To celebrate
Delmark's
40th anniversary, there was a recorded reunion of one of the first groups that the small label recorded,
the Dixie Stompers
. Most of the members of the original band were still around and active, and the result is a joyous Dixieland set. The septet (cornetist
Bill Mason
, trombonist
Jim Haislip
, clarinetist
Glenn Meyer
, pianist
John Chapman
, banjoist
Artie Stoltz
,
Don Franz
on tuba and drummer
Wayne Jones
) is joined on four numbers by singer
Katherine Davis
, who had never worked with most of the musicians before but fits in quite well. There are plenty of colorful moments and good musicianship to be heard on such numbers as
"New Orleans Shuffle,"
"It's Tight Like That,"
"Oh Baby,"
"Shine"
and
"Ice Cream."
Purchasers may want to be alerted that
"Oh Baby"
"Bye and Bye"
were mistakenly programmed into each other's spots. Trad collectors will enjoy this CD. ~ Scott Yanow