1. Vieux Carré
2. Rampart Street Ramble
3. Creole Belles
4. New Orleans
5. Kiss Me Sweet
6. La Ciudad Criolla
7. The King of Tremé
8. Desire
9. Out Of There
10. While We Danced at the Mardi Gras
11. Sunday Mornings
12. Delta Bound
Evan Christopher – Clarinets
Dick Hyman – Piano
Bill Huntington – Bass
Shannon Powell – Drums
New
Orleans continues to prey on the minds of
jazz fans appalled at the devastation of the
city and the sloth with which the authorities
are repairing it. This album pays a fine tribute
to New Orleans through tunes associated with
the city as well as five originals by clarinettist
Evan Christopher. Evan was not born in New
Orleans but he moved there in the mid-nineties
and his clarinet style evokes the New Orleans
tradition represented by such players as Barney
Bigard and Jimmie Noone. This is by no means
a primitive style – indeed, it is characterised
by elegance and technical brilliance as well
as emotion – and Evan's playing has those
qualities in abundance. These qualities are
also the hallmark of pianist Dick Hyman, surely
one of the most complete pianists anywhere.
His solos are stylish as well as elegant but
it is also worth listening out for every note
of his accompaniments, which illustrate his
never-ending discretion and good taste.
The
New Orleans spirit is present in tunes like
the bluesy title-track (recorded in 1933 by
Jimmie Noone) and Creole Belles with
its "Latin tinge". But that spirit also resides
in Evan's own compositions, like Rampart
Street Ramble (introduced by the sturdy
bass of Bill Huntington) and Sunday Mornings
(part of a suite commissioned by the Sidney
Bechet Society). The appeal of this whole
album might be summed up by the word "spirit",
as its musical virtuosity is underpinned by
a tender warmth which is appealing and moving.
Through this album, New Orleans is still very
much alive.
Tony
Augarde
CD Reviews
Arbors
Jazz ARCD 19325
