Jack Teagarden - The Complete Capitol Fifties Jack Teagarden Sessions [4 CD Limited Edition Box Set] (1996)

Jack Teagarden was the top jazz trombonist to emerge before World War II. While his most innovative days were in the late '20s and '30s, he remained a viable and highly enjoyable jazzman (and a popular attraction on the Dixieland circuit) up until his death in 1964. In the 1950s, he recorded six albums for Capitol, and they are reissued in full (plus some alternate takes and a "new" version of "St. James Infirmary") on Mosaic's four-CD box set. Teagarden is heard on two hot Dixieland dates (Coast Concert and Jazz Ultimate) with cornetist Bobby Hackett and either Matty Matlock or Peanuts Hucko on clarinet. An outing by his own working group (Big T's Dixieland Band) is a surprising disappointment, for the sextet is hamstrung by dully arranged ensembles instead of getting a chance to really stretch out. However, Teagarden's three albums with larger groups are all better than expected. This Is Teagarden revisits some older material, Swing Low, Sweet Spiritual (even with the dumb background singers) is generally successful, and the instrumental mood record Shades of Night has some beautiful trombone playing on the ballads. Although Teagarden was no longer a pacesetter in the 1950s, he is heard throughout in prime form. Dixieland collectors can consider this box to be essential.