Boyd Raeburn

In January 2008, Montpellier, a label that specializes in the reissuing of uncommon big-band jazz recordings from the mid-'50s, dug up a CD's worth of vintage late-period Boyd Raeburn and released it under the title Get Out of Town. Recorded for Columbia between January 5 and July 19, 1956, these 18 tracks typify Raeburn's Eisenhower-era approach to bandleading. Six different sessions resulted in both honest jazz and simplistic pop music as Ginny Powell sang Billie Holiday's "Fine and Mellow" and George Gershwin's "Summertime," then found herself backed by a vocal group billed as the Classmates on "Playing with Fire" and "Mississippi Mud." Tenor saxophonist Sam "The Man" Taylor was featured on "Harlem Nocturne." The band's lineup also included such worthy and accomplished improvisers as trumpeters Charlie Shavers, Buck Clayton, Ernie Royal, and Billy Butterfield; trombonist Lawrence Brown; reedmen Hal McKusick and Herbie Mann; guitarist George Barnes; pianists Johnny Eaton and Nat Pierce; and bassist Oscar Pettiford. Get Out of Town comes as a pleasant surprise as well as proof that Boyd Raeburn made good records for labels other than Savoy. ~ arwulf arwulf, All Music Guide