1950-1951

Roy Eldridge spent a year in Europe between mid 1950 and 1951, and this CD opens with the better part of the music he made with his Swedish colleagues. The extended "Fish Fry," first made by Louis Jordan in 1949, was still very popular at the time. "Joint" is mainly remembered for an unforgettable version by Hot Lips page. On both tracks from his farewell session, Eldridge blows up quite a storm. Back in Paris, Eldridge teamed up with fellow expatriate Don Byas. Both artists knew each other well and this session certainly jumped. Backed by the gifted Claude Bolling, Eldridge revamped two legendary performances that had been made eternal by Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines. The first tracks he made for the Mercury label close this CD.