Various Artists - The Greatest of the Small Bands, Vol. 3

An excellent anthology of small-group jazz from the swing era, The Greatest of the Small Bands, Vol. 3 brings together recordings by Una Mae Carlisle, Lester Young, Oran “Hot Lips” Page, Frankie Newton's Orchestra, and Timme Rosenkrantz and His Barrelhouse Barons. Originally recorded for Victor and later assembled for RCA's French Black & White jazz series, the collection captures some exceptional players in intimate small-band settings.

The personnel is particularly impressive. Along with Lester Young and Hot Lips Page, the sessions feature musicians including Shad Collins, John Collins, Freddie Green, Walter Page, Jo Jones, Teddy Wilson, J.C. Higginbotham, Mezz Mezzrow, James P. Johnson and Sidney Bechet.

The 16-track program includes “Blitzkrieg Baby,” “Beautiful Eyes,” “There's Been Some Changes Made,” “It's Sad But True,” “A Wee Bit of Swing,” “Is This to Be My Souvenir?,” “When Day Is Done,” “The Song Is Ended,” “Just Another Woman,” “Do It, If You Wanna,” “Thirty Mama Blues,” “Evil Man's Blues,” “My Fightin' Gal,” “Rosetta,” “Who?” and “The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise.”

A compelling collection for listeners interested in swing-era small groups and historically important performances from some of jazz's most influential musicians.