Bix Beiderbecke was one of the most important figures in the early years of jazz, his trumpet and cornet performances influencing a host of contemporaries and later performers within the genre. Despite the brevity of his career - he succumbed to alcohol abuse at the age of 28 - he recorded a substantial body of work, both with his own early small bands such as the Wolverine Orchestra, and with the leading orchestras of the time led by Jean Goldkette, Frankie Trumbauer and Paul Whiteman. This great value 50-track 2-CD set brings together recordings from across his career, from his first session in 1924 through to his final session with Hoagy Carmichael in 1930. It features not only Bix, but many other top names of the era, and is a fine cross-section of Bix's work. It has been carefully selected to avoid duplication with any tracks on our existing Bix Beiderbecke CD on the Fabulous label (FABCD144) so the two together will provide a fine overview of his work.

Louis Armstrong was without question one of the most important artists in the development of jazz - his technical skill, his powerful presence and his improvisational genius was such that his peers rapidly recognised him as a model, and his work helped shape the way the language of jazz evolved over the years. From quite early in his career, from the late '30s onwards, he became an entertainer who transcended the genres, appearing in many films, and acquiring a role and relevance outside pure jazz, although his influence continued to pervade the way the music was performed, especially during the New Orleans revival of the '50s and '60s. This collection, however, focuses on that first key decade, when he helped shift the emphasis from collective improvisation to virtuoso solo performance simply through the power and quality of his contribution to the ensembles he played with and led. It includes some of his first recordings as part of the hugely important King Oliver Creole Jazz Band along with selected recordings with the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra and Clarence Williams' Blue Five, before drawing most particularly on his landmark recordings with his Hot Five and Hot Seven, which are such an important element of the entire jazz canon. The final section of the collection comprises recordings with his orchestra during the early '30s as he developed his technique further and established his role as a singer and entertainer as much as virtuoso trumpeter and cornettist. It's a great value 48-track 2-CD set at budget price, which provides an insight into a vital formative decade of jazz

This package features stunningly remastered sound (even the earliest cuts from 1938 are hiss free, full-bodied and remarkably clear), along with a classy 16-page booklet with rare photos and detailed session liner notes. It's not the final word on the prolific and multi-talented musician who some consider the most influential jazzman ever, but is an excellent overall portrait of Satchmo, covering numerous highlights in the career of this legendary American artist. Hip-O. 2006.

Although domiciled in France for much of his career, the unique Sidney Bechet was one of the most skilful and influential clarinettists in New Orleans where he was born in 1897. His style and tone set the model for the Dixieland and Trad Jazz movements of the 1950s and were hugely influential on players such as Chris Barber. This second collection of Sidney Bechet (see FABCD 135) features more of his greatest moments. Bechet was recently the subject of a Radio 2 series narrated by Warren Mitchell. Tracks include "Maple Leaf Rag", "One O' Clock Jump", "Saturday Night Blues", "Mood Indigo" and "China Boy".

Satchmo's adventures in the 1940's are dealt with in this four CD box set. From big bands sides, via duets Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Louis Jordan and the Mills Brothers to the classic live recordings from the Town Hall and Symphony Hall with the All Stars. Includes over 86 tracks, four hours of music and a 48 page fully illustrated booklet.

UK collection. Louis Armstrong had one of the longest recording careers of any artist of the 20th Century. Whilst parts of his career are well represented digitally, his singles from the mid-1950s to the early '60s are often overlooked, mainly because they were issued by many different labels. The collection attempts to remedy this. It features sides from Capitol, Columbia, Dot, MGM, Pye, RCA, Roulette, Verve and more. Some on CD for the first time in their single edits with some previously unissued on CD stereo versions including the complete unedited single versions of 'Calypso' and 'Now You Has Jazz' from High Society and The Five Pennies' 'Saints'. Almost all recordings are extremely rare on CD and of course mastered to Jasmine's usual high standards. A set to fill holes in many an Armstrong collection.

Perhaps the greatest gift that Jazz bestowed upon the world was the great Louis Armstrong. The collection focuses on rare, mostly live recordings from the 1950's featuring Armstrong performing fan favorites such as "When the Saints Go Marching In" and "On the Sunny Side of the Street". All selections newly remastered.