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Crotchet

TOMMY DORSEY & his Clambake Seven The Music Goes’ Round & Around LIVING ERA CD AJA 5497

1. The Music Goes ‘Round and Around
2. Rhythm Saved the World
3. At the Codfish Ball
4. The Milkman’s Matinee
5. Twilight in Turkey
6. He’s a Gypsy from Poughkeepsie
7. My Cabin of Dreams
8. All You want to Do is Dance
9. After You
10. Stardust on the Moon
11. The Big Apple
12. The Lady is a Tramp
13. Nice Work if You Can Get It
14. You’re a Sweetheart
15. When the Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabam’
16. Chinatown, My Chinatown
17. My Own
18. The Sheik of Araby
19. You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby
20. Vol Vist Du Gaily Star
21. There’s Good Blues Tonight
22. ‘Way Down Yonder In New Orleans
23. Original Dixieland One-Step
24. The Dirty Dozen
25. The Honeydripper
26. Trouble In Mind
27. Thanks for Everything

The Clambake Seven was Tommy Dorsey’s alter ego to the one personified by his orchestra, in this line up he could relax and play the kind of smooth trombone improvisations that he so much enjoyed. The band was always full of stars, Max Kaminsky, Bud Freeman, Dave Tough, Yank Lawson, Ziggy Elman, Charlie Shavers, Buddy DeFranco, Bobby Hackett, Peanuts Hucko, Billy Butterfield and Boomie Richmond were all members of the band at one time or another over the 17 years that this release covers. There is also a fine female vocalist called Edythe Wright and according to the sleeve note these are the only records she made, which is a shame because she has a better voice than many.

Dorsey’s aim of perfection is to be heard everywhere and although legend has it that there was not a lot of rehearsal before these recordings, the standard of the musician’s used ensured high quality performances.

Johnny Mince who plays clarinet on many of these tracks was a great asset to the band, not unlike Goodman in tone or style and an excellent soloist. This style of semi-arranged Dixieland jazz with improvised solos spawned imitators around the world Harry Gold's Pieces of Eight won many converts to the jazz world in the UK playing similar arrangements as did other bands in many countries. Anyone who thinks playing some of this stuff is easy should have a go, I have heard many musicians over the years come unstuck for not giving it proper respect. The tunes are mostly upbeat and full of good humour, but there are slow numbers mixed in to give a contrast and the compilation has been sensibly programmed.

Many of these records were the hit tunes of the era and they certainly contain a lot more jazz than the hit records of today! A very pleasant album and a worthy addition to the record collection of most people with a catholic taste in jazz.

Don Mather

 

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