Search - Dill Jones, Willie the Lion Smith :: Davenport Blues

Outstanding Jazz Piano

B. D. Tutt | London, UK. | 06/18/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an outstanding re-issue of first rate solo jazz piano. Dill Jones (1922 - 1984) was one of the few British born jazz players to successfully make a living in the US. His recording career was patchy, and as with so many other unfashionably swinging pianists still active in the 1970s, it was left to Hank O'Neal and his independent Chiaroscuro Records label to capture him adequately for posterity. This CD has three main components. First, it includes a full re-issue of the 1972 LP "Davenport Blues: Jones Plays Bix", featuring Beiderbecke's four published solos and other tunes associated with him. This is welcome enough, but the real delight of this CD lies in the revelation that Chiaroscuro had a further eighty minutes of previously unissued material from between 1971 and 1979. This includes a series of beautiful Welsh - inspired lyrically swinging originals which were planned as an LP in the late 1970s but never released, and a range of other tracks including two stomping duets with Willie "the Lion" Smith and several outstanding readings of standards. In addition, Jones triumphantly proves that not all jazz versions of Christmas tunes need be embarrassing - his eclectically witty "God Rest That Merry Monk Who's Coming To Town" and "Deck the Halls With The Jingle Bell Boogie" are a delight.Jones can also be found on Chiaroscuro's "Jazz Piano Masters" CD (with Eubie Blake, Teddy Wilson and Claude Hopkins), and on the 77 / Hep LP "Up Jumped You With Love" (which is long overdue for re-issue on CD). However, this CD is the definitive release of a sadly neglected pianist, and is recommended without reservation to all lovers of swinging jazz piano."