Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » George Lewis: Jammin' New Orleans Style in the 50s

304

George Lewis: Jammin' New Orleans Style in the 50s

By

Sign in to view read count
George Lewis: Jammin' New Orleans Style in the 50s
Bunk Johnson, the leader of the New Orleans traditional jazz revivalist movement passed away in 1949. With its leader gone along with many of the big bands and the emergence of bop, traditional jazz was pretty much hanging on by a thread and may have gone off the radar screen of the jazz loving public if it were not for the likes of George Lewis and those who appear with him on this album. This CD is made up of three sessions from the 1950's featuring Lewis with ensembles of various sizes. The first two sessions are from the Treasury Department-sponsored Dixieland Clambake broadcasts and the last from an Art Ford TV program. These performances help to kick off another "Dixieland" revival during the 1960's. Since then, the music hasn't gone very far away.

These Lewis groups are made up of well known, veteran New Orleans players bringing a high level of authenticity to the playing. Sweet Emma Barrett, Percy Humphrey and Big Jim Robinson who were later to become part of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, appear are here. Sweet Emma does a swinging, gutsy vocal on "Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey" with Lewis' clarinet noodlin' behind her. Another good vocal comes from the shouter and trumpet player, Coo Coo Talbert, as he goes at it on "Bye & Bye". But it's New Orleans jazz sessions that are the real gems. A rousing "Royal Garden Blues" has Lewis' clarinet wailing away behind trumpet and trombone and the sturdy drumming of Joe Watkins. In contrast, a dirge like "Original Blues" is something one might hear from a marching brass band as it accompanies a recently departed to the grave site. In sum, this is the music as it was played in New Orleans by those players who grew up and lived there and are steeped in a tradition unencumbered by the influence of modern jazz. Big Bill Bissonnette's Jazz Crusade company is to be commended for making these seminal sessions available to the jazz public. Highly recommended. Visit the Jazz Crusade web site at http:/jazzcrusade.com.

Track Listing

Royal Garden Blues; Bugle Boy March; Willie the Weeper; Savoy Blues; Bye & Bye; Runnin' Wild; Climax Rag; The Sheik of Araby; Maryland, My Maryland; Golden Leaf Strut; Fidgety Feet; Careless Love; Bill Bailey; High Society; Uptown Bumps; Wolverine Blues; Original Blues; A Closer Walk with Thee/The Saints Come Marching In

Personnel

George Lewis
trombone

George Lewis - Clarinet/Leader; Coo Coo Talbert - Trumpet/Vocals; Percy Humphrey, Punch Miller, Charlie Love, Sharkey Bonano - Trumpet; Big Jim Robinson, Louis Nelson, Clement Tervalon; - Trombone; Alton Purnell - Piano; Lawrence Marrero - Banjo; Alcide "Slow Drag" Pavageau, Sherwood Mangiapane - Bass; Joe Watkins, Paul Barbarin, Louis Barbarin - Drums; Alphonse Picou, Harry Shields - Clarinet; Peter Bocage - Violin; Sweet Emma Barrett, Armand Hug - Piano/Vocals; Creole George Guenson - Banjo

Album information

Title: Jammin' New Orleans Style in the 50s | Year Released: 2001 | Record Label: Jazz Crusade

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.
View events near New Orleans
Jazz Near New Orleans
Events Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses | More...

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.