Bix Beiderbecke, “The Bix Beiderbecke Story” (Proper, 2003; tracks recorded 1924-30)

Review:
If you've never heard a recording by Bix you don't know what you've missed, and if you have you'll never forget it. He was unsurpassed for purity of tone, and his skill transcended mere improvisation, transmuting the most uninspired tunes into melodies of great beauty, seemingly without effort.

This compilation covers his first recordings with the Wolverines, the Sioux City Six, and the Rhythm Jugglers, the best of his recordings with Jean Goldkette and Paul Whiteman, interpolated by those made by studio groups under his own and Frank Trumbauer's name, the two Broadway Bellhops sides, and finishing up with the two Hoagy Carmichael sides.

This was a musician who claimed never to play the same solo twice, but the one thing that's missing is an alternate take or two (and there are many) to show the extent to which Bix's solos altered dramatically from one to the next. But that's a small reservation which does not detract from the impact of the set as a whole.

Individual discs are housed in slipcases, and are accompanied by an extremely detailed 56-page booklet setting out his career and full discographical details. An absolute bargain.

Tracklist:
Disc 1:
1. Fidgety Feet - The Wolverine Orchestra
2. Jazz Me Blues - The Wolverine Orchestra
3. Oh, Baby - The Wolverine Orchestra
4. Copenhagen - The Wolverine Orchestra
5. Riverboat Shuffle - The Wolverine Orchestra
6. Susie (Of the Islands) - The Wolverine Orchestra
7. I Need Some Pettin' - The Wolverine Orchestra
8. Royal Garden Blues - The Wolverine Orchestra
9. Tiger Rag - The Wolverine Orchestra
10. Sensation - The Wolverine Orchestra
11. Lazy Daddy - The Wolverine Orchestra
12. Tia Juana - The Wolverine Orchestra
13. Big Boy - The Wolverine Orchestra
14. Flock O' Blues - Bix Beiderbecke, Sioux City Six
15. I'm Glad - Bix Beiderbecke, Sioux City Six
16. I Didn't Know - Jean Goldkette
17. Toddlin' Blues - Bix Beiderbecke,
18. Davenport Blues - Bix Beiderbecke,
19. Idolizing - Jean Goldkette
20. I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover - Jean Goldkette
21. I'm Gonna Meet My Sweetie Now - Jean Goldkette
22. Trumbology - Frankie Trumbauer
23. Clarinet Marmalade - Frankie Trumbauer
24. Singin' the Blues - Frankie Trumbauer
25. Slow River - Jean Goldkette
26. Ostrich Walk - Frankie Trumbauer

Disc 2:
1. Riverboat Shuffle - Frankie Trumbauer
2. I'm Coming Virginia - Frankie Trumbauer
3. Way Down Yonder in New Orleans - Frankie Trumbauer
4. For No Reason at All in C - Tram, Bix & Lang
5. In My Merry Oldsmobile - Jean Goldkette
6. Three Blind Mice - Frankie Trumbauer
7. Blue River - Frankie Trumbauer
8. There's a Cradle in Caroline - Frankie Trumbauer
9. In a Mist - Bix Beiderbecke
10. Clementine (From New Orleans) - Jean Goldkette
11. Wringin' an' Twistin' - Tram, Bix & Lang
12. Humpty Dumpty - Frankie Trumbauer
13. Krazy Kat - Frankie Trumbauer
14. Baltimore - Frankie Trumbauer
15. There Ain't No Land Like Dixieland to Me - The Broadway Bell-Hops
16. There's a Cradle in Caroline - The Broadway Bell-Hops
17. Just an Hour of Love - Frankie Trumbauer
18. I'm Wonderin' Who - Frankie Trumbauer
19. At the Jazz Band Ball - Bix Beiderbecke
20. Royal Garden Blues - Bix Beiderbecke
21. Jazz Me Blues - Bix Beiderbecke
22. I'm More Than Satisfied - Willard Robison
23. Clorinda - Willard Robison
24. Three Blind Mice - Willard Robison
25. Goose Pimples - Bix Beiderbecke
26. Sorry - Bix Beiderbecke

Disc 3:
1. Cryin' All Day - Frankie Trumbauer
2. Good Man Is Hard to Find - Frankie Trumbauer & His Orchestra
3. Since My Best Gal Turned Me Down - Bix Beiderbecke
4. Sugar - Frankie Trumbauer & His Orchestra
5. Changes - Paul Whiteman Orchestra
6. (What Are You Waiting For?) Mary - Paul Whiteman Orchestra
7. Lonely Melody - Paul Whiteman Orchestra
8. There'll Come a Time - Frankie Trumbauer
9. Jubilee - Frankie Trumbauer & His Orchestra
10. San - Paul Whiteman Orchestra
11. Mississippi Mud - Frankie Trumbauer & His Orchestra
12. Back in Your Own Back Yard - Paul Whiteman Orchestra
13. There Ain't No Sweet Man That's Worth the Salt of My Tears - Paul Whiteman Orchestra
14. Dardanella - Paul Whiteman Orchestra
15. Love Nest - Paul Whiteman Orchestra
16. From Monday On - Paul Whiteman Orchestra
17. Mississippi Mud - Paul Whiteman Orchestra
18. Sugar - Paul Whiteman Orchestra
19. Coquette - Paul Whiteman Orchestra
20. When - Paul Whiteman Orchestra
21. Lovable - Paul Whiteman Orchestra
22. Our Bungalow of Dreams - Frankie Trumbauer & His Orchestra
23. Lila - Frankie Trumbauer & His Orchestra
24. Borneo - Frankie Trumbauer
25. My Pet - Frankie Trumbauer & His Orchestra

Disc 4:
1. Somebody Stole My Gal - Bix Beiderbecke
2. Thou Swell - Bix Beiderbecke
3. Forget Me Not - Paul Whiteman Orchestra
4. Louisiana - Paul Whiteman Orchestra
5. You Took Advantage of Me - Paul Whiteman Orchestra
6. 'Tain't So Honey, 'T'Aint' So - Paul Whiteman Orchestra
7. Bless You Sister - Frankie Trumbauer & His Orchestra
8. Dusky Stevedore - Frankie Trumbauer
9. Ol' Man River - Bix Beiderbecke
10. Wa-Da-Da (Everybody's Doin' It Now) - Bix Beiderbecke
11. Take Your Tomorrow (And Give Me Today) - Frankie Trumbauer & His Orchestra
12. Love Affairs - Frankie Trumbauer & His Orchestra
13. Rhythm King - Bix Beiderbecke
14. Louisiana - Bix Beiderbecke
15. Margie - Bix Beiderbecke
16. Love Nest - Frankie Trumbauer & His Orchestra
17. Japanese Sandman - Frankie Trumbauer & His Orchestra
18. High on a Hilltop - Frankie Trumbauer
19. Futuristic Rhythm - Frankie Trumbauer
20. Raisin' Tha Roof - Frankie Trumbauer
21. Louise - Frankie Trumbauer
22. Wait Till You See "Ma Cherie" - Frankie Trumbauer
23. Baby Won't You Please Come Home - Frankie Trumbauer
24. China Boy - Paul Whiteman Orchestra
25. Rockin' Chair - Hoagy Carmichael
26. Barnacle Bill, The Sailor - Hoagy Carmichael