Bill Challis contributed most of the best arrangements for the Jean Goldkette Orchestra from 1926-1927. Sixty years later, he conducted Vince Giordano's Nighthawks in their versions of 16 of his charts (including a pair of three-song medleys). With cornetist Tom Pletcher taking Bix Beiderbecke's place and such top players as trumpeter
Peter Ecklund, trombonist
Dan Barrett, clarinetist
Bob Wilber, pianist
Dick Wellstood, and
Goldkette alumnus Spiegel Wilcox on trombone guesting with the Nighthawks, the results are outstanding and very enjoyable. Not only are such songs as "Proud of a Baby Like You," "My Pretty Girl," and "Clementine" brought back, but also some charts that Jean Goldkette's band played but never recorded (such as "The Blue Room," "I've Found a New Baby," and "Tiger Rag"). Highly recommended for 1920s and classic jazz collectors. ~ Scott Yanow