Chick Webb & His Orchestra - Stomping at the Savoy

Stomping At The Savoy consists of 99 tracks over 4 CDs of digitally remastered music with a 48 page booklet in a new slimline format. Chick Webb and his orchestra was the vehicle that took Ella Fitzgerald from talent show obscurity to international stardom. Proper. 2006. Album Description

Early Death..Enduring Legacy...

Much has been written about this small sickly man who battled Benny Goodman and Gene Krupa and supposedly won at the workouts at the Savoy Ballroom and when you combine his relationship with the then great 16 year old Ella Fitzgerald, ushering her into the world, as well as the overall quality of this orchestra and the influence he had on drummers like Buddy Rich one can't give less than 5 stars to this Proper box whose quality remains utilitarian as always, a sound bargain especially given the 10 or 15 dollars I paid for this with it's handsome colorful packaging,well written informative booklet and sound quality that is pretty good.
OK, I generally prefer the Decca, Columbia,and often JSP remasters as the case goes when arguing the Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman cases as to thir famous projects since the range is indeed compromised on many of these "budget jazz" labels to get the hiss out but when looking at the stellar selection presented here (the entire ASV/Living Series collection is here) as well as the entire Decca's Spinnin' The Web (excluding the first 2 tracks that are found on Classics releases).you can't go wrong.
Chick's output is practically all here, the schmaltz,great stuff and the campy tracks as well.99 tracks in all.
Being rather new to swing since I am still 48, I recommend this collection as well as recordings by Jimmie Lunceford, a close contemporary in style to my ears.
As to the music, it moves, shines,waxes nostalgia and maintains class,this diminutive little man was a giant of music and human spirit(akin to the UK's Ian Dury in the rock/punk world), and the beauty of these swing bands and their leaders, great songwriters and instrumentalists are truly an under appreciated idiom of fine art sorely in need of recognition and comeback in today's music world.
May 7, 2007

Chick Webb Was Before His Time.

The Chick Webb Orchestra rates very highly when compared with other big bands of the mid and late thirties. And Chick Webb, of course, was a phenomenal drummer. All in all, this is a very enjoyable album. The two weaker points are: <1> some of the tunes are obscure and not very appealing, particularly on the first several listenings. and <2> since the original recordings were done close to 70 years ago, they are not the highest in fidelity; however, all things considered, the quality isn't bad. The two strong points are<1> Chick Webb's drumming, and <2>Ella's great singing. May 7, 2007

Great collection...

Chick Webb was one of the fathers of this style of swing drumming. This is a great collection, especially if you appreciate the historical context in which the tracks were recorded. The sound is suprisingly good. Check it out!
March 24, 2007

The Ultimate Chick Webb collection

Chick Webb, the King of the Savoy in the 1930s, did more than make great music. He discovered a 17-year old Ella Fitzgerald in 1935. This collection of Chick Webb Orchestra pieces, many with Ella, captures so much of swing music in the Art Deco era. This is an amazingly complete collection, from standards like "Tain't What You Do its the Way that Cha Do It" to the little known, but fabulous, "Gotta Pebble in My Shoe." This is the CD collection that will bring you back to the Harlem dance club days in the 30s, when everyone moved to the music. July 5, 2006

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