Dalle Origini Alle Avanguardie

Dalle Origini Alle Avanguardie

Released in Italy in 1979 by Fabbri Editori, Dalle Origini Alle Avanguardie — From the Origins to the Avant-Garde — is a fascinating introductory anthology tracing the development of jazz through a selection of landmark recordings. Issued as part of Fabbri's celebrated I Grandi Del Jazz series, the LP was designed to provide a broad historical overview of the music, moving from early New Orleans jazz and swing through big band, bebop, vocal jazz and the emerging avant-garde. The original series was launched in 1979 with the stated ambition of presenting jazz's history across a collection of LPs and accompanying booklets.

The first side begins with the New Orleans Rhythm Kings and “Sweet Lovin' Mama,” representing the early New Orleans tradition that provided one of the foundations for modern jazz. The Dutch Swing College Orchestra follows with “Charleston Hound,” before the music moves into the swing era with Coleman Hawkins' “All The Things You Are,” Jimmy Rushing's “My Melancholy Baby” and violinist Joe Venuti's “It's Right Here For You.” Together, these selections demonstrate the gradual transition from traditional jazz and hot jazz towards the larger ensembles and sophisticated improvisation of the swing era.

Side B moves further into the development of modern jazz. Count Basie's “Cute” represents the streamlined, rhythmically powerful Kansas City big-band tradition, while Charlie Parker's “Confirmation” introduces the revolutionary language of bebop. Parker's rapid lines, harmonic sophistication and rhythmic freedom transformed jazz during the 1940s and provided the foundation for much of the modern jazz that followed.

The progression continues through Lambert, Hendricks & Ross' “Cloudburst,” an influential example of vocalese, and Sarah Vaughan's “Summertime,” showcasing the extraordinary vocal technique and harmonic sophistication of one of jazz's greatest singers. The album closes with Ornette Coleman's “Happy Fool,” bringing the journey into the world of free jazz and the avant-garde. Coleman's approach to improvisation represented one of the major departures from established jazz structures during the late 1950s and 1960s.

The resulting programme is remarkably ambitious for a single LP: from New Orleans jazz and Dixieland through swing, big band, bebop, vocal jazz and free jazz, it presents a concise musical history of the genre. For collectors, it is also an interesting example of the Italian publishing-house LP series that introduced jazz history to a broad audience through affordable records accompanied by editorial booklets. The Fabbri series was initially planned as 80 discs, later expanding to 104 releases as the project developed.

This 1979 Italian Fabbri Editori pressing is therefore both a varied jazz compilation and a document of the era's enthusiasm for presenting the history of jazz in accessible, educational LP collections. With major figures including Count Basie, Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Sarah Vaughan and Ornette Coleman, it offers a particularly broad snapshot of jazz's evolution across the twentieth century.

Side A

1. New Orleans Rhythm Kings – Sweet Lovin' Mama
2. Dutch Swing College Orchestra – Charleston Hound
3. C. Hawkins – All The Things You Are
4. J. Rushing – My Melancholy Baby
5. J. Venuti – It's Right Here For You

Side B

1. Count Basie – Cute
2. Charlie Parker – Confirmation
3. L.H. & R. – Cloudburst
4. Sarah Vaughan – Summertime
5. Ornette Coleman – Happy Fool