Dave Bartholomew - Blues & Rhythm Classics 5002: The Chronological Dave Bartholomew 1947-50 (2001)

Part of Classics' chronological series, 1947-1950 collects many of New Orleans trumpeter/vocalist Dave Bartholomew's early sides recorded well before his legendary association writing songs for '50s rock icon Fats Domino. Fitting nicely into the postwar jump blues style, Bartholomew actually came out of the New Orleans brass band tradition. Although his big fat trumpet sound can be directly linked to such influences as Louis Armstrong and Roy Eldridge, his idiosyncratic penchant for bending notes is actually more reminiscent of guitar legends like Guitar Slim and T-Bone Walker. Included here are such bluesy and raucous tunes as "Mr. Fool," "That's How You Got Killed Before," and "Poppa Stoppa Theme Song," which has to go down as the hippest radio show theme since "Jumpin' With Symphony Sid." ~Matt Collar