Search - Various Artists :: Pete Fountain Presents the Best of Dixieland

A One-of-a Kind Gem!

Samuel Chell | Kenosha,, WI United States | 03/13/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The word "dixieland" rubs many jazz fans the wrong way. Forget the labeling. For anyone who loves jazz clarinet or, for that matter, those modern-day listeners who tend to be dismissive of the old licorice stick, this album provides a rare opportunity to hear virtually all the masters of the instrument on a single disc. It's unlikely a collection like it exists anywhere. The all-star line-up includes the New Orleans masters (Dodds, Noone, Bechet), the Chicago school (Pee Wee Russell), and latter-day giants (Wilbur, Davern, Fountain). Most telling is the expressive range and variety, from the intimate and heartfelt conversations of Russell, to the playful, flirtatious melodic statements of Irving Fazola, to the endlessly inventive responses of Omar Simeon, to the incisive, penetrating attack of Davern, to the breathtaking virtuoso solo work of Edmund Hall. In fact, Fountain's own smooth, polished performance sets him more in the company of Benny Goodman than alongside the highly personal voices represented in this collection. Those listeners who are so quick to champion the tenor sax as the most expressive instrument in jazz, as the closest thing to the human voice, should listen carefully and often to this album before making any further pronouncements."

Pete is the king of Dixieland, a virtuoso on the clarinet, a

Lurfy's Ma | California | 07/30/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have 7-8 Pete Fountain CDs. Every one of them is a treat. I love Dixieland music and no one does it better. Each CD has some standards, one or two funky originals, and some fun pieces. The arrangements are delightful and true to the genre. If you like Dixieland, you'll love Pete."