The music on this album was originally recorded for radio transcriptions and yet the recording quality is equal to or even exceeds many commercial sessions from this period ; thus it is possible to appreciate unhindered music that is full of contrasts as might be expected with a front line of two fairly extrovert players in Hall and Page, neatly balanced by the gentler work of Morton, with Teddy Wilson neatly anchoring every track with his unique style which employs distinct roles for the left and right hands, displaying subtlety and taste in his selection of notes and chords when backing the front line. The programme is a mixed one, employing favourites from the Goodman era in "Don't Be That Way", "Flying Home" and "Rose Room", standards in such as "Embraceable You" and "Honeysuckle Rose" and some worth while Wilson originals, Not all the music is treated in a pedictable fashion, either ; the controlled exuberance of "Flying Home" due to Wilson making sure the proceedings don't get out of hand, as they so often do on this tune. Teddy's own "Touch of Boogie Woogie" is an appropriate title for this is characteristic Wilson piano at its best, aided by the superb solo Page takes toward the end of the piece. The version of "Indiana" is interesting for it's integration ; all three hornmen are outstanding with Page using the mute and Hall soaring out with a sharp cutting tone. "Mop Mop" is not the usual version but an intriguing piece by Wilson, with a insidious, theme statement which builds towardfs the close, quietens and then rides out in triumphant style. Careful listening will reveal what appear to be bass solos in the manner of Slam Stewart ; however, specific enquiries have shown this more likely to be Al Hall playing in the Stewart genre, humming his improvisation an octave above his bowed bass.
Teddy Wilson apparently recorded only two sides during 1944 (apart from the tracks presented here) and they were for ta V-Disc, meant for the U.S. Armed Forces, the masters of which were supposedly destroyed after the war ended. Thus this album presents the opportunity to hear previously unheard,'materiatl by one of the most consistent musicians in jazz.
Greg Murphy (from the original Liner Notes)
Teddy Wilson
& His Sextet 1944
The Radio Years
(HMG-5020)
Tracks
1 Flying Home (Goodman, Hampton, Robin) 4:58
2 Embraceable You (Gershwin, Gershwin) 4:15
3 A Touch of Boogie (Heard, Wilson) 4:47
4 B-Flat Swing (Wilson) 4:54
5 Don't Be That Way (Goodman, Parish, Sampson) 3:40
6 (Back Home Again In) Indiana (Hanley, MacDonald) 3:08
7 Honeysuckle Rose (Razaf, Waller) 3:46
8 Mop Mop (Heard, Wilson) 4:57
9 I Got Rhythm (Gershwin, Gershwin) 3:03
10 Rose Room (Hickman, Williams) 4:12
11 Oh, Lady Be Good (Gershwin, Gershwin) 3:33
*
Personnel
Teddy Wilson - p
Emmett Berry - tp
Benny Morton - tb
Edmund Hall - cl
Slam Stewart - b
Big Sid Catlett - dr
Recorded in New York City : June 15, 1944