All Star Swing Sessions

1	I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart 5:18
2	S'posin' 5:41
3	March on, March On 4:48
4	Shorty's Blues 4:45
5	Love Me or Leave Me 5:18
6	Something to Remember You By 4:41
7	Hector's Dance 3:26
8	But Not for Me 4:26
9	Darktown Strutters' Ball 7:41
10	It Had to Be You 5:01
11	Farewell Blues 3:38
12	Keep Smiling at Trouble 3:13
13	The Buzzard 3:11
14	What Is There to Say? 3:32
15	Tillie's Downtown Now 3:28

All Music Guide

Bud Freeman is heard with three separate small groups on the All Star Swing Sessions compilation. He's paired with Shorty Baker and Claude Hopkins for the first eight tracks, including swinging treatments of standards like "Love Me or Leave Me" and "But Not for Me," plus originals composed by the group for the sessions, such as the snappy "Hector's Dance" and the sassy "Shorty's Blues." Freeman's work on tenor sax is smooth as silk, while Baker primarily sticks to muted trumpet. Bassist George Duvivier's imaginative lines and J.C. Heard's strong drumming help to propel the proceedings. The next three selections come from a date led by bassist Leonard Gaskin that is a truly Dixieland affair. The sextet is expanded to a nonet for a swinging "Darktown Strutter's Ball," easily the highlight of the date. Finally, a vintage sextet meeting with ill-fated trumpeter Bunny Berigan, Eddie Condon, and Claude Thornhill showcases Freeman on both clarinet and tenor sax in his upbeat original "The Buzzard" and his delicious bluesy "Tillie's Downtown Now," titles which also reflect his sense of humor. Highly recommended. Ken Dryden

All About Jazz

Saxophonist Bud Freeman was one of the greats, but most casual jazz fans would likely be hard pressed to name him. This recent Prestige compilation goes a long way toward retrieving his visage from the clutches of anonymity.