Willie Smith (1910-1967) stands alongside Johnny Hodges and Benny Carter as one of the three great alto saxophone players of the pre-Charlie Parker generation – yet this is the first double-CD devoted to his formidable artistry. Retrospective’s tribute to this towering figure in jazz history presents a 48-track survey that tracks his extraordinary career from sax-section leader in the 30s to high-flying soloist in the 50s, opening with 10 classics from his 13 years as one of the big stars of the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra (Uptown Blues). He then joined Harry James’s band for many years, where his sensationally spectacular solo gifts perfectly matched James’s incomparable trumpet dash (10 prime examples include I’m Confessin’). A superb trio stem from his 1951 year with Duke Ellington (Please Be Kind), along with several exciting extracts from his many famous live performances with Jazz At The Philharmonic (How High the Moon). In addition, virtually all (a glorious dozen) of the small group recordings he led in 1945/7 are featured (Tea for Two), as well as a rare quartet of quartet numbers with Nat King Cole as “The Keynoters”. Here is an album that demands a place in every jazz lover’s collection.

Tracklisting:

CD 1
1. Rhythm is Our Business
2. Sophisticated Lady
3. Rose Room
4. Sleepy Time Gal
5. Avalon
6. Ain’t She Sweet?
7. Uptown Blues
8. Blue Blazes
9. What’s Your Story, Morning Glory?
10. Blues in the Night
11. I’m Confessin’
12. How High the Moon
13. September in the Rain
14. You Oughta Be in Pictures
15 Willie, Weep for Me
16. Moten Swing
17. It’s Been a Long, Long Time
18. I Never Knew
19. All the Things You Are
20. I’ve Found a New Baby
21. Skylark
22. Windjammer
23. Who’s Sorry Now?
24. The Way You Look Tonight

CD 2
1. I Can’t Believe that You’re in Love with Me
2. My Old Flame
3. Airiness a la Nat
4. I Got it Bad and That Ain’t Good
5. Zanzibar
6. Keb-Lah
7. East Coast Blues
8. Cotton Tail
9. Stardust
10. Tuxedo Junction
11. Not So Bop Blues
12. Tea for Two
13. Sophisticated Lady
14. New Two O’Clock Jump
15. Deep Purple
16. Please Be Kind
17. Caravan
18. Indian Summer
19. Coronation Hop
20. Paradise
21. Cool Blues
22. The Young Man with a Horn
23. Perdido
24. I Was a Little Too Lonely