Cruisin' With Cab (Drive Archive) Review

07/13/2005 5:25 AM, AMG


Cab Calloway's Orchestra is featured on radio broadcasts from two different periods on this CD. Most of the material previously appeared on an Alamac LP. The 1940 performance is most notable for the occasional solos of tenor saxophonist Chu Berry and young trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie (best featured on "Hard Times"). The 1945 broadcast is a bit odd in that Cab only takes one vocal ("St. Louis Blues") on the six numbers; heard from in prominent roles are trumpeter Jonah Jones and tenorman Ike Quebec. A swinging if not quite essential set, recommended most highly to swing specialists. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide