The wonderfully talented Valaida Snow [1904-1956] came from a showbusiness family and was steeped in the world of black vaudeville, first as a child performer and then as a speciality act, dancing, singing and ultimately playing trumpet, heavily influenced by Louis Armstrong. By 1926, she was in Shanghai, just the first of many international engagements, her breakthrough coming with ‘Blackbirds of 1934’, the all-black show that first brought her to Britain. Never a band player, always an ‘attraction’, she returned again to Europe and stayed, recording regularly with UK musicians and others in Scandinavia. In 1942, while appearing in Copenhagen, she was interned as an enemy alien and then deported. Home in New York and somewhat battered by her experiences, she made a successful comeback and began to tour again, still a star. All this and more, is detailed in Mike Pointon’s well-researched booklet essay on this excellent CD.

Upbeat’s plentiful compilation runs from her earliest recording as a cute-sounding vocalist with Hines and then onto her various European adventures, a novelty song like ‘I Can’t Dance’ revealing her capable trumpet attack, the ripe-sounding Mason band tenor of Buddy Featherstonehaugh alongside, her vocals always engaging, whether scatting or singing rhythm. Snow’s trumpet was hot, often commanding, the choruses built up in Satchmo-style, with local stars like altoist Freddy Gardner, pianist George-Scott-Wood and altoist Derek Neville holding up well, the backgrounds swinging.

It’s easy to understand Snow’s appeal even at this distance, her presence on these 26 tracks always vibrant, the trumpet solos considered and yes, dynamic, her vocals, good looks and stage experience doubtless enabling her to front shows right to the end. To know more, Mark Miller’s fine biography High Hat, Trumpet and Rhythm [Toronto, 2007] is the place to go. Great stuff.