Berry Story (1936 / 1939)
Chu Berry stands as one of swing's most distinctive tenor saxophonists, and this EPM Musique reissue traces his recorded output from 1936 to 1939—a period that encompasses some of his finest work. Hear him leading his own orchestra on tunes like Limehouse Blues and Too Marvelous For Words, his robust tone cutting through ensemble arrangements with warmth and assertiveness. The compilation also features Berry's collaborations with Gene Krupa's legendary swing band, where he fits seamlessly into Krupa's hard-hitting rhythmic framework. Berry's style bridges earlier jazz traditions with the emerging swing aesthetic, his playing both lyrical and grounded. The sound quality reflects the technology of the era—slightly distant, organic, full of human presence. For swing enthusiasts, this stands as essential documentation of a musician at his peak, before his early death in 1941.
Item Details+
| Genre | Jazz |
| Style | Swing |
| Notes | Mint (NM or M-) Mint (NM or M-) |
| Media | Near Mint (NM or M-) |
| Sleeve | Near Mint (NM or M-) |
| Label | EPM Musique, Jazz Archives |
| Year | 1990 |
| Country | France |
| Format | CD |
Tracklist+
1. Gene Krupa's Swing Band - I Hope Gabriel Likes My Music 3:02
2. Chu Berry And His Orchestra - Now You're Talking My Language 2:55
3. Chu Berry And His Orchestra - Indiana 2:48
4. Chu Berry And His Orchestra - Too Marvelous For Words 2:54
5. Chu Berry And His Orchestra - Limehouse Blues 2:54
6. Chu Berry And His Orchestra - Chuberry Jam 2:18
7. Chu Berry And His Orchestra - Maelstrom 2:48
8. Chu Berry And His Orchestra - My Secret Love Affair 2:50
9. Chu Berry And His Orchestra - Ebb-Tide 2:46
10. Wingy Manone and His Orchestra - Annie Laurie 2:48
11. Wingy Manone and His Orchestra - Loch Lomond 2:30
12. Wingy Manone and His Orchestra - In The Land Of Yamo Yamo 2:39
13. Chu Berry And His Orchestra - Body And Soul 3:53
14. Chu Berry And His Orchestra - Sittin' In 2:13
15. Chu Berry And His Orchestra - Stardust 3:55
16. Chu Berry And His Orchestra - Forty Six West Fifty Two 2:32
17. Wingy Manone and His Orchestra - Downright Disgusted Blues 2:25
18. Wingy Manone and His Orchestra - Corrine, Corrini 2:10
19. Wingy Manone and His Orchestra - Jumpy Nerves 2:46
20. Wingy Manone and His Orchestra - Casey Jones 2:14
21. Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra - Sweethearts On Parade 2:58
22. Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra - Shufflin' At Hollywood 3:03
23. Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra - Denisson Swing 3:14
24. Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra - Wizzin' The Wizz 2:23
Data provided by Discogs.