Pathe Instrtumentals (1922-1926)

They Say...

Review by Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

During 1922-25, no jazz group recorded more selections than the Original Memphis Five. The quintet also recorded a countless number of performances under different pseudonyms, so a complete reissuance of its output has been long overdue if a bit daunting. This two-CD set just has all of the Original Memphis Five's recordings for a single label, Pathe. Due to space limitations the handful of selections that the group recorded for Pathe with vocalists Anna Meyers, George White and Annette Hanshaw had to be left out. While it is often said that Louis Armstrong introduced legato phrasing and swing to New York jazz musicians in 1924 when he arrived from Chicago to play with the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra, Phil Napoleon a few years earlier played solid leads and occasional solos that sounded years ahead of most of his New York contemporaries. Napoleon, trombonist Miff Mole (who was succeeded by Charlie Panelli for part of 1924-25 before returning), the underrated clarinetist Jimmy Lytell, pianist Frank Signorelli and drummer Jack Roth (Jimmy Durante's longtime musical director) made for a perfect team. Many of the selections that they recorded for Pathe and elsewhere are long forgotten but worth reviving. And even if their frameworks could become a formula, most of these 52 selections contain some hot moments, particularly when Napoleon and Signorelli duet together or when Roth lets loose one of his explosive breaks. This was some of the best jazz to be recorded before Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke and the Red Nichols groups emerged to move the music to a new level.