Bix Remembered
Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 05/23/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Here's a CD that should bring tremendous enjoyment to fans of the great cornetist Bix Beiderbecke. The band duplicates in format the "Bix and His Gang" and Frankie Trumbauer-led groups of the 1920s, and the material played is (mostly) by George Gershwin. In the Bix chair is Tom Pletcher, a devotee of the master's style of playing for decades. Tom has Bix's lyricism down pat, though he is not a sound-alike, strictly speaking. Dick Hyman is on piano, and his playing, as one might expect (and hope), takes the most liberties with the original pianists (there were many). His most impressive (and impressionistic) performance is on IN A MIST, where after stating the theme (written by Bix) he springboards into a medley of "Porgy and Bess" tunes by Gershwin; it's a great track. Vince Giordano's bass sax anchors the group as solidly as Adrian Rollini's ever did.
When you listen to LADY BE GOOD for the first time you'll swear somebody goofed and listed the wrong tune, for the intro is from RHYTHM KING. But eventually it makes it way into the Gershwin tune, and it's a dandy performance. Don Levinson's C-melody sax is very reminiscent of Trumbauer's playing (in fact, his sound is closer to Tram's than Pletcher's is to Bix's), and he plays beautifully on I WAS SO YOUNG. The two takes of EMBRACEABLE YOU, which are piano-trumpet duets, are interesting to compare; I like the second one best and am very impressed how close to Bobby Hackett Pletcher plays here. The entire CD has a very relaxed flavor to it - not a lot of flag-waving or breast-beating - and it's hard to imagine a more delightful way to spend an hour than by listening to this album. Definitely worth checking out."
Do yourself a favor
Bobby W. | USA | 08/26/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"
Listen to the samples. Like what you hear? Good.
Please buy the CD.
Turn off your cell phone and listen to this disc on a decent
stereo system.
Aren't these guys great? Hear that bass sax? Are you smiling?
Good! Spread the word.
(p.s. In keeping with the style of music presented here,
Dick Hyman's playing is pretty mellow-
any of his solo recordings will make your jaw drop.)"
Fantastic!
"Gimpy" Peach Johnson | 04/16/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD features an all-star lineup of modern-day musicians playing in "authentic" 1920s jazz style: Dick Hyman, Tom Pletcher, Vince Giordano, Dan Levinson, and others. The ability of these guys to sound like those wonderful "Bix and His Gang" sessions is remarkable! I'm so pleased that this project has been done, bringing together these two tragic geniuses of American music--Bix and Gershwin--and these folks have done it so well that the match seems a natural. Today, while most 1920s revival bands focus on playing recreations of records that were made back then, it's refreshing to have this kind of "what if" album, presenting period-style arrangements of songs and pieces that were not originally recorded in such a setting. "Rialto Ripples" is a blast (think Bix and His Gang's "Sorry"), and Dick Hyman's rendering of "In A Mist" with interpolations of classic Gershwin themes is just brilliant. The musicianship throughout the disc is top-notch, and the sound quality is just wonderful. Too bad Bix never had the opportunity to record in such crisp, clear sound. I've had this disc for several weeks and it's hardly been out of my CD player; it's one of the best music purchases I have made in some time. Whether you like Bix, Gershwin, or just 1920s style jazz in general, get this disc. You won't be disappointed. Highly recommended!"
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1