Stuff Smith, those who have progressed beyond the initial exposure phase may be interested in some really deep material involving Stuff Smith that is available in a series of issues from the AB Fable label. See here: http://www.abar.net/

king ubu Explorer

king ubu

Posted
Posted

Although arguably not relevant to the "where to start" question regarding Stuff Smith, those who have progressed beyond the initial exposure phase may be interested in some really deep material involving Stuff Smith that is available in a series of issues from the AB Fable label. See here: http://www.abar.net/

I'll have to get a bunch of those! Only do have the Nance/Webster (thanks to brownie!) and it's great!

Ken Dryden Experienced

Ken Dryden

Posted
Posted (edited)

Two of the harder to find items:

Stuff Smith Sweet Swingin' Stuff 20th Century Fox LP 3008

I was actually given this copy in a batch of records from a listener's estate. I've never seen it again

anywhere else, as I'd like to have one in better condition.

Stuff Smith Live in Paris, 1965 France's Concert 120

I'm pretty sure this was available on CD as well, though the label disappeared a couple of decades ago.

Edited by Ken Dryden
king ubu Explorer

king ubu

Posted
Posted

The Paris one is nice but not that essential, I'd say. Found it in the bins ... it's one of those Esoldun/INA things that had to be pulled and I guess are to be regarded as boots nowadays. Still if anyone sees it, do grab it! Not enough Stuff around anyway!

JSngry Grand Master

JSngry

Posted
Posted

Although arguably not relevant to the "where to start" question regarding Stuff Smith, those who have progressed beyond the initial exposure phase may be interested in some really deep material involving Stuff Smith that is available in a series of issues from the AB Fable label. See here: http://www.abar.net/

That label is one of those things that have long fascinated me...but I've never bought anything of theirs. The website ordering process seems rather nebulous. Is there a more..."linear" way to get their catalog?

EKE BBB Experienced

EKE BBB

Posted
Posted

Jim:

Email Anthony Barnett with your order ( ab@abar.net ) and he'll send you the invoice. Payment can be made in your currency in various ways including CreditCard via PayPal / Direct Transfer to €uro account / Check / Cheque.

I've bought a couple of discs from him and it all went smooth.

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