EKE BBB Posted January 27, 2004 Report Posted January 27, 2004 (edited) In the early-to-mid 90´s they launched some very interesting series with "Complete" or "Quintaessential" chronological collections of early jazz artists on CD: Mezzrow-Bechet 45-47 ; Fats Waller & his rhythm 34-43 ; King Oliver 23-31 ; Louis Armstrong & the singers 24-30 ; Armstrong from the original Okehs 27-32 ; Ma Rainey ; Jelly Roll piano rolls... I have a bunch of them and find them very, very useful to fill gaps in my collection. The only piece I´ve read about this label is included in their booklets: "King Jazz was the label under which the Mezzrow-Bechet 1945-47 recordings were originally issued. In 1960 Mr. Mezzrow sold it to Alessandro Protti, the Italian music producer and Johnny Dodds specialist. King Jazz is now back in business wich a 96 CD program dedicated to the finest and rarest traditional jazz..." Anybody´s got some additional information on this label? I got my copies in some Collectors Fair in Madrid a few years ago. Anybody knows where could I find some of these rare CDs (on-line or not)? Thanks in advance Edited January 27, 2004 by EKE BBB Quote
jazzbo Posted January 27, 2004 Report Posted January 27, 2004 I have a lot of King Jazz cds. . . they're very good content wise, but they are very early digital and suffer a bit from edgy sound. . . . Really I don't think this new label has any valid connection to the Mezzrow label, but I could be wrong. These have not been produced for many moons, and are very hard to find these days. In most cases the material is now out in better sounding editions though I still have been keeping the King Jazz cds in cases where I have the others; I feel sentimental to them as they helped me to discover some great music! Quote
EKE BBB Posted January 27, 2004 Author Report Posted January 27, 2004 Thanks, Lon. That´s right, sound´s not good by today standards... ... but anyway I want to complete my Ma Rainey collection!!! I have volumes 2, 3 and 4 and have never been able to find that volume 1. Quote
Harold_Z Posted January 27, 2004 Report Posted January 27, 2004 All the Bechet/Mezzrow King Jazz sides are available in great sound on Jazzology. Quote
Harold_Z Posted January 27, 2004 Report Posted January 27, 2004 You might want to check Jazzology's catalogue for the Ma Rainey. http://www.jazzology.com/index.php Quote
FrancoisD Posted January 28, 2004 Report Posted January 28, 2004 (edited) Part of the King Jazz catalog is still available at Blue Moon Edited January 28, 2004 by FrancoisD Quote
brownie Posted January 28, 2004 Report Posted January 28, 2004 Got recently vol. 1 and 2 of the King Jazz 'Muggsy, Tesch, Eddie and the Chicagoans'. The transfers were credited to John R.T. Davies. Sound is good. Better than some other King Jazz CDs I heard (the Ma Raney series for instance). Quote
EKE BBB Posted January 28, 2004 Author Report Posted January 28, 2004 Got recently vol. 1 and 2 of the King Jazz 'Muggsy, Tesch, Eddie and the Chicagoans'. The transfers were credited to John R.T. Davies. Sound is good. Better than some other King Jazz CDs I heard (the Ma Raney series for instance). Yes that Paramount Ma Rainey sides have a truely awful sound! Quote
Christiern Posted January 10, 2006 Report Posted January 10, 2006 All Paramount recordings from the 1920s had abominable sound. When the label joined the competition in switching to "electrical" recording ,it was suggested that Paramount had done little more than light a bulb in the studio. It's really a shame that Ma Rainey never recorded under optimal conditions. As for the Mezzrow-Bechet King Jazz sides, they have been remastered for another release by Storyville. I am getting ready to work on the notes. Quote
AllenLowe Posted January 10, 2006 Report Posted January 10, 2006 I will do a little self-promotion here and suggest you pick up the Ma Rainey that Shout put out - it's too short, but Jack Towers did the original transfers and I did the restoration. It's quite listenable, if I must say so myself - Quote
Kalo Posted January 10, 2006 Report Posted January 10, 2006 I bought some Armstrong on the King Jazz label many moons ago, and I agree about the "edgy" sound. I got rid of them. You're working for Shout now, Alan? Quote
Fer Urbina Posted January 10, 2006 Report Posted January 10, 2006 Since you asked for any information, it seems that King Jazz (Italy) would be somehow related to Fresh Sound (Spain). They had the same distributor (Camarillo Music Ltd) and their CDs were manufactured -at the time- by the same company (Tecval of Switzerland). Small world, I guess. F Quote
blake Posted January 11, 2006 Report Posted January 11, 2006 I believe the Jazz Record Mart has some King Jazz titles available. Quote
AllenLowe Posted January 12, 2006 Report Posted January 12, 2006 Shout is the same guys who used to own Rhino - I did a few projects for that label, and then some research for SHout as well as the Ma Rainey - niothing since then - Quote
AllenLowe Posted January 12, 2006 Report Posted January 12, 2006 Shout is the same guys who used to own Rhino - I did a few projects for that label, and then some research for SHout as well as the Ma Rainey - nothing since then - Quote
Christiern Posted March 13, 2012 Report Posted March 13, 2012 All Paramount recordings from the 1920s had abominable sound. When the label joined the competition in switching to "electrical" recording ,it was suggested that Paramount had done little more than light a bulb in the studio. It's really a shame that Ma Rainey never recorded under optimal conditions. As for the Mezzrow-Bechet King Jazz sides, they have been remastered for another release by Storyville. I am getting ready to work on the notes. I don't recall posting the above, but I have to wonder why I am now—six years later—writing notes for the complete King Jazz boxed set (5 CDs) Have I entered the twilight zone? Quote
EKE BBB Posted March 13, 2012 Author Report Posted March 13, 2012 (edited) All Paramount recordings from the 1920s had abominable sound. When the label joined the competition in switching to "electrical" recording ,it was suggested that Paramount had done little more than light a bulb in the studio. It's really a shame that Ma Rainey never recorded under optimal conditions. As for the Mezzrow-Bechet King Jazz sides, they have been remastered for another release by Storyville. I am getting ready to work on the notes. I don't recall posting the above, but I have to wonder why I am now—six years later—writing notes for the complete King Jazz boxed set (5 CDs) Have I entered the twilight zone? Anyway, the release of that box set, and your writting of the liner notes is really good news! Edited March 13, 2012 by EKE BBB Quote
EKE BBB Posted December 29, 2020 Author Report Posted December 29, 2020 (edited) FWIW, here's the complete* CD listing for King Jazz: Mezzrow-Bechet Septet* & Quintet* Vol. 1: 1945: Blood On The Moon (CD, Comp, RM) KJ 101 FS 1992 Mezzrow-Bechet Quintet* Vol. 2: 1945/46: Gone Away Blues (CD, Comp) KJ 102 FS 1992 Mezzrow-Bechet Quintet* Vol. 3: 1946/47: Where Am I? (CD, Comp) KJ 103 FS 1992 Mezzrow-Bechet Quintet* Vol. 4: 1947: Delta Moood (CD, Comp) KJ 104 FS 1992 "Jelly Roll" Morton* The Complete "Jelly Roll" Morton 1923/29 Piano Heritage - Volume 1 1923/24 (CD, Comp) KJ 105 FS 1992 "Jelly Roll" Morton* The Complete "Jelly Roll" Morton 1923/29 Piano Heritage - Volume 2 1924/29 (CD, Comp) KJ 106 FS 1992 Various Muggsy, Tesch, Eddie And The Chicagoans - Volume 1 1922/27 (CD, Comp) KJ 107 FS 1992 Various Muggsy, Tesch, Eddie And The Chicagoans - Volume 2 1928/29 (CD, Comp) KJ 108 FS 1992 New Orleans Rhythm Kings The Complete New Orleans Rhythm Kings - Volume 1 1922/23 KJ 109 FS 1992 New Orleans Rhythm Kings The Complete New Orleans Rhythm Kings - Volume 2 1924 KJ 110 FS 1992 Freddie Keppard The Complete Freddie Keppard 1923/27 Heritage (CD, Comp) KJ 111 FS 1992 King Oliver The Complete Joseph ''King'' Oliver Heritage 1923/31 Vol. 1 1923 (CD, Comp, RE) KJ 112 FS 1992 King Oliver The Complete Joseph "King" Oliver Heritage 1923/31 Vol. 2 - 1923-1926 (CD, Album, Comp) KJ 113 FS 1992 Fats Waller & His Rhythm The Complete Thomas "Fats" Waller And His Rhythm Vol. 1 1934/35 (CD, Album, Comp) KJ 114 FS 1992 Thomas "Fats" Waller And His Rhythm* The Complete Thomas "Fats" Waller And His Rhythm 1934/43. Vol.2 1935 (CD) KJ 115 FS 1992 Fats Waller The Complete Thomas "Fats" Waller And His Rhythm 1934/43, Vol.3 1935 (CD, Comp) KJ 116 FS 1992 Thomas "Fats" Waller And His Rhythm* The Complete Thomas "Fats" Waller And His Rhythm 1934/43. Vol. 4 1934/35 (CD) KJ 117 FS 1992 Original Dixieland Jazz Band The Original Dixieland Jazz Band In London 1919-20 (CD, Album, Comp) KJ 118 FS 1993 Louis Armstrong The Complete Louis Armstrong With Fletcher Henderson Vol. 1 1924/25 (CD, Comp) KJ 119 SF 1993 Louis Armstrong The Complete Louis Armstrong With Fletcher Henderson Vol. 2, 1925 (CD, Comp) KJ 120 FS 1993 Louis Armstrong The Complete Louis Armstrong with Clarence Williams, Vol. 1 1924/25 (CD, Comp) KJ 121 FS 1993 Louis Armstrong The Complete Louis Armstrong with Clarence Williams, Vol. 2 1925 (CD, Comp) KJ 122 FS 1993 Mezz Mezzrow The Quintessential Milton ''Mezz'' Mezzrow (CD, Comp, RE) KJ 123 Fs 1993 McKinney's Cotton Pickers The Complete McKinney's Cotton Pickers. Great Alternatives 1928-1931 (CD, Comp) KJ 124 FS 1993 Thomas "Fats" Waller And His Rhythm* The Complete Thomas "Fats" Waller And His Rhythm 1934/43. Vol.5 1936 (CD) KJ 125 FS 1993 Thomas "Fats" Waller And His Rhythm* The Complete Thomas "Fats" Waller And His Rhythm 1934/43. Vol.6 1936/37 (CD) KJ 126 FS 1993 Thomas "Fats" Waller And His Rhythm* The Complete Thomas "Fats" Waller and His Rhythm 1934/43 Vol.7 1937 (CD, Album) KJ 127 FS 1993 Thomas "Fats" Waller And His Rhythm* The Complete Thomas "Fats" Waller And His Rhythm 1934/43. Vol.8 1937/38 (CD) KJ 128 FS 1993 Thomas "Fats" Waller And His Rhythm* The Complete Thomas "Fats" Waller and His Rhythm 1934/43 Vol.9 1938 (CD, Album) KJ 129 FS 1993 Thomas "Fats" Waller And His Rhythm* The Complete Thomas "Fats" Waller And His Rhythm 1934/43. Vol.10 1938/39 (CD) KJ 130 FS 1993 Thomas "Fats" Waller And His Rhythm* The Complete Thomas "Fats" Waller And His Rhythm 1934/43. Vol.11 1939/40 (CD) KJ 131 FS 1993 Thomas "Fats" Waller And His Rhythm* The Complete Fats Waller and his Rhythm, 1934-1943, volume 12 - 1940 KJ 132 FS 1993 Thomas "Fats" Waller And His Rhythm* The Complete Fats Waller and his Rhythm 1934-1943, volume 13 - 1940/41 KJ 133 FS 1993 Thomas "Fats" Waller And His Rhythm* The Complete Fats Waller and his Rhythm 1934-1943, volume 14 - 1941/43 KJ 134 FS 1993 King Oliver The Complete Joseph ''KIng'' Oliver 1923/31: Vol. 3 1926/28 (CD, Comp, RE) KJ 135 FS 1993 King Oliver The Complete Joseph "King" Oliver 1923/31 Heritage Vol. 4 1928 (CD, Comp, RE, RM) KJ 136 FS 1993 King Oliver The Complete Joseph "King" Oliver 1923/31 Heritage Vol. 5 1928/29 (CD, Comp, RE, RM) KJ 137 FS 1993 King Oliver The Complete Joseph "King" Oliver 1923/31 Heritage Vol. 6 1929/31 (CD, Comp, RE, RM) KJ 138 FS 1993 Louis Armstrong The Complete Louis Armstrong & The Singers 1924/30, Vol.1, 1924/25 (CD, Comp) KJ 139 FS 1993 Louis Armstrong The Complete Louis Armstrong & The Singers 1924/30 Vol. 2 1925 (CD, Comp) KJ 140 FS 1993 Louis Armstrong The Complete Louis Armstrong & The Singers 1924/30 Volume 3 1925/26 (CD, Comp) KJ 141 FS 1993 Louis Armstrong The Complete Louis Armstrong & The Singers Vol. 4 1926/30 (CD, Comp) KJ 142 FS 1993 BillIe Holiday The Complete Billie Holiday With The Ellingtonians 1935/37 KJ 143 FS 1993 Duke Ellington The Original Edward "Duke" Ellington Hits Vol. 1, 1927/31 (CD, Comp) KJ 144 FS 1993 Duke Ellington The Original Edward “Duke” Ellington Hits Vol. 2 1931/38 (CD, Album, Comp) KJ 145 FS 1993 Louis Armstrong From The Original Okehs, Vol. 1: 1925/27 (CD, Album, Comp) KJ 146 FS 1993 Louis Armstrong From The Original Okehs, Vol. 2: 1927/28 (CD, Album, Comp) KJ 147 FS 1993 Louis Armstrong From The Orignial OKEHs Vol. 3 1928/29 (CD, Comp) KJ 148 FS 1993 Louis Armstrong From The Original OKehs Vol. 4 1929/31 (CD, Comp) KJ 149 FS 1993 Louis Armstrong And His Orchestra From The Original Okehs Vol. 5 1931/32 (CD, Album) KJ 150 FS 1993 Louis Armstrong A Rare Batch Of Louis Armstrong 1926-28 Plus The Big Bands Great Alternatives 1928-29 (CD, Album, Comp, RM) KJ 151 FS 1993 Jimmie Noone The quintessential Jimmie Noone 1928/38 KJ 152 FS 1993 Louis Armstrong The Louis Armstrong Great Alternatives 1929/37 (CD, Comp) KJ 153 FS 1993 Hoagy Carmichael Hoagy Sings And Plays Carmichael 1927/39 KJ 154 FS 1993 Original Dixieland Jazz Band The Complete U.S.A. Recordings 1917/21 (CD, Comp) KJ 155 FS 1993 BillIe Holiday The Complete Billie Holiday Mastertakes Collection 1933-1942: Volume 1 1933/36 (CD, Comp, RE) KJ 156 FS 1993 BillIe Holiday The Complete Billie Holiday Mastertakes Collection 1933-1942: Volume 3 1936/37 (CD, Comp, RE) KJ 157 FS 1993 BillIe Holiday The Complete Billie Holiday Mastertakes Collection 1933-1942: Volume 3 1937 (CD, Comp, RE) KJ 158 FS 1993 BillIe Holiday The Complete Billie Holiday Mastertakes Collection 1933-1942: Volume 4 1937/38 (CD, Comp, RE) KJ 159 FS 1993 BillIe Holiday The Complete Billie Holiday Mastertakes Collection 1933-1942: Volume 5 1937/38 (CD, Comp, RE) KJ 160 FS 1993 BillIe Holiday The Complete Billie Holiday Mastertakes Collection 1933-1942: Volume 6 1937/38 (CD, Comp, RE) KJ 161 FS 1993 BillIe Holiday The Complete Billie Holiday Mastertakes Collection 1933-1942: Volume 7 1940/42(CD, Comp, RE) KJ 162 FS 1993 Tommy Ladnier Play That Thing / The Quintessential, 1923/39 (CD, Comp) KJ 170 FS 1994 Billie Holiday The Complete Billie Holiday Alternates 1936/42 Vol. 1 1936/38 (CD, Comp) KJ 171 FS 1993 Billie Holiday The Complete Billie Holiday Alternates 1936/42 Vol. 2 1938/40 (CD, Comp) KJ 172 FS 1993 Billie Holiday The Complete Billie Holiday Alternates 1936/42 Vol. 3 1940/42 (CD, Comp) KJ 173 FS 1993 Madam Gertrude "Ma" Rainey* The Complete Madam Gertrude "Ma" Rainey Master Takes Collection 1923/28, Vol.1, 1923/24 KJ 181 FS 1994 Madam Gertrude "Ma" Rainey* The Complete Madam Gertrude "Ma" Rainey Master Takes Collection 1923/28, Vol.2, 1924/26 KJ 182 FS 1994 Madam Gertrude "Ma" Rainey* The Complete Madam Gertrude "Ma" Rainey Master Takes Collection 1923/28, Vol.3, 1926/27 (CD, Comp, Mono) KJ 183 FS 1994 Madam Gertrude "Ma" Rainey* The Complete Madam Gertrude "Ma" Rainey Master Takes Collection 1923/28, Vol 4, 1927/28 (CD, Comp, Mono) KJ 184 FS 1994 Chet Baker The Complete Chet Baker 1959 Milano Sessions (CD, Comp) KJ 185 FS 1994 * As complete as I have managed to compile with several sources (amongst them, Tom Lord Discography and Discogs). Any further help is much appreciated Edited December 29, 2020 by EKE BBB Quote
jazz man Posted December 20, 2022 Report Posted December 20, 2022 Does anyone know if there are any good sounding King Jazz discs? It seems like one of the few place to find certain material (freddie keppard for instance). I've found some that seem tempting to buy, but wouldn't want to waste the money if they suffer from "edgy" sound Quote
Gheorghe Posted December 20, 2022 Report Posted December 20, 2022 "King Jazz" ? I only remember an Italian semi-bootleg label "Kings of Jazz" which were subtitled as "At his Rare of all Rarest Performances". They usually was broadcasts from Birdland, like a set of Miles with Rollins and JJ., and one other with Miles and Stan Getz, and there was also an Art Blakey live, that´s what I had, they were cheap and you had some live music sound if you could stand the not so good sound quality. It´s possible that they had old time jazz also, but I had only those mentioned LPs. Quote
mjzee Posted December 20, 2022 Report Posted December 20, 2022 I had the 7 Billie Holiday discs on King Jazz. Sound was OK, and I played them until supplanted by the superior-sounding Sony box. But they were cheap back in the day; don’t know what a Freddie Keppard would cost today. I was always intrigued by George Avakian’s participation in the label; seemed like a real break from working with the major labels. Quote
EKE BBB Posted December 20, 2022 Author Report Posted December 20, 2022 I have the Tommy Ladnier disc, the Ma Raineys, the King Olivers and a bunch more. I agree with mjzee: sound is ok (nothing special, in any direction). Quote
Big Beat Steve Posted December 20, 2022 Report Posted December 20, 2022 (edited) 5 hours ago, Gheorghe said: "King Jazz" ? I only remember an Italian semi-bootleg label "Kings of Jazz" which were subtitled as "At his Rare of all Rarest Performances". They usually was broadcasts from Birdland, like a set of Miles with Rollins and JJ., and one other with Miles and Stan Getz, and there was also an Art Blakey live, that´s what I had, they were cheap and you had some live music sound if you could stand the not so good sound quality. It´s possible that they had old time jazz also, but I had only those mentioned LPs. Totally different and unrelated label. Nothing to do whatsoever with the reissue label that EKE BBB showed a CD reissue listing here 2 years ago. @all: Seems like people are actually talking about at least two or (including the one that Gheorghe mentions) three unrelated albels. This is getting confusing. The "King Jazz" label with the Mezzrow-Bechet mid-40s releases was a real label and has OFTEN been reissued, including several pressings of LPs on the Storyville label (which seem to be the most orderly vinyl reissue versions to me). That these releases ended up on the more recent reissue label of the same name seems to be just a coincidence. so the connection made in the quote in the opening post to this thread long ago certainly sounds like bogus to me. As for the sound of the reissues, what could one reasonably expect if the originals were on Paramount or other "acoustic era" 20s labels? Takes some determination not to consider this typical sound "edgy" 😁 - particularly if you're not fully used to listening to jazz recorded and first released in the pre-LP era (and, as has often happened, reissued from less than pristine 78s) anyway. But it CAN be done if you are a fan of the MUSIC. 😉 Edited December 20, 2022 by Big Beat Steve Quote
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