We've already outlined a general history of jazz by strolling down the many highways and byways of its different styles during the first fifty years of its life; now we're going to propose another approach to this music, the most popular and creative of the 20th century, and incidentally, one that's still continuing to develop, though in a different manner. We'll be offering a chronological approach to the life and music of some great jazzmen. There are already several anthologies and compilations in this world to do with jazz and those who are part of it, but we wanted to take a different approach and go one step further if possible. We'll be following our selected artists into every corner of their life, their critical and popular successes, anything unusual or innovatory they introduced, all in their order of composition; another "extra" with us will be the sound which will be cleaned and restored. So here goes. Jazz to listen to, accept, listen to again, appreciate, think about. For these are the high points of a musical story belonging to the 20th century that's still relevant fifty years later. Andre Francis (Jazz Characters creator)

Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. The Blues With A Feeling (D. Ellington) Duke Ellington And His Orchestra 3'14
2. Saratoga Swing (B. Bigard) The Washingtonians 2'43
3. Double Check Stomp (Bigard - Hodges - Braud) Duke Ellington And His Orchestra 2'54
4. Bundle Of Blues (D. Ellington) Duke Ellington And His Famous Orchestra 3'10
5. Tough Truckin' (Ellington - Mills) Duke Ellington Sextet 3'05
6. Indigo Echoes (Ellington - Mills) Duke Ellington Sextet 2'49
7. I Cried For You (T. Wilson) Teddy Wilson And His Orchestra
8. Rexatious (Stewart) Rex Stewart And His 52nd Street Stompers 2'43
9. Alabamy Lane (Ringle - Ellington) The Gotham Stompers 3'00
10. On The Sunny Side Of The Street (McHugh - Fields) Lionel Hampton 3'15
11. You'll Never Go To Heaven (Bryant - Santly) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 2'26
12. Blue Reverie (Ellington - Carney) Benny Goodman 3'17
13. Silver Moon And Golden Sands (Haid - Pease - Stock) Johnny Hodges 3'12
14. Jeep's Blues (Ellington - Hodges) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 2'52
15. Pyramid (Ellington - Gordon - Tizol) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 2'48
16. The Jeep Is Jumpin' (Ellington - Hodges) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 2'25
17. Hodge Podge (Ellington - Hodges) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 2'33
18. Dooji Wooji (Ellington) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 2'55
19. Rent Party Blues (Ellington) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 2'39
20. Dream Blues (Hodges) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 2'57
21. Never No Lament (Ellington) Duke Ellington And His Famous Orchestra 3'16
22. Day Dream (Strayhorn - Ellington - Latouche) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 2'56
23. That's The Blues Old Man (Hodges) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 2'54
24. Squatty Too (Hodges) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 2'22
25. Things Ain't What They Used To Be (M. Ellington) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 3'35
26. Moon Mist (M. Ellington) Duke Ellington And His Orchestra 2'59

Disc 2:

1. Come Sunday (D. Ellington) Duke Ellington And His Orchestra 4'29
2. Mood To Be Wooed (Ellington - Hodges) Duke Ellington And His Orchestra 2'57
3. Rockabye River (Ellington) Duke Ellington And His Orchestra 2'59
4. A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing (Strayhorn) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 3'13
5. Lotus Blossom (Strayhorn) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 3'01
6. Let The Zoomers Drool (Ellington - Hodges) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 2'51
7. Wishing And Waiting (Hodges) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 3'22
8. Rendez-Vous At The Hot Club (S. Baker) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 3'04
9. Rabbit's Blues (Hodges) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 3'31
10. Good Queen Bess (Hodges) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 3'01
11. Sophisticated Lady (Ellington) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 3'08
12. Globetrotter (Hodges) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 3'01
13. Who's Excited ? (Hodges) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 3'02
14. Duke's Blues (Hodges) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 6'04
15. Through For The Night (T. Young) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 3'17
16. Sweet As Bear Meat (Hodges) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 3'18
17. Mood Indigo (Ellington - Bigard) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 6'17
18. Passion Flower (Strayhorn) Duke Ellington And His Orchestra 4'32
19. Johnny Came Lately (Strayhorn) Johnny Hodges And The Ellington Men 2'23
20. Bouquet Of Roses (Hodges - M.Ellington) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 3'20
21. Big Shoe (J. Hamilton) Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra 5'31