Oran Thaddeus Page (1908-1954), nicknamed “Hot Lips” because of the warmth of his playing, was both a spellbinding trumpeter and a singer of irresistible energy and joy. Jazz author Dan Morgenstern wrote: “When Lips walked in, the joint would start to jump” and hailed him as a “veritable incarnation of the spirit of jazz.” This notable addition to Retrospective’s great series of jazz trumpeters offers a generous 48-track survey of Page’s remarkable recording career, from his first solo (Blue Devil Blues with Walter Page) in 1929, to his final live session (The Sheik of Araby with Marian McPartland) in 1953. His fiery, full-blooded style is in evidence throughout, with 27 fine numbers by his own bands or groups (I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart [a Top 10 hit!], Pagin’ Mr Page, Skull Duggery, Lafayette…), often with such jazz-greats as Don Byas or Earl Bostic. He is also featured with 14 other ensembles, including those of Chu Berry, Pete Johnson, Ben Webster, Albert Ammons and, with two big hits (Blues in the Night and St James Infirmary), Artie Shaw. Billie Holiday (Long Gone Blues) is one of five other vocalists featured alongside 17 examples of his own distinctive, blues-based singing, one of them the popular Baby, it’s Cold Outside duet with Pearl Bailey. As Dizzy Gillespie once said: “Nobody messed with Lips when it came to the blues!” Listening to this album is guaranteed to leave any jazz lover ‘Feelin’ High & Happy’.

Tracklisting:

CD 1 (1929-1944)
1. Feelin’ High and Happy
2. Blue Devil Blues
3. Moten Swing
4. Limehouse Blues
5. He’s Pulling His Whiskers
6. I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart
7. Skull Duggery
8. Small Fry
9. Blues with Lips
10. Long Gone Blues
11. Jump for Joy
12. I Would Do Anything for You
13. Gone With the Gin
14. Walk It to Me
15. Lafayette
16. Harlem Rhumbain’ the Blues
17. Just Another Woman
18. Do It If You Wanna
19. Evil Man’s Blues
20. Blowing Up a Breeze
21. Blues in the Night
22. St James Infirmary Blues
23. Woke Up Clipped
24. Teezol
25. The Breaks

CD 2 (1944-1953)
1. Jammin’ the Boogie
2. Rockin’ at Ryan’s
3. The Blues Jumped the Rabbit
4. Uncle Sam Blues
5. Dance of the Tambourine
6. Pagin’ Mr Page
7. Good for Stompin’
8. Blooey
9. You Need Coachin’
10. Miss Martingale
11. The Sheik of Araby
12. House Party
13. Perdido Street Stomp
14. Corsicana
15. They Raided the Joint
16. Kansas City Jive
17. Page Mister Trumpet
18. Take Your Shoes Off, Baby
19. La Danse
20. Good Rocking Tonight
21. I Got an Uncle in Harlem
22. Baby, it’s Cold Outside
23. The Sheik of Araby