Chick Webb was a jazz and swing drummer and bandleader who enjoyed huge success and popularity during the 1930s before his career was tragically cut short by his death from spinal tuberculosis in 1939 at the age of 34. He was renowned for introducing the teenaged Ella Fitzgerald to the scene as his featured vocalist. With a much-admired powerful virtuoso drumming technique, he was a highly influential figure, paving the way for the likes of Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich and Louie Bellson. This 98-track 4-CD collection comprises most of his releases under his own name on the Brunswick, Vocalion, Columbia, Okeh and Decca labels, plus early recordings with the Jungle Band. It contains a significant number of recordings featuring Ella Fitzgerald, who performed on several of his 17 career hits, all of which are included here, most notably the No. 1 “A-Tisket, A-Tasket”. Also featured is his original version of “Stompin’ At The Savoy”, plus many other classics of the era – “Don’t Be That Way”, “You’ll Have To Swing It”, “Rock It For Me”, “Undecided”, “T’Ain’t What You Do” and more. Other vocalists featured are Taft Jordan, Louis Jordan, Chuck Richards, Charles Linton and Louis Bacon, with his bands also including many notable names of the era. It’s a substantial and fairly comprehensive overview of his recording career, and a highly entertaining showcase for his distinctive approach, not to mention his important work with Ella Fitzgerald as an emerging star of the day.
