Mastery in dixieland
Nikica Gilic | Zagreb, Croatia | 09/25/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Remarkable music; the first half of the CD (and the A side of the original LP) is taken by something one might call Eddie Condon All-Stars; his usual group augmented by some guests, so that complete personell consists of Wild Bill Davison (co), Dick Cary (tp, p), Cutty Cutshall, Lou McGarity (tb), Ed Hall, Peanuts Hacko (cl),Gene Schroeder (p), Condon (g), Walter Page (b), Cliff Leeman, George Wettling (dm).
They all come together in final "Jam Session Blues-Ole Miss", but the rest of their session is equally rewarding.
In addition to high-spirited music, there's also some intriguing studio chatter, and the musicians (lead by Eddie) don't fret from vocal ejections during their perfomance. Mind you; this is not pure dixieland; check out the "Emaline-Don't Worry Bout Me-I Can't Give You Anything But Love" medley, with beautiful solo acts by Cutshall, Hall and Davison.
Rampart Street Paraders, who take the second part of the album, are only a slightly less fiercely swingin trad-jazz outfit, with Clyde Hurly (tp),Abe Lincoln (tb),Matty Matlock (cl), Eddie Miller (ts) and others.
My only problems with this CD are the remarkably ugly cover design, typical for this edition, and the fact that for the same price you can purchase the cd with this and the next Condon's columbia album (done without additional bands)."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1