Handy was a very accomplished bandleader and musician. On the 16-cut CD, one finally has a chance to hear the master composer play his own material and other songs popular at the time. The recordings were all made in New York between 1917 and 1923.

The CD has many wonderful tunes. One,Snakey Blues, shows the fine counter-play between the clarinets and Handy's coronet, a harbinger of the Jazz Age right around the corner. Hold on to your hat whenThat Jazz Dance plays. It's a real swinger with a surprising Charleston rhythm, six years before that song was published. A personal favorite is St. Louis Blues, Handy's most famous compostion as well as one of the most recorded songs ever. Handy's Orchestra of Memphis heavily emphasises the Haberna rhythms which add such an exotic flair to the song.

Great praise should go out to the Memphis Archive label for the fine release of Handy's orchestra as well as other CDs they have recently issued. Make a bee-line to your Internet record store and get them while they're hot.