Various Artists - The Big Horn: The History of the Honkin' & Screamin' Saxophone

Not for the faint-hearted, this 4-CD set of 106 tracks bursts at the seams with the sound of 50 hard-blowing saxophonists who, between 1942-1952, formed the nucleus of what became known as the Honkers and Screamers. Jumping from the jazz stage they walked the bars and aisles, played their horns on their backs, shattered microphones, drove their audiences to a frenzy and along the way pioneered the sounds of R&B and rock 'n' roll. From Illinois Jacquet (Flying Home) via such lung-busters as Arnett Cobb (Go, Red, Go), Wild Bill Moore (We're Gonna Rock, We're Gonna Roll), Paul Williams (The Hucklebuck), Hal Singer (Blow Your Brains Out), Earl Bostic (Earl Blows A Fuse), Big Jay McNeely (Jay's Frantic) and Willis Jackson (Later For The Gator) to Jimmy Forrest (Night Train), it's a solid blast all the way. A fatter than usual 68-page illustrated booklet describes the music's development with full discographical details.