Although bebop became the mainstream of jazz by 1950 and most of the Swing Era big bands had broken up by that time, swing never disappeared or died. Many of the great players who came out of the big bands of the 1930s and '40s had long careers during the decades that followed. While many went into bop, rhythm & blues or studiowork, some of the more distinctive players had careers performing small group swing and dixieland.

Cornetist Bobby Hackett had taken a famous solo on Glenn Miller's recording of "A String of Pearls." Hackett's mellow style and quiet sound made him popular from the start of his career, whether with big bands or with dixieland groups such as that of Eddie Condon. After leaving Miller, Hackett had a strong career in the studios (often being heard on Jackie Gleason's mood music records) but was most significant for his work with dixieland and swing combos. Coast Concert, from 1955, teams Hackett with an octet also featuring trombonist-singer Jack Teagarden, clarinetist Matty Matlock and Abe Lincoln on second trombone. Hackett sounds inspired by the company on such dixieland standards as "That's a Plenty," "Basin Street Blues" and "Struttin' with Some Barbecue." Coast Concert is arguably Bobby Hackett's finest recording of the 1950s.

Slidin' Swing has a session apiece led by a pair of top trombonists. Vic Dickenson had been with the Count Basie Orchestra but his unusual sound and wit was perfectly suited for swing/dixieland groups. His four selections with a sextet feature trumpeter Shad Collins, clarinetist Edmond Hall and a Basie-influenced rhythm section with pianist Sir Charles Thompson. Although Urbie Green was from a younger generation, spending much of his career in the studios, he loved to play swing as well as bop and had no difficulty on his set fitting in with trumpeter Ruby Braff, altoist Med Flory, Frank Wess (tenor and flute) and Sir Charles Thompson during his four numbers. The music on Slidin' Swing (especially the Green numbers) is especially rare.

Both of these CDs are reproductions of 1950s LPs and are quite enjoyable.

—Scott Yanow