Tommy Ladnier was a trumpeter and cornetist who was active in the early years of jazz and recorded prolifically during the 1920s and early '30s and re-emerged after the depression years to make some very important recordings with the likes of Sidney Bechet and Mezz Mezzrow in the late '30s before his sudden and tragically early death in 1939 at the age of 39. A familiar figure on the early jazz scene in New Orleans, he moved to Chicago and recorded with many of the great female blues singers of the time, such as Ma Rainey and Ida Cox, as well as pianist Lovie Austin's Blues Serenaders, before spending time in Europe. Back in the USA he was in Fletcher Henderson's orchestra and Dixieland Stompers, and then with Noble Sissle's orchestra in the early '30s after another stint in Europe, where he met Sidney Bechet. He teamed up with Bechet in the New Orleans Feetwarmers in 1932, and after a quiet time in the '30s re-emerged to record memorable sessions with Mezzrow, Bechet and other noted luminaries during 1938. Regarded as an exciting and powerful soloist as well as an excellent ensemble player, in some ways he provided a stylistic bridge between King Oliver and Louis Armstrong. This great-value 50-track 2-CD set draws from the 180 or more sides he recorded during his career, selecting material which provides a showcase for his often overlooked and under-estimated talent in the context of some of the best jazz of his time.
1 Play That Thing (Ollie Powers' Harmony Syncopators) - Ollie Powers' Harmony Syncopators
2 Ida Cox's Lawdy Lawdy Blues (Ida Cox with Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders) - Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders
3 Black Man Blues (Edmonia Henderson with Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders) - Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders
4 Bad Luck Blues (Ma Rainey with Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders) - Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders
5 Lucky Rock Blues (With Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders) - Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders
6 Kentucky Man Blues (Ida Cox with Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders) - Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders
7 Jelly Roll Blues (Edmonia Henderson with Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders) - Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders
8 Steppin' on the Blues (Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders) - Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders
9 Traveling Blues (Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders) - Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders
10 Charleston Mad (Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders) - Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders
11 Heebie Jeebies (Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders) - Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders
12 Mojo Blues (Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders) - Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders
13 The Chant (Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra) - Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra
14 Clarinet Marmalade (Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra) - Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra
15 Senegalese Stomp (Clarence Williams' Blue Seven) - Clarence Williams & Blue Seven
16 Sweet Thing (Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra) - Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra
17 Snag It (The Dixie Stompers) - the Dixie Stompers
18 Tozo (Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra) - Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra
19 Stockholm Stomp (Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra) - Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra
20 Fidgety Feet (Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra) - Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra
21 The Wang-Wang Blues (The Dixie Stompers) - the Dixie Stompers
22 Livery Stable Blues (Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra) - Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra
23 The St. Louis Blues (The Dixie Stompers) - the Dixie Stompers
24 Goose Pimples (The Dixie Stompers) - the Dixie Stompers
- Disc 2 -
1 Hop Off (Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra) - Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra
2 Loveless Love (Noble Sissle & His Orch.) - Noble Sissle & His Sizzling Syncopators
3 Basement Blues (Noble Sissle & His Orch.) - Noble Sissle & His Orchestra
4 Sweetie Dear (New Orleans Feetwarmers) - New Orleans Feetwarmers
5 I Want You Tonight (New Orleans Feetwarmers) - New Orleans Feetwarmers
6 I've Found a New Baby (New Orleans Feetwarmers) - New Orleans Feetwarmers
7 Maple Leaf Rag (New Orleans Feetwarmers) - New Orleans Feetwarmers
8 Shag (New Orleans Feetwarmers) - New Orleans Feetwarmers
9 Revolutionary Blues (Mezz Mezzrow & His Orch.) - Mezz Mezzrow & His Orchestra
10 Comin' on with the Come on (Mezz Mezzrow & His Orch.) - Mezz Mezzrow & His Orchestra
11 Swingin' for Mezz (Mezz Mezzrow & His Orch.) - Mezz Mezzrow & His Orchestra
12 Ja-Da (Tommy Ladnier and His Orchestra) - Tommy Ladnier and His Orchestra
13 Really the Blues (Tommy Ladnier and His Orchestra) - Tommy Ladnier and His Orchestra
14 When You and I Were Young, Maggie (Tommy Ladnier and His Orchestra) - Tommy Ladnier and His Orchestra
15 Weary Blues (Tommy Ladnier and His Orchestra) - Tommy Ladnier and His Orchestra
16 Royal Garden Blues (Mezzrow/Ladnier Quintet) - Mezzrow/Ladnier Quintet
17 Everybody Loves My Baby (Mezzrow/Ladnier Quintet) - Mezzrow/Ladnier Quintet
18 I Ain't Gonna Give Nobody None O' This Jelly-Roll (Mezzrow/Ladnier Quintet) - Mezzrow/Ladnier Quintet
19 If You See Me Comin' (Mezzrow/Ladnier Quintet) - Mezzrow/Ladnier Quintet
20 Gettin' Together (Mezzrow/Ladnier Quintet) - Mezzrow/Ladnier Quintet
21 I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate (New Orleans Feetwarmers) - New Orleans Feetwarmers
22 Stop It Joe (Rosetta Crawford with J.P. Johson & His Hep Cats) - J.P. Johnson & His Hep Cats
23 My Man Jumped Salty on Me (Rosetta Crawford with J.P. Johson & His Hep Cats) - J.P. Johnson & His Hep Cats
24 Double Crossin' Papa (Rosetta Crawford with J.P. Johson & His Hep Cats) - J.P. Johnson & His Hep Cats
Tommy Ladnier was a trumpeter and cornetist who was active in the early years of jazz and recorded prolifically during the 1920s and early '30s and re-emerged after the depression years to make some very important recordings with the likes of Sidney Bechet and Mezz Mezzrow in the late '30s before his sudden and tragically early death in 1939 at the age of 39. A familiar figure on the early jazz scene in New Orleans, he moved to Chicago and recorded with many of the great female blues singers of the time, such as Ma Rainey and Ida Cox, as well as pianist Lovie Austin's Blues Serenaders, before spending time in Europe. Back in the USA he was in Fletcher Henderson's orchestra and Dixieland Stompers, and then with Noble Sissle's orchestra in the early '30s after another stint in Europe, where he met Sidney Bechet. He teamed up with Bechet in the New Orleans Feetwarmers in 1932, and after a quiet time in the '30s re-emerged to record memorable sessions with Mezzrow, Bechet and other noted luminaries during 1938. Regarded as an exciting and powerful soloist as well as an excellent ensemble player, in some ways he provided a stylistic bridge between King Oliver and Louis Armstrong. This great-value 50-track 2-CD set draws from the 180 or more sides he recorded during his career, selecting material which provides a showcase for his often overlooked and under-estimated talent in the context of some of the best jazz of his time.
