Search - Bob Haggart, Yan Lawson :: World's Greatest Jazzband

Dusted off and brought together, these guys shine

William Tally | Maplewood, NJ USA | 04/26/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bob Haggart, a wonderful bassist , composer and arranger who wrote the classic "What's New" and "Big Noise from Winnetka" and dozens of other great songs, put together this band of jazz legends when they were all (with one exception) in their sixties. Man do they shine. Even though -- or maybe because they are playing 'dixieland' (not a genre they played for most of their careers) this band makes Haggart's arrangements of old standards sing and swing, and the individual voices are a revelation. Bud Freeman, the legendary saxophonist is given a whole tune to wrap his unique sidewinding sound around. Billy Butterfield seconds Yank Lawson on trumpet, and hits the upper register in ebullient, effortless, swinging licks, especially on the mournful "What's New". Vic Dickinson, a timeless trombonist, makes things mellow on Doodle Do Do. The best numbers are where the band cuts loose on the more traditional material -- especially the New Orleans street number "Bourbon Street Parade", which is propelled by an underlying snaredrum that keeps a march beat throughout, a perfect counterpoint to the swinging cacophony of the instrumentalists. A great, great album, a joy to hear over and over."