Tommy Dorsey And His Orchestra - Sentimental (1982)

Although white bands were the most popular during the swing era, it's now recognized that African-American bands like those of Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Jimmy Lunceford were the best in this genre. What's happened since this opinion has been accepted is that white big bands have often been lumped together and generally forgotten. That's unfortunate in that some were quite good, and it's still a pleasure to hear their music. Certainly this Tommy Dorsey 3-CD set is welcome. Dorsey had a fine all around band, doing flag wavers like "Marie" and ballads featuring a young Frank Sinatra. Dorsey was well-stocked with admirable soloists, including himself on trombone, Bunny Berigan and Charlie Shavers on trumpet, Johnny Mince and Buddy de Franco on clarinet, and Bud Freeman on tenor sax. In Dave Tough, Dorsey had not only a drummer who was outstanding in the Thirties, but a precursor of the be-bop style.