Roy Eldridge
The Complete Verve Roy Eldridge Sessions (Mosaic) Roy Eldridge was one of the most influential jazz trumpeters of the Thirties, playing with a tremendous drive that featured the upper register frequently. By the time he landed at Verve in 1951, however, his work was in decline. Overall, this 7-CD set is good, but it isn’t Eldridge at the top of his game. He recorded with a number of stars while on Verve, including Oscar Peterson, Benny Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, and Harry Edison. Generally he’s at his best when he plays standards in a relaxed, unpretentious manner, employing a velvety tone and attractive melodic ideas. His work with pianist/organist Peterson’s trio and with alto saxman Carter is distinguished in this respect. When Eldridge plays with Gillespie, one of his musical disciples, and the going gets competitive, Eldridge sometimes gets frantic. He sounds like he wants to be as modern as the boppers. Gillespie, on the other hand, sounds fantastic; his work is very complex and daring but logically constructed. One of the best sessions here has Eldridge with his Central Plaza Dixielanders, a band consisting of swing era musicians. Verve producer Norman Granz, noting cornetist Bobby Hackett’s success with strings and trumpeter Jonah Jones’ popularity in a quartet setting, spotlighted Eldridge in both. The “with strings” sessions, directed by Russ Garcia, is pleasant, although quite conservative. So is the quartet date, Eldridge again benefiting from not having to battle a competitor. — Harvey Pekar
This article appears in December 12 • 2003.
