This collector's LP has all of the music that trumpeter
Harry James recorded during his first two sessions as a leader other than a possible alternate take of "One O' Clock Jump." At the time
James was the star trumpeter with
Benny Goodman but, other than pianist
Jess Stacy and trombonist
Vernon Brown (the latter is just on the second date), all of his sidemen on these pickup sessions are taken from
the Count Basie Orchestra including trombonist
Eddie Durham, altoist
Earle Warren, baritonist
Jack Washington and the short-lived tenor
Herschel Evans.
Helen Humes has a few spirited vocals and
James is heard in top form on such numbers as "Jubilee," "Life Goes to a Party" and his earliest version of "One O' Clock Jump." A special bonus of this Tax LP is that there are five alternate takes.