Roy Eldridge And His Band - Roy Eldridge And His Band FLAC download

★★★★☆☆ On these recordings Roy Eldridge is found in a rare setting playing with swedish musicians in 1951. Half the set is jazz standards with Eldridge at his usual high level and the swedes discretely and competent accompanying, leaving the solo space for the master. But as a surprise, the gem here is when Eldridge and the band on the rest of the set take off from standard jazz repertoire. Here is a rare opportunity to hear the man famed as “Little Jazz” unexpected come out as a steaming rhythm and blues singer, singing and rocking the house on the three Louis Jordan covers, "Schooldays", "They Raided The House" and "Saturday Night Fish Fry". All three tracks has Eldridge having a real good time, joyfully singing and almost forgetting his horn. Roy Eldridge certainly has enjoyed the jazz audience through a long career. But these tracks makes one wonder, what a great great rhythm and blues artist we may have missed. This hard to find materiel is recommended for those three tracks alone.