****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
This is a great compilation of jazz singles released by the Verve record label (and related labels, such as Clef) between 1946 and 1972, with the exception of one number by Diana Krall. Many of the jazz greats of this period are here, including Charlie Parker, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holiday, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Bill Evans, Stan Getz and Wes Montgomery. Sure, there are a lot of numbers by Ella Fitzgerald (but can you ever get too much Ella?) The one criticism is that there is nothing here to represent the time period between 1972 and 2001 - but maybe no singles were released during that time. At any rate, along with the similar Blue Note collection, it certainly is a great survey of 20th century jazz, with good sound reproduction as well. The enclosed booklet provides a brief history of Verve Records, along with information on the musicians playing on each number (where available).
