Rating:
Genre:
Jazz
Release Date: 05/10/2005
Run Time: 72:38
This single CD collects
Bunk Johnson's sessions for
Decca and
Victor plus his two V-discs and eight alternate takes, three of which were previously unissued.
Bunk is heard throughout in prime form, and his band -- clarinetist
George Lewis, trombonist
Jim Robinson, pianist
Alton Purnell, banjoist
Lawrence Marrero, bassist
Alcide "Slow Drag" Pavageau, and drummer
Baby Dodds (without
Dodds, this would become the
Lewis group of the 1950s) -- is mostly in tune and swinging hard.
Johnson and
Lewis never sounded better together, and unlike some of the earlier
American Music performances, the recording quality here is mostly quite good despite a faulty piano. For the two V-discs (versions of
"I Can't Escape From You" and
"Snag It" that exceed five minutes),
Bunk's band (with
Red Jones on drums) is heard live from the Stuyvesant Casino. Among the highlights of the high-quality
New Orleans Dixieland set, which was put out by
Document in 1996 (much of the music had formerly been on an
Arhoolie LP), are spirited renditions of
"Maryland, My Maryland," an up-tempo
"A Closer Walk With Thee," "When the Saints Go Marching In," and
"Darktown Strutters Ball." ~Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
;)
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