Howard McGhee was one of the leading trumpeters of the pioneering bebop era, and was named Best Trumpeter by Down Beat magazine in 1949. His first recordings were with the bands of Andy Kirk and Charlie Barnet during the early 40s during which time he took part in the experimental bebop sessions at Mintons Playhouse, and in 1945 he went to Los Angeles with Coleman Hawkins, recording with him and several other leaders there as well as taking part in Jazz At The Philharmonic concerts and tours. He recorded his first sessions leading his own bands during 1945 for he Modern and Aladdin labels.

This great-value 93-track 4-CD set comprises a substantial proportion of his recordings as a leader or co-leader during a time when he worked prolifically with other leaders as well as with his own bands, from1945 through to a point in the 1950s where his output became much less consistent as his drug use started to affect his work. It includes recordings for the Modern, Aladdin, Melodisc, Dial, Mercury, Savoy, Vogue, Atlantic, Hi-Lo and Blue Note labels, and features performances with a host of important names, including Charlie Parker, Milt Jackson, James Moody, Flip Philips, Fats Navarro, J.J. Johnson, Horace Silver, Hank Jones, Ray Brown, Teddy Edwards, Charlie Mingus, Snooky Young, Billy Eckstine, Percy Heath, Kenny Drew, Max Roach and Oscar Pettiford, underlining the high regard in which he was held by his peers. The collection provides a highly entertaining insight into the work of an artists who has [perhaps not had the attention which his contribution to the genre merits.

REVIEWS

“I would hazard a guess that the name of Howard McGhee would not be on many lists of the greatest jazz trumpeters, indeed his name would barely stir any recognition except perhaps in the memory of the most knowledgeable of fans of the bebop era. To see the release of this 4CD, 93-track collection is therefore something of a surprise to put it mildly! However, the proof of the pudding is in the eating and having now had the opportunity to listen to this set, I can understand why more discerning critics rated his contributions so highly… Acrobat are to be commended for assembling it with such care and attention in order to highlight a musician many will feel has been unjustly overlooked in the history of jazz and bebop in particular.”  –  Gerry Stonestreet (In Tune Issue 333)

“Howard McGhee could play fast and high, sweet and low, and any point in between, and might have enjoyed a higher profile had he not emerged in jazz during the same period as Dizzy Gillespie, Clifford Brown and Fats Navarro. Not that McGhee himself seemed especially concerned about the comparison... This 4CD survey of his work, which ends in 1953 around the time McGhee's drug problems temporarily derailed his career, opens in 1945 and charts his development as both technician and ideas-man. ”  –  Philip Clark (Jazzwise Issue 248)

“This spectacular 4CD compilation covers pretty much all of his most impressive 'name' work from the period, moving from his pioneering role as the bringer of bebop to the Wst Coast through to his New York heyday. Compiler Paul Watts' lengthy booklet essay fills out the details admirably. Magnificent music all the way.”  –  Peter Vacher (The Jazz Rag Issue 159)

“A wonderful collection by one of the first and most important of the bop trumpeters. In Dizzy’s shadow in every respect, Howard was still a magical player.” – Steve Voce (Jazz Journal October 2019)