Saxophonist Hal “Cornbread” Singer was a popular US R&B and jazz bandleader of the 1940s. Taking advantage of the opportunity to make a commercial impact in the world of R&B during years when the “honking” style of jumping R&B became popular, he managed to keep in both camps, recording successfully both in R&B and jazz idioms.
Hailing from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Singer studied violin as a child but later switched to reed instruments and settled on the tenor saxophone after hearing Ben Webster and Lester Young. In 1947, after a plying his trade with a number groups including Jay McShann’s orchestra, he joined Oran “Hot Lips” Page’s band and began working as a session musician with King Records. In early 1948, he left Page, formed his own small group, and cut his first single Fine As Wine. He recorded the instrumental Corn Bread, which made No.1 on the R&B charts in September 1948, and raised Singer’s profile and his nickname.
This 44-track 2-CD collection comprises A&B sides and selected album tracks under his own name on the Savoy, Acorn, Mercury and Coral labels, plus the tracks from his Prestige album Blue Stompin’, with several extended performances. The set features performances alongside Milt Larkins, Wynton Kelly, Sir Charles Thompson, Walter Page, Tyree Glenn, Milt Hinton, Sam ‘The Man’ Taylor, Kelly Owens, Mickey Baker, Leonard Gaskin and many more.
It’s an entertaining showcase for his distinctive honking style, but also underlines his prowess as a jazz musician. Singer became a centenarian on 8 October 2019 and died on 18 August 2020.
TRACKS
Disc 1 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
Corn Bread |
Hal Singer Sextette |
2
|
Plug For Cliff (To Cliff Holland Wook) |
Hal Singer Sextette |
3 |
Rent Party |
Hal Singer |
4 |
Singer Song |
Hal Singer |
5 |
Rice And Red Beans |
Hal Singer |
6 |
Swing Shift |
Hal Singer |
7 |
Neck Bones |
Hal Singer |
8 |
Blue Monday Caravan |
Sir Charles Thompson Allstars |
9 |
Cooking With Cookie |
Sir Charles Thompson Allstars |
10 |
Jiblets |
Hal Singer with Sir Charles Thompson Orch. |
11 |
Disc Jockey Boogie |
Hal Singer with Sir Charles Thompson Orch. |
12 |
Teddy's Dream |
X-Rays |
13 |
Beef Stew |
Hal Singer Sextette |
14 |
One For Willie |
Hal Singer Sextette |
15 |
Happy Days |
Hal Singer Sextette |
16 |
Midnight Jump |
Hal Singer |
17 |
Hot Bread |
Hal Singer |
18 |
Loose Riff |
Hal Singer |
19 |
Swanee River |
Hal Singer Sextette |
20 |
Rock Around The Clock |
Hal Singer & His Orchestra |
21 |
Fine As Wine |
Hal Singer & His Orchestra |
22 |
Blue Velvet |
Hal "Cornbread" Singer |
23 |
Buttermilk And Beans |
Hal "Cornbread" Singer |
24 |
Miss Me |
Hal Singer |
25 |
A Weaver Of Dreams |
Hal Singer |
26 |
Easy Street |
Hal Singer |
27 |
I Hear A Rhapsody |
Hal Singer |
Disc 2 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
Lonesome And Blue |
Hal Singer |
2 |
I Love The Way You Love Me |
Hal Singer |
3 |
Indian Love Call |
Hal Singer |
4 |
The Frog Hop |
Hal Singer |
5 |
Home Town |
Hal Singer |
6 |
Easy Living |
Hal Singer |
7 |
Hot Rod |
Hal Singer |
8 |
Rock And Roll |
Hal Singer |
9 |
Mr. Movin's Groovin' (Hound's Tooth) |
Hal Singer |
10 |
Crossroads |
Hal Singer |
11 |
Catnip |
Hal Singer & His Orchestra |
12 |
The Blast Off |
Hal Singer Quintet |
13 |
Wendy |
Hal Singer Quintet |
14 |
Midnight |
Hal Singer Quintet |
15 |
With A Song In My Heart |
Hal Singer Quintet |
16 |
Fancy Pants |
Hal Singer Quintet |
17 |
Blue Stompin' |
Hal Singer Quintet |