Year: Reissued in 2001 - Originally Released in 1951 - 1952
Record Label: Jazz Crusade
Style: Traditional / New Orleans
Musicians: Wilbur De Paris (trombone); Sidney De
Paris (trumpet); Omer Simeon (clarinet); Don
Kirkpatrick (piano); Eddie Gibbs (banjo); Freddie
Moore (drums) and guests Danny Barker (banjo)
on 2 tracks and Norman Lester (piano) on 1 track.
Review: In the aftermath of the popular Ken Burns
Jazz series on PBS, websites such as ours have
been receiving letters indicating a new interest in
vintage jazz, especially that of New Orleans. I feel
that the remarkable TV series has probably
doubled the interest in jazz generally and will be a
boon to the record companies with emphasis on
those who continue to reissue valuable historical
material.
Jazz Crusade's "Big Bill" Bissonnette has
produced more than 100 sessions in his years as a
musician and promoter. To my ear, this latest
release is one of the best I've heard from Jazz
Crusade or any other label. I would be remiss if I
were not to recommend this fine recording to any
aspiring student of jazz history.
Although not Crescent City born, the De Paris
brothers continued to further the interest in jazz
spawned in Louisiana until the time of their
deaths; Sidney in 1967 and Wilbur in 1973. The
brothers were natives of Indiana but played at
times with Sidney Bechet and Jelly Roll Morton in
addition to many of the swing creators such as
Benny Carter, Roy Eldridge and the Mills Blue
Rhythm Band.
Clarinetist, Omer Simeon, is a true New Orleans
pioneer, having worked with Jelly, King Oliver
and later with Kid Ory. In the 1950s, Simeon
worked almost exclusively with the De Paris band.
One of the busiest musicians on this record is the
North Carolina born pianist, Don Kirkpatrick. His
driving piano is evident on every track other than
Milneberg Joys and Alexander's Ragtime Band
where Norman Lester sits in.
Drummer Freddie Moore and banjoist Eddie
Gibbs were natives of environs other than the
birthplace of jazz but were truly interested in
furthering the legacy of New Orleans roots even in
days when it was considered unpopular to do so.
The sessions at Jimmy Ryan's in New York were
recorded by The Allegheny Jazz Society and
freshened up by the folks at Jazz Crusade.
Thirteen great tunes adorn the album including the
standout version of Florida Blues, Milneberg Joys,
Blame It On The Blues and an unusual piece titled
"Fiddle Up Your Ragtime Violin" to which I have
been unable to find the composer. Perhaps the
tune is of doubtful origin but it's "plenty hot" and
features a nice solo by Don Kirkpatrick. The
absolute highlight is "Florida Blues" which is a
showpiece for the De Paris brothers. There are not
enough superlatives in my vocabulary to describe
this excellent performance. Dirty, low down blues
at its best!
The album ends with a rousing version of South
Rampart Street Parade. There you go; another
New Orleans tune penned by a New Yorker. Thank
you Bob Haggart!
Record Label Website: http://www.jazzcrusade.com
Reviewed by:
Richard Bourcier
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