Quintessence: New York to Los Angeles 1939-1941

Adapter: Don Waterhouse.
Personnel: Charlie Christian (guitar, acoustic guitar); Freddie Green, Kenny Clarke (guitar); Edmond Hall, Benny Goodman (clarinet); Georgie Auld (reeds, tenor saxophone); Bob Snyder, Gus Bivona, Gene Kinsey, Les Robinson, Pete Mondello (reeds); Earl Bostic (alto saxophone); Lester Young (tenor saxophone); Chris Griffin , Irving Goodman, Alec Fila, Cootie Williams, Henry "Red" Allen, Joe Guy, Billy Butterfield, Jimmy Maxwell, Buck Clayton (trumpet); J.C. Higginbotham, Lou McGarity, Cutty Cutshall (trombone); Clyde Hart, Count Basie, Ken Kersey, Dudley Brooks, Fletcher Henderson, Johnny Guarnieri (piano); Meade "Lux" Lewis (celesta); Lionel Hampton (vibraphone); Harry Jaeger, Jo Jones , Nick Fatool, Big Sid Catlett (drums).
Recording information: Carnegie Hall, New York, NY (10/02/1939-06/??/1941); Catalina Casino, Catalina Island (10/02/1939-06/??/1941); Los Angeles, CA (10/02/1939-06/??/1941); Madison Square Garden, New York, NY (10/02/1939-06/??/1941); Minton's Playhouse, New York, NY (10/02/1939-06/??/1941); New York, NY (10/02/1939-06/??/1941); Randall's Island (10/02/1939-06/??/1941).
This French double-disc, 32-track anthology by Fremeaux & Associates is a decent, even solid collection of material of Charlie Christian's early recording years with the Benny Goodman band, in a number of studios all across the United States. Some of the track selections are curious, and considering the nine-volume retrospective on the Masters of Jazz imprint, this is but a mere drop in the bucket. Nonetheless, there are still plenty -- plenty -- of novices out there who are still discovering Christian some eight decades after he impacted music forever with his playing and had such a profound effect on jazz. So these sides, all of them showcasing him in the company of some prominent soloists, including Count Basie and Lester Young, offer plenty of proof that the genius was real. The notes are just OK, but the sound is terrific considering the source material. The only truly confounding thing here is the inclusion of four takes on disc two of "Benny's Bugle," all strung together as one long jam. ~ Thom Jurek