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Students, writers, musicians may be eligible for a discount on some multiple items Let us know if you experience difficulty ordering from online or instore retailers
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Trade and retail customers outside Europe can visit our USA distributors
Edited by Anthony Barnett Veronica Forrest-Thomson
Collected Poems
new revised edition without the translations Note that our original edition of Collected Poems and Translations is still in print
To mark the 2009 centenary of Stuff Smith’s birth a pamphlet has been printed in a small edition presenting STUFF SMITH AND THE ALPHONSO TRENT ORCHESTRA: A NEWLY DISCOVERED PHOTO Available only direct from AB on enquiry
AB’s online surveyELECTRIC VIOLINS AND JAZZ VIOLINISTS 1930s–1950sMelBay FiddleSessions PART 1 |
PART 2 |
PART 3
AB FABLE CDs NOW AT iTUNES
Most AB Fable CDs are now available for sampling or download at iTunes. The latest CDs will be there soon
Downloads are compressed with loss of musical information and are without documentation and full artist credit They are no substitute for the physical CDs with in-depth documentation all of which are available
including, in the case of I Like Be I Like Bop, a 96 page illustrated history of Bebop Violin
Some other Smith and South CDs with which AB is associated are also at iTunes as noted lower down
Beware
Avoid 1920s–1940s Smith and South releases on several European budget labels and Smith–Grappelli on Everest
There are technical and sourcing issues associated with them and their tracks are better available elsewhere
See other label recommendations lower down. If in doubt contact us
CD CATALOGUE All our CDs released between 2002 and 2008 shown below are available now
Our 2008 releases are dedicated to the memory of our friend violinist Gayle Dixon
who passed away on Sunday, November 23rd, while the CDs were in production
ABCD1-018 PROFESSOR VISITS HARLEM or, Swingin’ Till the Girls Come Home Anthology of Swing String Ensembles 1930s–1950s incl. unreleased tests and broadcasts
The first documentation of American and European mid-period adventures
in swing string ensembles with two or more bowed instruments
Includes a private jam session by Jimmy Bryant, Harold Hensley, Stuff Smith
An All About Jazz Unearthed Gem for 2009
ABCD2-019/20 BLOWS ’N’ RHYTHM Fiddlin’ the Blues The hottest bows in Rhythm ’n’ Blues, Blues ’n’ Rhythm, Rock ’n’ Roll
and Fiddle Curiosities 1939–1959
2CD anthology incl. 20 page booklet with essay by blues authority Howard Rye
including unreleased and rare discoveries by
Leon Abbey, Remo Biondi, Clarence Black, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Jimmy Bryant
Emilio Cáceres, Pre-Papa Johnny Creach, Bo Diddley, Joe Giordano, Don Bowman aka Sugarcane Harris
Ray Nance, Richard Otto, Ray Perry, Stuff Smith, Eddie South, Ginger Smock and others
including unidentified violinists, one of whom is an important addition to 2CD I Like Be I Like Bop
Includes two never-before-released Abbey tracks and eight newly identified Black tracks
six never-before-released Smith tracks and two newly discovered Smith rarities
two newly identified South takes and four newly identified Smock rarities
and a never-before-rereleased Cáceres rarity
ABCD1-021 EDDIE SOUTH Best Years of My Life
DARK ANGEL ALBUM SETS Three eight–title album sets released in 1940 and 1946 under the title Dark Angel of the Violin
two of which have never before been rereleased in any form plus new transfers of a 1940 session on which
the South orchestra, augmented with members of the John Kirby orchestra, accompanies Ginny Simms
Important
These Dark Angel of the Violin album sets are not the 1944 Dark Angel of the Fiddle
transcriptions released on CD Soundies noted in CD links below
2006 RELEASES
ABCD1-015 STUFF SMITH That Naughty Waltz
COMPLETE 1937–1942 TENOR SAX SEPTETS FEATURING
1942 FATS WALLER ALUMNI AND 1937 TEDDY WILSON ORCHESTRA All the commercial releases and unreleased airchecks known to us of the period by Stuff Smith Septets with tenor sax
including his leadership of Fats Waller alumni Herman Autr(e)y, Ted McCord, Al Casey, Sammy Benskin, Al Hall, Slick Jones in 1942
while Waller was touring as a soloist; lays to rest the ubiquitous string-along-theory error that Smith led the band in 1943 after Waller had died
plus Helen Ward with a 1937 Teddy Wilson Septet Featuring Stuff Smith with Jonah Jones, Ben Webster, Lawrence Lucie, John Kirby, Cozy Cole
plus a bonus all-star jam session aircheck by Karl George, Stuff Smith, Lionel Hampton, Teddy Wilson, Vernon Alley Not as complete as we thought. Unreleased alternate takes of Smith’s second Varsity session
have been discovered and are included on 2008 release 2CD Blows ’n’ Rhythm
ABCD1-016 REX STEWART AND STUFF SMITH Summertime
THE 1963 ST-ONGE LA DUETS AND NARRATION Previously unreleased informal private session recorded by Roger St Onge in Los Angeles in which
Stuff Smith and Rex Stewart talk about their early days in jazz and play the most beautiful duets, solos and vocals
plus a solo performance of Clair de lune by Smith and bonus band sessions with Smith and Stewart
2005 RELEASES
ABCD1-009 EDDIE SOUTH Tzigane in Rhythm
SOLO, TRIO, ORCHESTRA BROADCASTS, FILM & FUGITIVE 1940–1947
Including unreleased live broadcasts, private recordings with pioneer bebop-inflected pianist Allen Tinney
film soundtrack, unreleased Columbia and a previously unknown release
ABCD1-010 GINGER SMOCK Strange Blues
STUDIO & DEMO RECORDINGS 1946–1958 Including unreleased and rare recordings by the Central Avenue LA violinist who studied with Stuff Smith
in genres from bop to blues to pop including an unreleased RCA Victor session by The Jackson Brothers Four more 1940s tracks have been discovered and are included on 2008 release 2CD Blows ’n’ Rhythm
ABCD2-011/12 I LIKE BE I LIKE BOP Disc 1: Abbey’s Boogie / Disc 2: Bebop Woogie
ODDS & SVENDS OF EARLY AMERICAN & EUROPEAN BEBOP VIOLIN
& CONTEMPORARY VIOLIN CURIOSITIES 1940s–1950s An ear-opening double anthology with rare 78s and unreleased broadcasts that establishes the chronology
and context of early bebop violin and rescues contemporary curiosities from obscurity with 96 page analytical-historical photo-essay Almost Like Being in Bop: A Not-So-Brief Account of the Swing to Recorded Bebop & Progressive Violin in America and Europe
The essay ranges far and wide and includes new biographical-discographical findings, new interview quotations, previously unseen photos
The CDs include rare and unreleased recordings including broadcasts by
Americans: Abbey; Bella; Creach; Frigo; Girard; Kennedy; Lookofsky; Nance; Nero; Orloff; Otis; Perry; Smith; Smock; South; Wetmore
Europeans: Asmussen; Bacsik; Christensen; Grappelli; Iwring; Kahn; Laurence [Hodeir]; Ottersen; Wentzel Larsen; Zacharias
Many of the rare 78s have never before been rereleased including a rare example of a
1950s Leon Abbey recording and an overlooked Grappelli recording with George Shearing
ABCD1-014 RAY NANCE When We’re Alone
COMPLETE 1940–1949 NON-DUCAL VIOLIN RECORDINGS
FEATURING BEN WEBSTER CLARINET TRANSCRIPTIONS Including unreleased only known clarinet solo home recordings by Ben Webster with Fred Guy and Sonny Greer plus
Jimmie Blanton on three and other sessions with Ray Nance on violin and some trumpet away from Duke Ellington
incl. Horace Henderson, Eddie Heywood, Earl Hines, Ivory Joe Hunter, etc
XABCD1-X013 BOWNUS 2005 Almost Like Being in Bop
BONUS CD TO FIRST 123 ADVANCE SUBSCRIBERS Unreleased location and broadcast material by
Elek Bacsik, Harry Lookofsky, earliest Jean-Luc Ponty, Stuff Smith, Dick Wetmore and other surprises
This CD is no longer available
ABCD2-004/5 STUFF SMITH & ROBERT CRUM
COMPLETE 1944 ROSENKRANTZ APARTMENT TRANSCRIPTION DUETS
Previously unreleased legendary recordings by The Jazz Violinist and The Classical Pianist
Two concert performances by Smith & Crum are released on ABCD2-007/8
ABCD1-006 RAY PERRY
COMPLETE 1944 C. W. FRENCH & 1945 ROSENKRANTZ APARTMENT TRANSCRIPTIONS Previously unreleased extended improvisations by Lionel Hampton’s transitional swing to bop violinist
with Parker pianist Argonne Thornton aka Sadik Hakim and South, Grappelli, Reinhardt bassist Wilson Myers
and fugitive sextet recordings with Sabby Lewis
ABCD2-007/8 STUFF SMITH
1944–1946 STUDIO, BROADCAST, CONCERT & APARTMENT PERFORMANCES
A unique collection transferred from original sources of most of Smith’s unreleased with released recordings of the period
including Asch session with previously unreleased outtakes, complete Mildred Bailey and Jubilee show performances
complete 1944 Times Hall trio with Jones/Levy and duo with Crum, 1945 Town Hall trio newly transferred
previously unreleased recordings with Erroll Garner, Chicago and New York airchecks and fugitive 78s
Go to Stuff Smith and Ray Perry entries in the FB:VIS pink page update facility below for complete session date content
CD PRICES
single CD UK £12 / Rest of Europe €15 / US$ enquire // double CD UK £22 / Rest of Europe €30 / US$ enquire
please enquire for other currency There is a small discount on orders from individuals for three or more CDs of which one double counts as two
Students, writers, musicians or individuals who live in low economy territories may be eligible for a further discount
Enquire for quantity and trade discounts
An angel is a human being
who understands that making and publishing work outside the commercial mainstream
is difficult in the extreme, who appreciates that work and who is able and willing to assist
Please contact us for further information if you would like to contribute financial assistance
in any amount no strings attached to our music or literature program
Your support is needed
The following CDs from other companies include previously unreleased recordings with booklet notes by Anthony Barnett
THE COMPLETE VERVE STUFF SMITH SESSIONS www.mosaicrecords.com This set has been withdrawn because of insoluable licensing difficulties. Examples appear occasionally at auction
Corrections to the booklet notes originally posted on the Mosaic site are now posted on the AB corrections link above
DARK ANGEL OF THE FIDDLE
THE COMPLETE 1944 STANDARD AND JUBILEE EDDIE SOUTH BROADCAST TRANSCRIPTIONS Contact AB in the event of difficulty obtaining this CD released on the Soundies label
Beware
iTunes posting of this CD omits the three live Jubilee Show Transcription tracks
BLACK GYPSY
THE COMPLETE 1927–1934 VICTOR, GRAMOPHONE, ARC EDDIE SOUTH RECORDINGS 2001 Cedar Award Winner for remastering of pre 1950 vintage recording Corrections to the liner notes are posted on the AB corrections link above
Frog have also released Django Reinhardt, The Swing Sessions, Vols 1, 2 incl. South’s 1937 Paris sessions www.frogrecords.co.uk
EDDIE SOUTH INTERNATIONAL ORCHESTRA THE CHELONI BROADCAST TRANSCRIPTIONS Sixteen sponsored radio programs in a 3CD set studio recorded in Los Angeles in 1933 while South was appearing at
smart Club Ballyhoo. Seven-piece multi-genre orchestra incl. two violinists, Clifford King, Everett Barksdale, Milt Hinton
Previously unreleased, with 36 page booklet, transferred from the unique undamaged complete set in the AB Fable Archive
An All About Jazz Unearthed Gem for 2006 www.jazzoracle.com
VARIOUS 1965–1967 STUFF SMITH PERFORMANCES IN EUROPE
Quartet with Kenny Drew; Violin Duos with Svend Asmussen, Poul Olsen; Quartet with Henri Chaix www.storyville-records.com Also at itunes
STUFF SMITH AND HIS ONYX CLUB BOYS 1936–1937
COMPLETE FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH UNRELEASED AIRCHECKS New compilation of all Smith’s commercially released Vocalions and Deccas incl. a newly identified withdrawn Vocalion take
with full documentation plus a selection of airchecks from the AB Fable Archive never before on CD www.hepjazz.com Also at itunes though without essential documentation
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Also recommended
THE COMPLETE 1943 WORLD STUFF SMITH TRIO TRANSCRIPTIONS On Jazzology’s Progressive label incl. outtakes; complements AB Fable release of the trio’s essential 1944 recordings www.jazzology.com
RICHMOND RARITIES 1927–1933 incl. STUFF SMITH Original John R. T. Davies transfers of Stuff Smith’s complete 1928–1930 Gennett recordings with Alphonso Trent www.jazzoracle.com
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Beware
Classic Stuff Smith and Eddie South and other releases on certain European series labels may
be a temporary convenience in some cases but they cannot seriously be recommended
because of problematic transfers or deficiencies in information and programming.
Improper reworking of earlier dubbed releases tends to introduce or perpetuate errors and
undermines the future of well researched releases transferred from original sources.
Jazz Oracle BDW8008 Richmond Rarities is the only recommended CD with Smith’s 1928–1930 recordings
though we cannot agree a suggested identification of Trent’s drummer.
Hep CD1085 is the only complete CD of Smith’s 1936–1937 Vocalions and Deccas plus a selection of airchecks.
AB Fable CDs are the only CDs of Smith’s most essential unreleased with released
1939–1946 recordings in transfers from original sources.
Progressive PCD7053 is the only complete CD of Smith’s 1943 transcriptions.
Frog DGF36 is the only complete CD of South’s 1927–1934 Victor etc recordings with
previously unreleased takes and titles in transfers from original sources.
Frog have also released new transfers of South in Paris 1937 on Reinhardt Swing Sessions Vols 1 & 2.
Soundies SCD4120 is the only complete CD of South’s 1944 Standard and Jubilee Transcriptions.
Copyright in AB Fable Releases
AB Fable releases entail expensive acquisition, original transfer and restoration of discs
or tapes usually owned by us or licensed by us or otherwise used by permission.
AB Fable holds copyright in our transfers and restorations and our releases.
AB Fable and/or licensors or those who have otherwise given their permission
hold ownership rights in the particular copies of the discs or tapes used for our releases. All tracks on our releases are uniquely identifiable in analogue and digital formats.
If you wish to discuss licensing music or print from our releases or publications speak to us. We are fiercely protective of our significant copyrights. Violators face legal proceedings.
We are happy to consider co-operation in non-exploitative projects
and we will direct you to any other relevant copyright holders. We are not party to CD ProperPair appropriation and garbling of AB text and images for
which compensation was received prior to commencement of impending legal proceedings.
Unusual location shots of Emilio Cáceres, Mrs Dunbar, John Frigo, Joe Giordano, Stéphane Grappelli, Joe Kennedy, Harry Lookofsky, Ray Nance
Ray Perry, Stuff Smith, Ginger Smock, Eddie South, Joe Venuti, Claude Williams, Juice Wilson
Corrections and additions to Stuff Smith: Desert Sands/Up Jumped the Devil
Eddie South: Black Gypsy
Fable Bulletin: Violin Improvisation Studies
See printed vols of FB:VIS for corrections and additions before 2001
Subscription details above
Complete set discount available to direct Desert Sands / Black Gypsy purchasers
Images of Stuff Smith and Eddie South pre-2001 update pages are now posted here
Can you help?
AB Fable Archive is searching for certain rare and unreleased violin recordings, photos, sheet music and other documents
Urgently sought recordings include Ray Perry Play Fiddle Play on Boston 78/45 unidentified label
and all releases on LA 78 A Natural Hit! label
Please contact us if you think you can assist with these or other items
