1942 was a big year for Harry James. He and the band were beginning to be featured in Hollywood films, he had a highly ranked radio show and he was beginning his vigorous pursuit of Betty Grable. Tenor man Corky Corcoran had joined the band the previous October for what was to become a stay of more than 20 years. James is said to have hired Corcoran much as for his ability to play third base as his facility with the horn.

Another in the Jazz Unlimited Series of Denmark's Storyville label, this album makes available three previously unreleased radio shows from the Astor Hotel in New York City, a venue James was to return to many times over his long career. This was one James' very good groups. In addition to Corcoran, Helen Forrest was the girl singer. There were solid arrangements by James, Leroy Holmes and Jack Mathias. Since this was from the Hotel Astor Roof , James concentrated on playing music to dance by enhanced by the strings he had added. This obligation was filled by such ballads as "Sleepy Lagoon" and "Manhattan Serenade".

Nevertheless, James didn't limit the program to sentimental ballads. In fact, up tempo, killer diller material outnumbers the slow stuff. That he was still a jazz player at heart is borne out by the fast paced, hot arrangement of "Two O'clock Jump" which James co-composed with Count Basie. His reputation as a versatile player is substantiated with a soulful trumpet on "Memphis Blues" showing that he was equally effective in the lower register as he is in the stratosphere. Forrest gets the limelight on several tunes including a lovely rendition of the Gershwin Brother's "But not for Me", one of the album's highlights. Dick Haymes was still in the future. So the boy singer shoes were filled by sax player Johnny McAfee, and filled quite adequately.

This CD provides more than an hour of music from one of the most popular and musically well oiled aggregations of the big band era performing at its peak. Recommended.