Full set of 12, 10-inch vinyl albums, with four cuts to each side, so 96 tracks.
In alphabetical order" by artist. Sounding like something out of Music Appreciation class, this project was produced by Bill Grauer, Jr., and Orrin Keepnews, "Leading Jazz Authorities." Often found selling for about $7 or $8 per disc, a tad less common as a full set of 12, as offered here.
Vinyl discs here are pretty much near-mint (a few with some scuffs)Cardboard Jackets somewhere between "Fair" and good.
So we get a little taste of Albert Ammons, Sidney Bechet, Bix Beiderbecke, Chu Berry, Barney Bigard, Cab Calloway, Eddie Condon, Johnny Dodds, Dizzy Gillespie ("Night in Tunisia, appropriately enough), Coleman Hawkins, Johnny Hodges, Billie Holiday, James P. Johnson, Huddie Leadbelly (Leadbelly was a protean figure, but was he a JAZZ performer?), Meade Lux Lewis, Mez Mezzrow, Jimmie Noone, Red Norvo, King Oliver, Kid Ory, Charlie Parker ("Victory Ball," with the Metronome All-Stars, a slightly odd choice), Oscar Peterson, Django Reinhardt, Artie Shaw, Muggsy Spanier, Jess Stacy, Art Tatum, Mary Lou Williams, Teddy Wilson . . . OK fine. Tommy Dorsey (Tommy Dorsey?), Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Jelly Roll Morton, and Fats Waller are each allowed TWO selections each, out of our 96. Meantime -- yes, I know, they had to leave SOMEONE out, but they found room for Barbara Carroll, Larry Clinton, Tommy Ladnier, and Miff Mole, didn't they? And we'll cut 'em some slack on the likes of Dave Brubeck. But -- where's MILES DAVIS? JOHN COLTRANE? ELLA FITZGERALD? CHET BAKER? BILL EVANS? Our self-styled "Leading Jazz Authorities" did some useful work, here -- every listener has to start somewhere. And certainly the Dixieland roots of the genre need to be preserved and respected. But their leaning towards the "Big Band" sound is hard to miss when the sole Billie Holiday selection features her in front of . . . the Artie Shaw Orchestra.