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ABE LINCOLN & THE RAMPART STREET PARADERS Their 18 Finest 1953-1957 RETROSPECTIVE RTR 4275

From “Jam Session Coast To Coast”

1. South Rampart Street Parade

2. I Ain’t Gonna Give Nobody None O’ This Jelly-Roll

3. Black and Blue

4. The Sheik Of Araby

   From “Rampart And Vine”

5. Paducah Parade

6. Sugar

7. Hindustan

8. When I Grow Too Old To Dream

9. A Ghost Of A Chance

   From “Dixieland, My Dixieland”

10. Oh, Baby!

11. I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter

12. After You’re Gone

13. When It’s Sleepy Time Down South

    From“Texas! (U.S.A.)”

14. March Of The Mustangs

15. Peruna

16. Dallas Blues

    As “Matty Matlock & His Dixie Men”

    From “Dixieland!”

17. Ida, Sweet As Apple Cider

18. Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble

Abram “Abe” Lincoln (1907-2000) was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania into a musical family, learning to play cornet at the tender age of 5. He later switched to the trombone and joined the California Ramblers band in 1926. In 1934 he joined Ozzie Nelson’s band and performed with them until 1939, when he left and settled down in Los Angeles to a long career as a studio musician in the radio and film industry. Abe became well-known for his dynamic, exuberant trombone playing and was widely considered to be one of the top jazz trombone players of his era. This CD showcases his talents, Dixieland-style, with the Rampart Street Paraders.

In 1953, Columbia Records decided to create a 12” LP with a Dixieland jazz theme featuring two different bands, one from each coast. The West Coast band was a group of studio musicians recruited by Matty Matlock, former clarinet player with Bob Crosby’s Bobcats. Along with Abe Lincoln on trombone, Matty hired Eddie Miller, another former Bobcat, on tenor saxophone; Stan Wrightsman on piano, notable for his film and sound-track work; swing jazz guitarist George Van Eps; Phil “The Chief” Stephens, formerly with Tommy Dorsey’s band and another fine studio musician; prolific jazz drummer Nick Fatool; Clyde Hurley and Johnny Best on trumpet, who played with the Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and Artie Shaw bands, among others; bass saxophonist Joe Rushton, who played with Benny Goodman’s band; Dixieland trumpet player Dick Cathcart, another studio musician and member of Lawerence Welk’s band; and well-know rhythm guitarist Al Hendrickson. The group became known as the Rampart Street Paraders, and recorded on 5 albums between 1953 and 1957. They recorded the first four tunes on this CD for the Columbia LP titled ”Jam Session Coast To Coast”. The Sheik Of Araby highlights Abe’s trombone solos, as well as Nick Fatool on drums. In 1955 the Rampart Street Paraders recorded their own album titled “Rampart and Vine”, named for Rampart Street in New Orleans and Vine Street in Hollywood. This album contributed selections 5 through 9 on this CD. A nice relaxed version of Sugar features Eddie Miller on tenor sax and the wonderful guitar work of George Van Eps. Abe Lincoln does some amazingly wild sound effects with his trombone on Hindustan. After the solos, they finish with jungle calls and the announcement that “The cobra is back in the basket”. In 1956 the group released the album titled “Dixieland, My Dixieland”. From this album comes Oh, Baby!, featuring some nice solos all around, especially by pianist Wrightsman and Matlock on clarinet. In 1957, the Paraders recorded an interesting album named “Texas (U.S.A.)”, sort of Dixieland, western-style. March of the Mustangs has a distinct Western-swing rhythm, reminiscent of the Bob Wills band. Peruna is a full-band up-beat version of “She’ll Be Coming Around the Mountain” with some nice solo trumpet turns by Clyde Hurley and John Best. Later in 1957, the group recorded their last album, “Dixieland”, by the band name Matty Matlock & His Dixie Men. The classic tune Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble from that album appears on this CD and demonstrates how rich a tight arrangement can sound.

The Rampart Street Paraders were a talented group of studio musicians that were pulled together for a short recording project, and stayed together four years to play on five albums. I highly recommend this CD for Dixieland music fans. The music and sound quality are both excellent. A 12-page booklet is included with helpful and entertaining liner notes by jazz trumpeter and historian Digby Fairweather.

Bruce McCollum

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