Bixology (Giants of Jazz)

This Time-Life Giants of Jazz collation gave the listener a thorough primer on a brief (1927 and 1928) but crucial period in Bix Beiderbecke's career... Beiderbecke was among the first important players in jazz to bring a sense of artistic consciousness to his work. He was schooled in the classics, had a decent foundation in theory, and was articulate enough to talk intelligently about what he played. Whereas Louis Armstrong fulminated with instinctive brillance and urgent power, Beiderbecke found it possible to create in a bold but circumspect manner. Of the 40 selections included on the three LPs, 34 were from the 1927-1928 period. No significant Beiderbecke landmarks were ignored and some lesser efforts were included, too, i.e., "Crying All Day," twhich was to Beiderbecke's "Singin' The Blues" as Coleman Hawkins' "Rainbow Mist" was to his "Body and Soul" or "Humpty Dumpty," with its insinuations of "Charleston Alley" and modest Beiderbecke solo presence. But we get "I'm Coming Virginia," "Jazz Me Blues," the driving and harmonically alert "Lonely Melody" with Paul Whiteman, and many other gems. ~ John McDonough, Downbeat, Rovi