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KING OLIVER’S CREOLE JAZZ BAND: “CENTENNIAL” (Archeophone 6014)

Front Page, Retro Reviews /

For years, jazz history professors had to beg their students to listen to the recordings of King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band. These important sides (featuring the recording debuts of the entire band, including Louis Armstrong) were made before the advent of microphones and the sound was boxy and lacking in both dynamics and bass response. A new collection from Archeophone, King Oliver “Centennial” features breathtaking new transfers of these classic recordings, making them sound clear and natural. Thomas Cunniffer reviews the set and offers insights on the restoration methods.

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TREASURES FROM THE ARCHIVES

Front Page, Retro Reviews /

While major record companies continue to fall by the wayside, small labels like Mosaic, Resonance and Reel-to-Real thrive with limited edition collections of classic jazz. All of the sets included in the present Retro Reviews feature previously issued music from iconic musicians, including Don Byas, Nat Cole, Art Tatum, Shelly Manne and Sonny Rollins. Thomas Cunniffe provides his thoughts on this rich treasure chest of sounds.

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STOMP OFF, LET’S GO: THE EARLY YEARS OF LOUIS ARMSTRONG (by Ricky Riccardi)

Book Reviews, Front Page /

While multi-volume biographies exist for many composers, only a few jazz musicians have been presented with the honor. Ricky Riccardi’s book “Stomp Off, Let’s Go”, detailing the early life of Louis Armstrong, completes Riccardi’s trilogy of Armstrong biographies. Thomas Cunniffe discusses the many qualities (and a few flaws) in this JHO Book Review.

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MONK’S MUSIC: AN ILLUSTRATED DISCOGRAPHY (by Dub Taylor)

Book Reviews, Front Page /

Jazz discographies are typically dry volumes, loaded with names and numbers for recording sessions. However, a new discography, “Monk’s Music”, breaks the rules with full color printing and impressive graphic design. Does it still fulfill the basic requirements of a discography? Thomas Cunniffe tells you the best and worst points in this Book Review.

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MEL POWELL ON VANGUARD (1953-1955)

Front Page, Sidetracks /

In 2023, Scott Wenzel and the late Michael Cuscuna commissioned JHO’s Thomas Cunniffe to write liner notes for two Mosaic collections of classic recordings from the Vanguard label. Produced by John Hammond between 1953 and 1959, the Vanguard Jazz Showcase presented a wide range of jazz musicians performing at peak creativity, and captured with exquisite audio fidelity. The sets were released in late 2024 and early 2025, and Mosaic graciously allowed JHO to reproduce a portion of his liner notes. Cunniffe selected his discussion of Mel Powell’s Vanguard sessions for inclusion here.

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