It's all gone. But the music that was the root of everything magical and life-affirming at The Savoy Ballroom -- the music of Chick Webb featuring his discovery, Ella Fitzgerald -- is still here and utterly glorious.
A Major Retrospective. And A Surprising Discovery.
Mosaic Records' new release, The Complete Chick Webb & Ella Fitzgerald Decca Sessions (1934-1941) is the most complete collection ever of this incredibly important collaboration between the man who was the first "voice" on drums and the unassuming teenage girl who would blossom into the most revered vocalist in music.
Too easily and too often, music of the swing era is disregarded as being "for dancers." Chick and Ella made sure it was for listeners as well. But what's more, Chick's decision to take his unheard-of power, and his orchestra's great musicianship, and lay it all at the feet of a masterful vocalist, made sure his music would be for the ages.
Many Regard Him As The Greatest Drummer Of All Time
All that Chick accomplished was even more amazing given his personal history. He suffered spinal tuberculosis as a child, which left him hunchbacked, small, and stiff his whole life. In fact, playing the drums to loosen up was a suggestion from a doctor who treated him. He purchased his first trap set with earnings from his childhood paper delivery job, and was already playing professionally at 11.
But when Chick Webb was on that elevated platform at the Savoy Ballroom, at the center of the band, the spectators were in for a show. Not only was he simply sensational at tying the band together, he produced a sound no one before him ever achieved because of his rigorous attention to the pitch and attack of each component of his set. He endlessly tuned and tightened the heads on his drums, replacing them at the first sign of wear. His blazing solos were a palette of color and accent incorporated by a blend of cow bell, woodblock and ideally placed rim shots.
Drummers before him were more typically timekeepers. Chick created personality on his instrument through his use of subtle phrasing techniques and dynamics. His power was a needed component in that cavernous dancehall and its famed cutting contests. But it was also an outward expression of his uncontainable spirit.
Ella's Gifts.
The set also reveals why tributes to Ella's talent are so common and so eloquent, from fans, to critics, to her peers.
From the beginning, when she was shy and naïve, Ella projected schoolgirl warmth along with her unerring feel for jazz, moving musicians whose talent was far more road-tested than hers. Just a few years later, she was secure and serene with exceptional timing, unerring pitch, and musicianship that established her as part of the band, not merely a singer supported by it.
A Spectacular Band. And A Joyous One.
As a bandleader whose primary role was to keep the patrons flowing in and the Lindy legs flying through the air, Chick had one goal as The King of the Savoy - to build the best orchestra anyone had ever assembled. Over the years it included Edgar Sampson (who was also one of the band's full-time arrangers), Taft Jordan, Sandy Williams, Bobby Stark, John Kirby, Johnny Hodges, Louis Jordan, Hilton Jefferson, Wayman Carver, Ram Ramirez, Eddie Barefield, John Trueheart, Benny Carter, Mario Bauza, Pete Clark, and many others.
While Chick wisely turned the band's attention to serving Ella Fitzgerald after she joined him, cuts like "Harlem Congo," "Liza," and "Clap Hands! Here Comes Charley!" give testament to what was so thrilling about Chick's drive, his star quality, and the variety of nuance and tone he could produce on drums.
Everything You Expect From Mosaic Records
The Mosaic set is generous, with eight CDs featuring 187 tracks, three of them never before issued in any format. It includes the Webb band recordings done for Brunswick and Vocalion prior to the formation of Decca, which helps to present a more comprehensive appreciation of his Savoy Ballroom era.
The one surviving member of the group is arranger Van Alexander, and we were fortunate to enlist his spectacular memory in cleaning up the discography from these sessions by correcting many past mistakes and discrepancies.
We've gone back and sourced the best quality master or physical item obtainable, whether that be from mint 78s to vinyl test pressings. Liner notes are by John McDonough and Mosaic's exclusive booklet includes many rarely-seen photographs.
You'll never get closer to the wonder that was The Savoy Ballroom than this set. But as always, our release is strictly limited. Please order yours so that you don't miss out.
