CABU Jazz Masters - Une Anthologie 1937-1955

Jimmy Rushing made some of his earliest appearances on phonograph records with Kansas City bandleader Bennie Moten. Often called upon to perform in front of a big band without the aid of a microphone, Rushing developed a voice loud enough to be heard over a locomotive. Cabu's chronologically stacked Jimmy Rushing anthology examines his career in two parts. Disc one contains 22 recordings he made with Count Basie's orchestra from 1937 to 1947. Disc two is devoted to 19 recordings made by Jimmy Rushing "the Free Lance Singer" under his own name from 1950 to 1955. Rushing had a voice that was warm and husky, powerful and personable. This collection is an excellent sampler containing some of his best work. Anyone puzzled by the absence of two historical performances recorded in 1936 by a small group including Rushing, Basie, and Lester Young will perhaps be able to reconcile this omission with the inclusion, on disc two, of later renditions of both songs ("Evenin'" and "Boogie Woogie") performed by groups that included members of the Count Basie Orchestra. Note also Rushing's rendition of James P. Johnson's "If I Could Be with You (One Hour Tonight)," sung as a duet with sultry Ada Moore. ~ arwulf arwulf, All Music Guide