by Scott Yanow
Annette Hanshaw was one of the finest jazz singers of the late '20s. All of her recordings deserve to be reissued complete and in chronological order. But in lieu of that, this single CD is an excellent introduction to Hanshaw's talents. Covering virtually her entire career, from when she was still 15 up until just two years before her premature retirement at age 26, the disc features Hanshaw in a variety of settings. She accompanies herself on piano on &Falling in Love With You& and is backed by such jazz all-stars as cornetist Red Nichols, trombonist Miff Mole, clarinetist Jimmy Lytell, Tommy Dorsey (on trumpet), clarinetist Benny Goodman, Jimmy Dorsey on clarinet and alto, the orchestras of Will Osborne and Victor Young, and even Frank Ferera's Hawaiian Trio. Highlights of the fine sampler include &Black Bottom,& &Big City Blues,& &Little White Lies,& &Walkin' My Baby Back Home,& and &Let's Fall in Love,& but these 25 numbers are only the tip of the iceberg.