For those unaware, William McKinley ’Jazz’ Gillum, born in Indianola, Mississippi, in 1902, was a blues singer, songwriter and harmonica player, who moved to Chicago in the 1920s and teamed up with Big Bill Broonzy and others. He started recording in the mid-1930s and over the next 15 years recorded regularly, creating a number of classics of the genre. Around 1938, he made some of the first blues records to feature an electric guitar.

This incredible 97-track 4-CD collection comprises most of his career releases under his own name on the Bluebird, Melotone and RCA-Victor labels. It features classic compositions like Key To The Highway, Don’t You Scandalize My Name and Look On Yonder Wall, and early and recordings of songs like I’m Gonna Leave You On The Outskirts Of Town, and includes recordings with notable musicians of the day - Big Big Broonzy, Black Bob, Blind John Davis, George Barnes, Washboard Sam, Joshua Altheimer, Alfred Elkins, Roosevelt Sykes, Big Maceo Merriweather, Ransom Knowling, Eddie Boyd, Willie Lacey, Judge Riley and others.

He was a stylish and influential performer, making music which was accessible and entertaining, and this substantial and comprehensive overview of his core career offers a fine showcase for his distinctive approach to the blues.

In truth, no harmonica player was as popular or as much in demand on recording sessions during the ’30s as Jazz Gillum. His extensive discography, accompanied by the small bands that record companies favored, among other reasons because they came over well on jukeboxes, is evidence of his popularity with African-American listeners.

My first learning of the great musician was when following a few sideman dates for ARC, he signed with RCA Victor’s Bluebird imprint in 1934 to record as a solo artist. His strong relationship with producer Lester Melrose also resulted in a steady stream of session work, and he was a fixture of the Bluebird Beat house band.

Gillum was drafted into the Army in 1942, and when he returned from duty, his high, reedy harmonica sound had been largely eclipsed by the harder-edged style of John Lee Sonny Boy Williamson. He recorded a few more sides for Bluebird, but drifted into obscurity by the ’50s, dying after a gunshot wound to the head on March 29th, 1966.

Disc 1:
Early In The Morning; Harmonica Stomp; Crazy About You; Don’t You Scandalize My Name; Jockey Blues; Sarah Jane; I Want You By My Side; She Keeps On Rickin’; I Went To The Gypsy; My Old Lizzie; My Old Suitcase; Alberta Blues; Birmingham Blues; New Sail On Little Girl; Sweet Sweet Woman; Gillums Windy Blues; Boar Hog Blues; Reefer Head Woman; Just Like Jesse James; I’m The Man Down In The Mine; Good Old 51 Highway; I’m Gonna Get It; You’re Laughing Now; Worried And Bothered

Disc 2:
Uncertain Blues; Staving Chain; Get Away Old Woman; Let Her Go; Mule Blues; She Won’t Treat Me Kind; I’ll Get Along Somehow; Against My Will; Big Katy Adams; Keyhole Blues; Talking To Myself; One Time Blues; Somebody Been Talking To You; You Got To Reap What You Sow; Hard Driving Woman; It Sure Had A Kick; Longest Train Blues; Key To The Highway; She Belongs To Me; Muddy Pond Blues; Get Your Business Straight; Little Woman; I’m Still Walking The Highway; It Looks Bad For You; I Got Somebody Else

Disc 3:
Maybe You’ll Love Me Too; Riley Springs Blues; That’s What Worries Me; Me And My Buddy; One Letter Home; War Time Blues; You’re Doing Me Wrong; It’s All Over Now; You Drink Too Much Whiskey; Down South Blues; No Friend Blues; From Now On; I’m Gonna Leave You On The Outskirts Of Town; I Woke Up Cold In Hand; Tell Me Mama; My Big Money; I Couldn’t Help It; Deep Water Blues; Go Back To The Country; Five Feet Four; Whiskey Head Buddies; Afraid To Trust Them; Keep On Sailing; Fast Woman Blues

Disc 4:
Reckless Rider Blues; Look On Yonder Wall; I’m Not The Lad; Long Razor Blues; Can’t Trust Myself; All In All Blues; I’m Gonna Train My Baby; You Got To Run Me Down; Roll Dem Bones; The Blues What Am; Chauffeur Blues; Gonna Take My Rap; Hand Reader Blues; You Should Give Some Away; The Devil Blues; What A Gal; Signifying Woman; Take A Little Walk With Me; Jazz Gillum’s Blues; Country Woman Blues; Take One More Chance With Me; Look What You Are Today; Gonna Be Some Shootin’; A Lie Is Dangerous

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