Description
Towards the end of 1951, Roy Eldridge moved from Europe, where he had made numerous recordings with top jazz musicians, back to New York. This move coincided with the founding of Norman Granz's new label Norgran and it goes without saying that the name came up of the small man Roy (nicknamed "Little Jazz") whenever a trumpeter was required for a studio session. Like no other, Eldridge was able to switch without a hitch between swing and bebop and, like Dizzy Gillespie, he was also a showman par excellence. "Rockin' Chair" is his most famous number and it's not only the title track here but also the best tune on a record that contains a selection of songs from three very different sessions. Among the four numbers with strings and arrangements by George Williams, the melancholy "I Remember Harlem" is highly recommended. Then there are four rhythm 'n' blues numbers which are set alight by the scorching tones of tenor sax player Buddy Tate. That Roy Eldridge is a highly original singer has been known ever since he worked with Gene Krupa; "Jumbo The Elephant," a typical jump number, harks back to these days. The four numbers from 1952 with Oscar Peterson at the piano or organ are without a doubt the highlights of these recordings.
