Charlie flying

Columbia released a giant Charlie Christian box set a couple years ago, too big for me. But I like "Solo Flight," a two-CD set that has Christian with Benny Goodman, almost entirely in small groups, and playing early bebop at Minton's. Some of the sidemen include Lionel Hampton and Gene Krupa (staples in Goodman's small groups), Count Basie, Lester Young, Monk, Don Byas and Dizzy Gillespie. The sound isn't perfect, but you can hear the music fine and I kind of enjoy the atmosphere created by the crowd noise in the background.