Music on the Web (UK)

Webmaster: Len Mullenger

[ Jazz index ] [Nostalgia index]  [ Classical MusicWeb ] [ Gerard Hoffnung ]

BUY NOW Crotchet

BOB CROSBY’S BOB CATS Palesteena-Original 1937-1940 Recordings NAXOS JAZZ LEGENDS 8. 120681

 

 

1. March of the Bob Cars
2. Stumbling
3. Who’s Sorry Now
4. Coquette
5. Palesteena
6. You’re Driving Me Crazy
7. Slow Mood
8. So far, So Good
9. Big Foot Jump
10. Five Point Blues
11. Tech Triumph
12. Call Me a Taxi
13. I Hear You Talking
14. Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind
15. It Was a Lover and His Lass
16. Hindustan
17. Do You Ever Think of Me
18. The Love Nest
19. Washington & Lee Swing
20. It’s All Over Now
21. Till We Meet Again

Yank Lawson and Billy Butterfield, both masters of this genre share the trumpet honours on this record. Eddie Miller, tenor sax, Bob Haggart, double bass, and Ray Bauduc drums are present on ever track. Warren Smith on trombone is ever present apart from the Quartet tracks. The clarinet players were at different times Matty Matlock and Irving Fazola. Nappy Lamare plays guitar and also sings on Palesteena. Marion Mann sings on tracks 8, 14 & 15, the leader sings on track 11.

The Bobcats began as a band within a band from Bob Crosby’s Swing Band. This is arranged Dixieland, the arrangements in this case coming mainly from Matty Matlock and Bob Haggart. Although the arrangements have a sameness about them, they are by no means easy to play; the clarinet parts are particularly difficult.

The band is very musical, as you would expect from a group of musicians who were the top men of their day. Bob Zurke is outstanding on piano and everything ii very neat and best of all it does manage to swing.

To anyone who likes the Jimmy Dorsey Clambake Seven or for that matter our own Harry Gold and His Pieces of Eight, this will be a welcome addition to your collection.

Don Mather

Return to Index