Cornettist Leon Bismark (“Bix”) Beiderbecke (1903-1931) was a classic jazz innovator of iconic status. His appallingly early death at only 28, after a mere six years’ recording career, has led to much romantically assembled myth and legend as the archetypal troubled creator whose gifts are terminated too soon by life’s cruelties. But it was of course his music that came first. That, as this collection conclusively illustrates, is where the story really starts and ends; a story of innovation which places him at the central birthplace of jazz as we define it today.

“Young Man With A Horn” (also the title of Dorothy Baker’s 1946 novel), presents the finest 52 tracks from the Bix discography. That immortal recorded definition of Beiderbecke’s genius, Singin’ The Blues, opens a definitive cherry-picking panorama of his career. The five best titles from the 1924 Wolverines are next, including Fidgety Feet.

There follows 16 tracks with Frankie Trumbauer and his Orchestra (1927/9), all long regarded as the living definition of Dixieland jazz at its greatest (I’m Coming, Virginia / Riverboat Shuffle . . .), alongside Beiderbecke’s own “Gang” – 12 numbers including Jazz Me Blues and At The Jazz Band Ball.

There are seven highlights, too, from his time with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra in 1927/8 (Louisiana / Changes . . .), all shining trophies of the jazz age.

Enhanced by an enthusiastic note from trumpeter Digby Fairweather, this Retrospective double provides the best possible evidence that Bix Beiderbecke belongs in the ranks of jazz music’s greatest-ever musicians.

Musicians include: Frankie Trumbauer, Georg Brunis, Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, Bud Freeman, Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Eddie Lang, Miff Mole, Don Murray, Bill Rank, Adrian Rollini, Jack Teagarden, Joe Venuti.

Vocalists include: Hoagy Carmichael, Bing Crosby, Irving Kaufman, Scrappy Lambert.

Contents:
CD 1
• Singin' The Blues Till My Daddy Comes Home
• Fidgety Feet
• Oh, Baby! Don’t Say No, Say Maybe
• Copenhagen
• Tiger Rag
• Sensation Rag
• Flock O' Blues
• Davenport Blues
• My Pretty Girl
• Clarinet Marmalade
• Ostrich Walk
• Riverboat Shuffle
• I'm Coming, Virginia
• Way Down Yonder In New Orleans
• For No Reason At All In C
• Three Blind Mice
• In a Mist
• Clementine, from New Orleans
• Wringin' An’ Twistin'
• Humpty Dumpty
• Krazy Kat
• Baltimore
• There Ain't No Land Like Dixieland To Me
• At The Jazz Band Ball
• Royal Garden Blues
• The Jazz Me Blues
• Sorry

CD 2
• Goose Pimples
• Since My Best Gal Turned Me Down
• Cryin' All Day
• A Good Man Is Hard To Find
• Changes
• Lonely Melody
• There'll Come A Time, Wait And See
• San
• Mississippi Mud
• Dardanella
• From Monday On
• Borneo
• Somebody Stole My Gal
• Thou Swell
• Louisiana
• ’T’ain’t So, Honey, ’T’ain’t So
• Ol' Man River
• Wa-Da-Da, Everybody's Doin' It Now
• Rhythm King
• Margie Baby, Won't You Please Come Home?
• Loved One
• Deep Harlem
• Deep Down South
• Georgia On My Mind