The Keynote Jazz Collection 1941-1947 (11-CD Box Set)
  • Box Set Front
    Box Set Front
  • Box Set Back
    Box Set Back
  • Volumes 1 - 4
    Volumes 1 - 4
  • Volumes 5 - 8
    Volumes 5 - 8
  • Volumes 9 - 11
    Volumes 9 - 11
  • Harry Lim
    Harry Lim

Keynote Jazz Collection

The Keynote Jazz Collection 1941-1947 (11-CD Box Set)

Fresh Sound Records

 THIS PRODUCT IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN THE U.S. 

· 11 CD Set
· 124-Page Booklet
· Detailed notes & sessionography
· 24 Bit Digitally Remastered
· Poster included

Back in 1940, Keynote Recordings Inc. was a new, small and independent New York company with offices at 522 Fifth Ave., recently founded by Eric Bernay, the owner of a midtown Manhattan record store called The Music Room. Bernay was musically openminded and, looking for a place in the increasingly convulsed American record industry, he launched a catalog of varied music and performers.

The nature of Keynotes early releases stopped them reaching a broader market, but at the end of 1943 he took a decision that, for a while, helped move his business in the right direction: Keynote turned to jazz and for the following three and a half years built up a large 78 rpm record catalog of 10 and 12-inch albums which contributed greatly to documenting the jazz history of forties America.

Responsible for this impressive venture was an unlikely figure; a Javanese fan called Harry Lim. During this relatively short period he used his deep knowledge and great contacts to record some of the most celebrated jazz soloists and outstanding newcomers on the New York, Chicago and Los Angeles jazz scenesdiscs that rapidly became collectors items. This box set is a homage to Harry Lim, who made Keynote the legendary jazz label it is today.

Tracklist

CD 1 · 1941-1944

GEORGE HARTMAN and His Orchestra
01. Diga Diga Doo 3:21
02. Jazz Me Blues 2:59B
03. Muskrat Ramble 3:26
04. Tin Roof Blues 3:45
LESTER YOUNG Quartet
05. Just You Just Me 3:10
06. I Never Knew 3:08
07. Afternoon of a Basie-ite 3:08
08. Sometimes I'm Happy 3:05
SEXTET with DINAH WASHINGTON (*)
09. Evil Gal Blues 2:54
10. I Know How to Do It 3:11
11. Salty Papa Blues 3:03
12. Homeward Bound 2:50
LITTLE JAZZ (ROY ELDRIDGE) And His Trumpet Ensemble
13. Don't Be That Way 3:13
14. I Want to Be Happy 2:58
15. Fiesta in Brass 2:56
16. St. Louis Blues 2:37
COLEMAN HAWKINS Quintet, Featuring TEDDY WILSON
17. I Only Have Eyes for You 3:08
18. 'S Wonderful 2:37
19. I'm in the Mood for Love 3:12
20. Bean at the Met 3:00
COLEMAN HAWKINS Quartet
21. Flamethrower 3:15
22. Imagination 2:48
23. Night and Day 3:20
24. Cattin' at Keynote 2:40

CD 2 · 1944

COZY COLE All Stars
01. Blue Moon 4:33
02. Father Co-Operates 4:47
03. Just One More Chance 4:51
04. Thru for the Night 4:42
KANSAS CITY Seven / KANSAS CITY Five
05. After Theatre Jump 4:43
06. Six Cats and a Prince 4:09
07. Lester Leaps Again 4:24
08. Destination K.C. 3:50
CHARLIE SHAVERS Quintet, Featuring EARL HINES
09. Mountain Air 4:59
10. Curry In and Hurry 4:40
11. Stardust 4:30
12. Rosetta 4:42
COLEMAN HAWKINS and His Sax Ensemble
13. On the Sunny Side of the Street 4:42
14. Three Little Words 4:45
15. Battle of the Saxes 4:35
16. Louise 4:52

CD 3 · 1944

COLEMAN HAWKINS All American Four
01. Make Believe 4:42
02. Don't Blame Me 4:50
03. Just One of Those Things 4:30
04. Hallelujah 3:58
BENNY MORTONS Trombone Choir
05. Where or When 4:39
06. Liza 4:22
07. Once in a While 4:43
08. Sliphorn Outing 4:33
REX STEWARTS Big Eight (*)
09. The Little Goose 3:47
10. Im True to You 3:41
11. Zaza 3:59
12. Swamp Mist 4:35
THE KEYNOTERS
13. You're Driving Me Crazy 4:12
14. I'm in The Market for You 4:35
15. Blue Lou 4:19
16. I Found a New Baby 4:17

CD 4 · 1944

PETE BROWNS All Star Quintet, Featuring KENNY KERSEY
01. It All Depends on You 4:27
02. That's My Weakness Now 4:09
03. It's the Talk of the Town 4:35
04. I May Be Wrong 4:03
RED NORVOS All Star Sextet
05. Subtle Sextology 3:44
06. Blues a la Red 4:13
07. The Man I Love 4:14
08. Seven Come Eleven 4:07
BILLY TAYLORS Big Eight (*)
09. Passin' Me By 2:53
10. Carney-Val in Rhythm 2:43
11. Sam-Pan 2:40
12. Night Wind 3:09
JONAH JONES and His Orchestra
13. Lust for Kicks 2:26
14. Just Like a Butterfly 3:03
15. B.H. Boogie 2:35
16. Twelfth Street Rag 3:03
GEORGE HARTMAN and His Orchestra, Featuring FRANK FROEBA
17. Hindustan 2:49
18. Always 2:59
19. Darktown Strutters Ball 2:12
20. Angry 3:04

CD 5 · 1944-1945

RED NORVOS All Star Septet
01. Russian Lullaby 4:40
02. I Got Rhythm 4:12
03. Sing Something Simple 3:41
COLEMAN HAWKINS Quintet
04. I'm Yours 3:26
05. Under a Blanket of Blue 3:07
06. Beyond the Blue Horizon 2:55
07. A Shanty in Old Shanty Town 2:57
CHARLIE SHAVERS All American Five
08. My Man 3:12
09. El Salon de Gutbucket 2:57
10. Embraceable You 3:00
11. Undecided 2:51
GEORGE WETTLINGS New Yorkers
12. Home 3:33
13. Too Marvelous for Words 4:03
14. You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me 3:54
15. Somebody Loves Me 3:47
CHUBBY JACKSON and His Orchestra
16. Northwest Passage 2:50
17. Cryin' Sands 3:06
COZY COLE and His Orchestra
18. Lover Come Back to Me 2:43
19. Smiles 2:48
20. All of Me 2:43
21. They Didn't Believe Me 2:49

CD 6 · 1945

BARNEY BIGARD Quintet
01. Rose Room 3:12
02. Bojangles 2:53
03. Coquette 2:46
04. Borobudor 2:44
HORACE HENDERSON Orchestra
05. Deed I Do 2:44
06. Make Love to Me 3:02
07. Bunch of Rhythm 3:02
08. Smacks Blues 3:25
BILL HARRIS and His Septet
09. Cross Country 2:56
10. Characteristically, B.H. 3:02
11. Mean to Me 3:25
12. She's Funny That Way 3:19
WILLIE SMITH and His Orchestra
13. September in the Rain 3:06
14. You Ought to Be in Pictures 2:38
15. Moten Swing 3:01
16. Willie Weep for Me 3:02
CORKY CORCORAN and His Orchestra, Featuring EMMETT BERRY
17. What Is This Thing Called Love 2:55
18. Minor Blues 3:12
19. You Know It 2:35
20. Lullaby of the Leaves 3:02
MILT HINTON and His Orchestra
21. Broadway Holdover 2:31
22. Bass Pandemonioum 2:58
23. Everywhere 3:06
24. Beefsteak Charlie 2:29

CD 7 · 1945

J.C. HEARD Quintet
01. Why Do I Love You? 2:35
02. All My Life 2:58
03. Groovin' with J.C. 3:16
04. What's the Use? 3:14
JONAH JONES and His Orchestra
05. Poor John 2:30
06. Trumpet Interlude 3:21
07. Little Sir Echo 2:53
08. Exactly Like You 2:58
IRVING FAZOLAS Dixielanders
09. Someday Sweetheart 3:05
10. Isle of Capri 3:09
11. When Your Love Has Gone 2:43
12. With You, Anywhere You Are 2:55
13. Sweet Lorraine 3:05
14. Mostly Faz 3:17
15. Clarinet Marmalade 2:51
16. Jazz Me Blues 3:03
BUD FREEMAN and His Orchestra (*)
17. Town Hall Blues 3:13
CHUBBY JACKSONS Rhythm
18. Head Quarters 2:55
19. Head Hunters 2:41
20. Sams Caravan 3:08
21. Two Heads Are Better Than One 2:49
BUD FREEMANS All Star Orchestra (*)
22. Tea for Two 2:50
23. Honeysuckle Rose 2:48
24. Room with a View 3:16

CD 8 · 1945-1946

BUD FREEMAN and His Orchestra (*)
01. You Took Advantage of Me 2:53
02. Sentimental Baby 2:55
03. You're My Everything 2:55
04. Blue Room 2:57
05. Time on My Hands 3:08
06. I Found a New Baby 2:55
07. Royal Garden Blues 2:44
08. Midnite at Eddie Condons 2:53
09. Inside on the Southside 2:43
TED NASH Quintet
10. The Girl in My Dreams Tries to Look Like You 3:17
11. I've Got a Pocketful of Dreams 2:59
12. On the Sunny Side of the Street 2:43
13. Wicks Kicks 2:46
THE KEYNOTERS
14. I Can't Believe That You're In Love with Me 3:02
15. The Way You Look Tonight 3:08
16. Airiness A La Nat 2:35
17. My Old Flame 3:00
BABE RUSSIN Quartet
18. Like Someone In Love 3:03
19. All the Things Your Are 2:46
20. I Heard You Cry Last Night 2:52
21. Zing Went the Strings of My Heart 2:59
MANNY KLEIN All Stars
22. Give Me Something to Remember You By 3:07
23. After You've Gone 2:37
24. Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen 2:38
25. At Sundown 3:14

CD 9 · 1946

BABE RUSSIN Quintet
01. Easy to Love 2:46
02. 5054 Whitsett 2:43
HERBIE HAYMERS Orchestra
03. I Saw Stars 3:10
04. Sweet and Lovely 2:58
05. China Boy 3:02
CLYDE HURLEY and His Orchestra
06. I've Got a Feeling Im Falling 2:57
07. Dancing on the Ceiling 3:09
08. Out of Nowhere 2:56
09. On the Trail 2:59
ARNOLD ROSS Quintet
10. The Moon Is Low 2:50
11. Stairway to the Stars 3:09
12. Bye Bye Blues 2:45
13. I Don't Know Why I Love You, Like I Do 3:06
JUAN TIZOL and His Orchestra
14. Keb-Lah 3:03
15. The Sphinx 3:03
16. Zanzibar 3:03
17. You Can't Have Your Cake and Eat It 2:37
BENNY CARTER Quintet
18. Moonglow 2:51
19. Give Me Something to Remember You By 2:48
20. Lady Be Good 2:39
21. Deep Purple 3:12
MARIE BRYANT (*)
22. Blue Skies 2:56
23. Ice Cream Brick 3:02
BERNIE LEIGHTON Quintet (*)
24. Waiting for Leighton 2:31

CD 10 · 1946

BILL HARRIS and His New Music
01. Everything Happens to Me 3:07
02. Frustration 2:55
ANN HATHAWAY with ELLIS LARKINS and His Orchestra (*)
03. Come Rain or Come Shine 3:06
04. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea 2:59
BERNIE LEIGHTON Quartet
05. Beyond the Moon 2:37
06. Have You Met Miss Jones 2:58
07. I See Your Face Before Me 3:05
08. Moten Swing 2:55
09. Things Are Looking Up 3:09
JOE THOMAS and His Orchestra
10. You Can Depend On Me 3:03
11. She Didn't Say Yes 3:08
12. Black Butterfly 3:03
13. Pocatello 2:47
GEORGE BARNES Sextet
14. Windy City Flash 2:36
15. Barnes at Dublins 2:41
16. Laughing at Life 3:07
17. Blue Lou 2:58
18. Quiet, Two Gibsons at Work 3:01
19. Pink Elephants 2:38
20. Lover Come Back to Me 2:51
21. Whats the Use 2:26
LENNIE TRISTANO Trio
22. Out of a Limb 2:42
23. I Can't Get Started with You 2:57
24. I Surrender Dear 3:07
25. Interlude 3:07
26. Untitled Blues 3:48

CD 11 · 1946-1947

DANNY HURD Orchestra
01. Available Jones 3:04
02. You Stepped Out of a Dream 3:06
03. Long Ago and Far Away 2:57
04. Dreamy Afternoon 2:50
DAVE LAMBERT & BUDDY STEWART with RED RODNEYS Be-Boppers
05. A Cent and a Half 2:55
06. Perdido 3:03
07. Charge Account 2:45
08. Gussie G 2:51
GENE SEDRIC Orchestra
09. Teasin' 2:59
10. T-I-L-L-I-E 2:56
11. I Can't Give You Anything But Love 2:44
12. I Got Rhythm 2:46
NEAL HEFTI and His Orchestra
13. Siboney 2:45
14. Mad About the Boy 3:07
15. I Woke Up Dizzy 3:03
16. Sloppy Joes 2:50
RED RODNEYS Be-Boppers
17. All Gods Chillun Got Rhythm 2:49
18. Elevation 2:56
19. Fine and Dandy 2:42
20. The Goof and I 3:01
LENNIE TRISTANO Trio (*)
21. Blue Boy 2:49
22. Atonement 2:31
23. Coolin' Off with Ulanov 2:50

Album details

All tracks recorded in New Orleans, New York, Chicago & Los Angeles

Personnel, discography and recording information full detailed in the booklet
All sessions supervised by Harry Lim, except where indicated (*) by Leonard Feather, Steve Smith, Eric Bernay and John Hammond

This compilation and his liner notes produced
for CD release by Jordi Pujol

Mastering: Pieter De Wagter
Graphic design by Rafa Ros & Jordi Pujol
Photos: FSR archives

24-Bit Digitally Remastered
________________________________________________________

This box set is an hommage to Harry Lim, the man who made Keynote the legendary jazz label it remains in the history of the music up to the present day.

Press reviews

"At last, we have all of the invaluable Keynote sides in a comprehensive, organized, beautifully produced box set. This is a major jazz event."

Doug Ramsey -Rifftides
________________________________________________________

"The invaluable Spanish jazz-reissue company Fresh Sound Records recently entered new territory by out-doing itself with a huge 11-disc reissue called The Keynote Jazz Collection, 1941-47. [] It offers a stunning cross-section of 1940s jazz in all its various styles, during a time when the music was in a process of transition as bebop was developing. More than one commentator has said that although its still early in the year, this is likely the jazz reissue of 2014."

Steve Wallace (February 21, 2014)
For the full text visit:
http://wallacebass.com/?p=2300/
________________________________________________________

"The American label's heyday didn't last all that long -it's jazz operations didn't really get into gear until 1943- but the legacy is rich. Count Basie, Charlie Shavers and Lester Young were among the many star names to cross the threshold, and if the emphasis is on insouciant swing, there's also a strong consignement of bebop from the young Red Rodney and Dave Lambert among others. Lennie Tristano makes a fleeting appearance, too. Of all the diligently packaged reissues to arrive in the past year or two, this could well be the best."

Clive Davis (January 25, 2014)
The Sunday Times Culture magazine
________________________________________________________

REISSUE OF THE YEAR?!?!?

"Well, here it is, the beginning of the year, and Im afraid that the best reissue of 2014 has already been determined. There is just NO WAY that Mosaic, Sony Legacy or Concord are going to match the wonderfully voluminous 11 cd set just released by Fresh Sound Records.

To appreciate this massive boxed set, you have to start with a simple question: Who was Harry Lim?

Basically, he was to Keynote what Alfred Lion was to Blue Note in setting the tone and direction of the company. This Javanese jazz fan came to the label and like a kid in a candy store started recording every jazz artist that he could find worth putting on wax. The beauty of this set is that Lim recorded major artists like Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Dinah Washington, Earl Hines, Nat King Cole, Count Basie, and Benny Carter as well as lesser knowns such as Allen Eager, Serge Chaloff, Willie Smith and Joe Thomas. What makes it a DOUBLE beauty is that the years that Lim recorded these gents (and ladies!) was that jazz was in the sublime transition of moving from swing to the nascent thing called bebop, so you get to encounter that paradigm shift at ground zero. What a treat!

Thus, sessions with Young, Hawkins, Red Rodney, Lennie Tristano, Chubby Jackson point to the future with startling vision while other recordings with Hines, Charlie Shavers, Rex Stewart, Barney Bigard and Bud Freeman show that swing could still be the thing. There are even recordings that capture the resurgence of traditional, and the fact is in vivid display as the first disc opens with George Hartmans band playing Chicago styled tunes, followed in sequence by the leader of the newest sound in town, Lester Young. Prez is at his absolute zenith here, and floats on Sometimes Im Happy and I Never Knew, while Hawkins comes in on following sessions and is majesterial on Cattin at Keynote and Bean at the Met. Red Rodneys Beboppers are total hipsters on The Goof and I while Lennie Tristanos Trio burns with dry ice on Coolin Off with Ulanov . You also have some smoking big band sessions, such as Neal Hefti giving his portend of Basie things to come on I Woke Up Dizzy and Sloppy Joes and Chubby Jackson showing his Herd instincts on Norhwest Passage.

What is also delightful about this collection is that Lim brings to light artists that deserved more of a spotlight than they originally received at the time. Rich toned tenor Corky Corcoran, who was a sideman for Harry James, leads a cooking orchestra that also included trumpeter Emmett Berry with some nice charts on What Is This Thing Called Love and Minor Blues. Altoist Willie Smith, also was a sideman for James, fronts a large band along with Les Paul/g and Billy May/tp-arr on a gorgeous September in the Rain and snapping Moten Swing. Lots of Ellingtonians pop by for some small group takes, with Johnny Hodges and Harry Carney sneaking into Billy Taylors 44 Big Eight and Barney Bigard leading a quintet with Johnny Guarnieri for a sublime 45 version of Coquette. After taking in this music, even in small doses, you start realizing how individual each musician sounds on his instrument. No one went to Berklee or Manhattan School of Music in those days. Heck, a lot of these guys couldnt even READ music; all they had was their own personality and a bucket load of ideas with an incessant sense of swing. To paraphrase Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, We didnt need dialogue, we had FACES.

Obviously, youre getting the basic picture here, but the part of this set that makes the whole package irresistible is the accompanying 124 page booklet that gives EXHAUSTIVE background information on each of the sessions and recording artists. If these liner notes dont win a Grammy, theres no justice this side of heaven as writer Jordi Pujol puts together a history of the label and Lim, lists encyclopedic session notes, and even brings in vintage Downbeat and Metronome articles to deliver a background of the times and sounds. Photos of EVERYONE that graced the 78s is included on a wonderful mini-poster, and photos of the artists in and out of the studio are graced throughout the booklet. This is not only the best thing you might buy this year, but it also wouldnt be doing you much harm if it were even the ONLY thing you bought this year. Take it in, soak it up and start living a fuller life!"

George Harris -February 3, 2014
www.jazzweekly.com
________________________________________________________

"Youll find some of Lester Youngs and Willie Smiths finest playing here. Gigantic piano performances abound from Nat Cole, Teddy Wilson, Johnny Guarnieri and Hines. In this wonderful box are the US tracks that are missing from Mosaics Coleman Hawkins set. And the trumpeters on those were Buck Clayton and Charlie Shavers, both at high points in their careers.

Theres not much of trumpeter Joe Thomas available these days, but here is his masterpiece, Pocatello. A good helping of fine Bill Harris is compounded by one of Teagardens best later sessions where he sings a beautiful version of Home, with superb backing from Wettlings group, Hawkins again rampant and dazzling piano from the little-known Tatum sound alike, Herman Chittinson.

Rex Stewart has a typically original session, climaxed by his evocative tune Swamp Mist. The band includes Lawrence Brown, Harry Carney and Tab Smith. Arnold Ross has Benny Carter in his quintet. Theres some refreshing Bud Freeman, with Shavers, Billy Butterfield, Ed Hall, Wild Bill, Peanuts, Dave Tough, Joe Sullivan and Gene Schroeder.

Bucks back in JC Heards group, and there are eight tracks recorded in New Orleans by Irving Fazolas seven-piece. Joe Thomas is in several of the bands, including alto player Pete Browns, and Shavers and Jonah Jones combine with Budd Johnson to make a lively front line for one version of the Keynoters. The other band by that name has dazzling piano work from Nat Cole as he backs Willie Smith, and Willies other group erupts with dazzling solos from Les Paul in great form.

Even Shorty Rogers pops up in some of his earliest work (1945) along with Don Byas and Cozy Cole, and Ralph Burns, Flip, Bill Harris, Bauer and Tough crossed the road from the Herman band to join Chubby Jacksons group. The 1944 Kansas City Seven had Lester at his best, with great playing from Buck Clayton, Dickie Wells and a piano player called Prince Charming, elevated in rank from a Count. The Young quartets are dazzling, not least for Guarnieris piano work.

Its Billy Taylor the bassist, not the piano player, and his Big Eight includes Harry Carney, Johnny Guarnieri and one Harvey on alto. There was a film at the time (1944) about a giant rabbit by that name, and Johnny Hodgess nickname was Rabbit. Go figure.

Eldridges trumpet ensemble includes Joe Thomas and Emmett Berry, with Guarnieri again and Hawks saxophone version has Tab Smith, Byas and Carney with Guarnieri again. These great tracks, like some of the Hawkins quartets and quintets, found their way out here on Phillips LPs, whilst the Young stuff was on a 10-inch Mercury. A lot of the recordings were made for 12 inch 78s, and this leads to plenty of relaxed and extended performances.

Its good that, more than half a century after Harry Lim, owner of the Keynote label, became such a prolific benefactor of jazz, his recordings should be so beautifully presented by Fresh Sound. Jordi Pujol should be congratulated for the imaginative and unstinting presentation of the music. The 124-page booklet is full of fascinating text and photographs. The CDs, in robust card sleeves, have their own box and that box and the booklet are contained in yet another box. Five stars? This box should have its own star system and get 10."

Steve Voce (March, 2014)
-Jazz Journal

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69,95 €  (tax incl.)

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