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Cab Calloway: The Hi-De-Ho Man - His 52 Finest 1930-1952
£10.99
In stock
Catalogue Number
RTS4414
The one and only Cabell “Cab” Calloway (1907-1994) is featured in the most comprehensive 2CD album available, covering a great cross-section of his hits and band recordings during his vintage years. When Cab sang “Hi-de-ho” in his trademark Minnie The Moocher audiences always echoed it back, loving this manic, zany character in his extravagant ‘zoot’ suits, who was a barnstorming entertainer for some 60 years. Along with Duke Ellington, he was the star attraction of Harlem’s Cotton Club, going on to become a famous ‘Sportin’ Life’ in Porgy and Bess.
“The Hi-De-Ho Man” is Retrospective’s collection of 52 of his most successful recordings. Included are 23 chart hits such as The Jumpin’ Jive, St. James’ Infirmary, Moonglow and Blues In The Night. Several songs allude to the ubiquitous ‘Minnie’ and her drug-taking habits: Kicking The Gong Around, Reefer Man and Zaz Zuh Zaz. Calloway was also no mean balladeer as his You Are The One In My Heart shows.
Most importantly, Cab’s orchestra was one of the top big bands throughout the 30s and 40s and showcased some of the great jazzmen of the time, emphasised here with 18 instrumental tracks. These feature such as Dizzy Gillespie (Pickin’ The Cabbage), Chu Berry (Ghost Of A Chance), Jonah Jones (Jonah Joins The Cab), Hilton Jefferson (Willow, Weep For Me), Milt Hinton (Plickin’ The Bass) and Cozy Cole (Crescendo In Drums). Above all, Cab Calloway’s music was always full of life.
Manufacturer: Wyastone Estate Limited, Wyastone Leys, Monmouth, NP25 3SR
Email: sales@wyastone.co.uk
Reviews:
"... Styles changed a lot in the big band world between the early 1930s and late 40s, but the Calloway band kept abreast of the fashions, and so in between their own distinctive brand of hep and jive songs, they covered everything from Ellington such as 'Take The A-Train', Goodman repertoire, including 'A Sm-o-oth One' and proto R&B such as Joe Liggins' 'Honeydripper'. Yet in every case, although nodding in the direction of the original, it is unmistakably Calloway's band. With excellent, informative notes from Digby Fairweather, and first-rate track selection by Ray Crick, not to mention Martin Haskell's skillful re-mastering, if you have not Calloway, this is the anthology to get hold of" Alyn Shipton, Jazzwise Magazine
"Richly rewarding two cCD set focussing attention on the cream of the influential jazz band leader and scat singer's musical output, opening with the classic "Minnie The Moocher"." YOUR TIME, Kevin Bryan
"...The Cab Calloway collection is rollickin’ good jump ’n’ jive fun with a good selection of Cab’s best tracks (Minnie the Moocher, Kicking the Gong Around and Jumping Jive) played by the terrific musicians who passed through the King of Hi-De-Ho’s various bands as he progressed from alternating with Duke Ellington at the Cotton Club, to topping the bill at all the top US clubs and halls. As well as Cab’s characteristic vocals there are some great instrumentals, especially with his later and tighter bands. There’ s also a rare recording of Cab guesting in Porgy and Bess in Berlin in 1952
Cab’s bands variously included Dizzy Gillespie, Chu Berry, Jonah Jones, Milt Hinton, Benny Carter and just about everyone who was anybody in jazz.
The discs come with great notes by Digby Fairweather, well-respected UK trumpeter and Founder of the National Jazz Archive." Barry Fox, Jazz News
"So my pick of the year has to be the Nimbus Retrospective label as a whole, with special reference to the handful of albums I picked and reviewed here.
All you want to know and more about what’s available can be found on the Nimbus website at https://www.wyastone.co.uk/all-labels/retrospective.html
Browse online, choose, buy and enjoy. It’s not as much fun as spending time in Tower, but it’s a good second best. And of course if you are lucky enough to still have a real record shop within easy reach, you should find Retrospectives there to seduce you. If not tell the owner to check out Nimbus Wyastone Retrospective." Barry Fox, Jazz Views