I’ve loved the 1943-44 recordings by the Blue Note Jazzmen since I first heard them in the early Seventies. Here’s James P. Johnson’s pensive yet dramatic composition, BLUE MIZZ, from 1944 — with the personnel listed on the label. I’ve kept this link even though the disc has serious skips:
Thanks to friend and swing star Michael Gamble, here’s a link that doesn’t skip:
And here’s a holy relic just spotted a few minutes ago on eBay. The seller (link here) is asking slightly more than eighty-five dollars for the disc, which is not within my budget at the moment (is it too boastful to say that I have two Vic autographs, one that he signed for me?) . . . but I thought you would like to see the combination of sound, object, and the touch of a hero’s hand:
Bless the artists who made these sounds, and let us not forget a single one.
May your happiness increase!
A postscript: I created this posting about ninety minutes ago: someone bought the record described above, which makes me feel quite good . . . Vic devotees are reading JAZZ LIVES! Also — the race IS to the swift. Twenty-four hours later, I realized that the disc might have been bought by someone who’s never read this blog — but the illusion of my connecting the cosmic dots is one I will hang on to a little longer.
One of the best sessions of all time. Victory Stride is fabulous, too. Such lovely playing by everyone.
Agreed, tyleman, wonderful sides they are.
The Mosaic James P Johnson set is also of great value (if still available)
The lp set has been out of print for a long time but much of the music is available on CD still, and the “vinyl” sets proliferate on eBay at sometimes reasonable prices.
The one I was referring to…
“Classic James P. Johnson Sessions”
…is fairly recently out-of-print and I am glad I have it!
Yes, that one is the fulfillment of a collector’s dream!