Two full LPs of
Harry "Sweets" Edison and
Charlie Shavers,
Session at Midnight and
Session at Riverside are reissued in full on this single CD, here titled
Complete at Midnight/At Riverside Sessions. Both of the sets are in the tradition of the
Buck Clayton Jam Sessions with fairly basic chord changes, riffing behind soloists, and the lineups being populated by colorful swing veterans. The main difference from the
Clayton jams is that the performances are briefer, clocking in mostly between five and six minutes. However there is ample solo space for all of the key players, sometimes including as many as eight horn players and the pianist on a single track. A bit unusual is that "Blue Lou" features trumpet solos and trade-offs by
Harry "Sweets" Edison,
Shorty Sherock and
Benny Carter (switching from alto), along with alto trade-offs between
Carter,
Murray McEachern (who doubles on valve trombone) and
Willie Smith. In general, all of the musicians play at least as well as one would expect, and one gets a rare opportunity to hear trumpeter
Shorty Sherock, clarinetist
Gus Bivona and tenor saxophonist
Babe Russin in this type of mid-'50s all-star group. The results are fun, often infectious, and filled with spirited playing.
–
Scott Yanow, Rovi