Classics Records
1945
1945-1948
About This Album
Now hear this -- all of Earl Bostic's earliest recordings as a leader are available in chronological succession on the Classics label. This man was a formidable alto saxophone virtuoso, respected by Charlie Parker and revered by John Coltrane. He also wrote arrangements for Gene Krupa, Artie Shaw, Paul Whiteman, and Louis Prima. When Bostic sat in on a Victor recording date with Lionel Hampton in October of 1939 and made 20 hot sides with Hot Lips Page in 1944, 1945, and 1946, he paved the way for his own exciting and lucrative career as a star in what would soon be called the R&B market. The 13-piece big band he assembled for his recording debut as a leader during the last weeks of 1945 included guitarist Tiny Grimes, trumpeter Benny Harris, swing trombonist Benny Morton, clarinetist Eddie Barefield, and both Don Byas and Walter "Foots" Thomas on tenor saxophones. Four titles from this session appeared on the Majestic label. "The Man I Love" begins as a lush ballad, accelerating to a mad pace as Bostic demonstrates his somewhat ferocious dexterity. During the years 1946-1948, Bostic made more than 30 sides for Gotham Records. Each of these bore the company's handsome logo, with a linear big-city skyline pictured on the label.
Track List (try tracks 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,19,20 and 21)

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