Trumpet Blues

During the swing era, the sound of Harry James' trumpet was one of the most glamorous noises in the world. He was a pop star, married to film star Betty Grable, and the pair were mobbed wherever they appeared. The hullabaloo faded after a while but James continued to lead his band, sell records and win awards, almost up until his death in 1983. The story is told in a new biography of James, Trumpet Blues by Peter J. Levinson, and this excellent CD is released to coincide with the book. The 16 tracks are all by James' late-50s band, perhaps the best he ever had, featuring Buddy Rich on drums and with Helen Forrest, the legendary Voice of the Big Bands as guest vocalist. The ballads are as sweet and sentimental as ever, and the swing numbers swing so hard you almost mistake James' band for Count Basie's. --Dave Gelly

Label: Unknown
Studio: Blue Note
Released: 1999-09-06
Format: Audio CD