Earl Bostic Collection 1939-59 (2-CD)

Earl Bostic was an alto saxophonist who was a technical master of his craft and highly influential in the early careers of important later exponents of the instrument, but has maybe not received the recognition he deserved as a jazz musician because of his transition during the late '40s and '50s to the R&B scene, where he was highly successful with a string of R&B and jump blues hits recorded primarily for the King label, renowned for the their output of popular jukebox material during that time. He worked with many bands during the 1930s, and made his first recordings with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra in 1939, which is where this collection begins, then recorded with other important names of the era such as Hot Lips Page, before launching his own large orchestra in the mid-40s. Soon downsizing to smaller groups, he began the move from pure jazz towards the more commercial end of the musical spectrum, and in 1951 landed a No. 1 R&B hit with "Flamingo". This great value 50-track 2-CD collection traces the two decades of his active recording career before a heart attack curtailed his activities in the late '50s., encompassing recordings with other leaders' bands and then tracing the development of his own music over the next 15 years or so. It is a fine showcase for his underappreciated technique as a soloist, with repertoire that ranges from driving rock 'n' roll flavoured R&B to smooth romantic ballads.