CD1
1. Yank Introduces The WGJB
2. Panama
3. Dogtown Blues
4. Ain't Misbehavin'
5. Black And Blue
6. Alligator Crawl
7. I Got Rhythm
8. Limehouse Blues
9. Big Noise From Winnetka
10. What's New?
11. South Rampart Street Parade
CD2
1. Bourbon Street Parade
2. The Girl On The Beach
3. Just One Of Those Things
4. Summertime
5. Viper's Drag
6. At Sundown
7. Carolina In The Morning
8. In A Sentimental Mood
9. Wolverine Blues
10. Muskrat Ramble
11. Up-Up And Away / My Inspiration
Yank Lawson - Trumpet
Billy Butterfield - Trumpet, flugelhorn
Bob Wilber - Clarinet, soprano sax
Bud Freeman - Tenor sax
Vic Dickenson, Ed Hubble - Trombones
Ralph Sutton - Piano
Bob Haggart - Bass
Gus Johnson Jr. - Drums
Recorded
on the WGJB’s first British tour, this double
album captures a fine band at the top of its
powers. Admittedly the band’s title was rather
immodest but the musicians were all seasoned
veterans who had learned their trade with
such ensembles as the Bob Crosby Band and
musicians like Count Basie, Eddie Condon and
Benny Goodman. They epitomised the mainstream
style of jazz.
With
such first-rate musicians, there is plenty
of variety on the album. Bud Freeman’s sinuous
tenor contrasts with the soprano sax of Bob
Wilber, while Yank Lawson and Billy Butterfield
contribute contrasting but complementary styles
of trumpet: Yank the more outspoken, Billy
more mellow. Vic Dickenson’s trombone is typically
eccentric, while Ralph Sutton shows himself
the ideal accompanist as well as a striding
soloist. Haggart and Johnson maintain the
momentum throughout.
Some
of the tunes are fairly hackneyed but they
are interspersed with rarer items like Bob
Haggart’s pleasing composition The Girl
on the Beach and the recent pop hit Up,
Up and Away. The live recording sometimes
sounds slightly fuzzy but it makes up in presence
what it lacks in clarity.
Tony Augarde
CD Reviews
Arbors Jazz
ARCD 19343
