Hittin' The Ramp: Early Years 1936-1943 in Bloomington, MN

By any measure,
Resonance
's 2019 box
Hittin' the Ramp: The Early Years (1936-1943)
is a monumental achievement in musical preservation. Over the course of seven CDs (or 10 LPs),
Hittin' the Ramp
chronicles the earliest recordings of
Nat King Cole
, rounding up every known track from the days prior to his time at
Capitol Records
. Those records for
Capitol
-- sessions that found him slowly transitioning from a swinging jazz pianist to smooth pop crooner -- were what brought
Cole
lasting fame, but the sides on
lie at the foundation of his music. Playing with a trio comprised of guitarist
Oscar Moore
and usually
Wesley Prince
on bass (
Johnny Miller
took over his role toward the end of 1942),
essayed a sly, sophisticated spin on swing, one that relied on a standards songbook yet found plenty of space for blues, boogie, and originals. The standards hint at the refined vocal style
developed at
, but the focus here isn't on singing, it's on
as a bandleader. During the eight years covered on this set, he worked in a variety of formats, beginning as the musical director for his older brother
Eddie
in 1936, then sharpening his skills as a leader with his trio. The group worked hard, supporting vocalists and hopping through transcription services as they cut the occasional session for fledgling labels. While many of these sides, particularly the ones recorded for
Decca
, have been reissued numerous times on fly-by-night imprints, the producers of
took the effort to remaster these recordings so they gleam, then placed them in exacting context, augmented by notes by
Will Friedwald
. As history, the set is essential, but
isn't a mere scholastic text. The music is jumping, lively, and alive, still brimming with wit and joy. As valuable as it is to have a way to trace the evolution of
as a stylist during these early years, it's simply a delight to have these recordings so thoughtfully and lovingly presented. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine