This double-CD from French
RCA
in their
Jazz Tribune
series (a reissue of an earlier double-LP) gives one a good overview of cornetist
Bix Beiderbecke
's
Victor
recordings. More serious collectors will want to acquire this music as part of a more complete series (since all of his solos are significant), while beginning collectors are advised to pick up his
Columbia
reissue CDs (which feature
Beiderbecke
in smaller groups) first. The 36 performances on this two-fer mostly focus on his sideman's appearances with the large dance orchestras of
Jean Goldkette
and
Paul Whiteman
during 1926-28, although there is one 1924 track (
"I Didn't Know"
) with
Goldkette
, and a few later sessions from 1930. Highlights include
"Clementine,"
"San,"
"There Ain't No Sweet Man,"
"From Monday On,"
"You Took Advantage of Me."
~ Scott Yanow