Ina Ray Hutton is best known for the all-female big band that she led during the 1930s, a unit that consistently swung more than expected and showed that females could play jazz too. However, this collectors' CD features her later all-male orchestra. Unfortunately, no personnel is given other than that Stuart Foster (later with
Tommy Dorsey) handles the male vocals and the Loo Sisters are featured singing on "In My Arms." The repertoire is typical of the period (mostly all swing standards), with the hotter "killer dillers" including "Hallelujah," "King Porter Stomp," and "Ring Dem Bells." The music overall is well-played, although the orchestra (which broke up later in 1944) never developed a personality of its own beyond its baton-waving leader. ~ Scott Yanow