Part of the Swingsation series designed to introduce fans of recent swing to the originals (other titles include Jimmie Lunceford and Louis Jordan), this is an infectious collection that features one of the most swinging of 1930s bands, drummer Chick Webb and his Orchestra. While Ella Fitzgerald gets top billing, it"s really Webb"s show. Five of the 18 tracks are instrumentals, and the earliest three are from 1934, actually predating Fitzgerald"s joining the band. Webb is literally "Mr. Rhythm" and his drumming is always lively, whether he"s driving the band along or exploding on a solo or brief break, adding a panoply of percussive effects with cowbells and wood blocks. The band responds with punching brass--lead trumpeter Mario Bauza can fill a room with sound--and saxophone riffs, and there are some terrific soloists in the group, like trumpeter Taft Jordan and saxophonists Louis Jordan and Hilton Jefferson. The choice of songs emphasizes Fitzgerald"s talent for novelty and rhythm tunes, with period treats like "When I Get High" and "Wacky Dust," as well as better-known tunes like her first big hit, "A-Tisket, A-Tasket." It"s entertaining, thoroughly danceable music, a terrific introduction to an exciting band and the early years of Fitzgerald"s great career. --Stuart Broomer