During 1943-49, the Black & White label, which was founded and run by Lester Schriber, was one of the most significant small record companies on the scene. Schriber released sessions by a wide variety of artists who ranged in style from Dixieland and small-group swing to bebop (including some progressive big bands) and early rhythm & blues. Although many of jazz’s biggest names never recorded for the label, he did capture a strong cross section of the diverse jazz scene of the era.
The 11-CD limited-edition box set from Mosaic titled Classic Black & White Jazz Sessions includes almost all of Black & White’s jazz dates. Missing are their popular T-Bone Walker blues recordings (which were issued years ago by Mosaic on a Walker box set), vocal sessions by Kay Thomas (two songs), Maggie Hathaway (four), Annette Warren (two), Jeannie McKeon (eight) and Lena Horne (11), 12 titles from Jack McVea (although Mosaic does include 23 of his most jazz-oriented titles plus his novelty hit “Open The Door Richard”), ten songs from pianist Phil Moore in a quartet (they do include eight of his other songs), and three of four titles by Will Osborne’s dance band. It is a pity that a 12th CD was not included because the Lena Horne performances are some of her finest in a jazz context and there would have been room for most of the other missing vocalists.
But that reservation as
