Various Artists
Concord, 2005, CD
Instrument: Instrumental
Issue: 11.1
Jazz Ruler Type: Bebop
Performance: 5
Sound: 4
Score:
O’s Notes: Harold Arlen was one of the great American songwriters though he was perhaps lesser known than Gershwin or Berlin. He wrote most of his tunes for Black performers at Harlem’s Cotton Club in the 1930’s. This two-disc collection features performances of Harold’s songs by a wide variety of stars. CD #1 is vocals and CD #2, instrumentals. Featured artists include Miles with Sonny Rollins, Bill Evans, Nnenna Freelon, Ernestine Anderson, Art Pepper, Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson (on organ) with Roy Eldridge, Dizzy, Sarah Vaughn and Wes Montgomery. With that group of musicians, you can hardly go wrong. It is a well-done compilation from Concord Jazz.