Drummer
Hal Smith
regrouped
the New Orleans Wanderers
, a group he had organized in 1992, for this 1995 recording. Changing their name to
Hal Smith's Creole Sunshine Band
, the septet mostly performs tunes associated with
Kid Ory
, fully utilizing the British trombonist
Mike Owen
(who has the ability to be a near-soundalike of
Ory
). The occasional musician vocals are better than usual on tunes such as
"Do What Ory Say,"
"Farewell to Storyville,"
and
"Sweet Emmalina."
The front line of trumpeter
Duke Heitger
, trombonist
Owen
, and clarinetist
Orange Kellin
is strong; the rhythm section of pianist
Steve Pistorius
,
Amy Sharpe
(who takes an outstanding vocal on
"Six Feet of Papa"
) doubling on guitar and banjo,
Tom Saunders
on bass and tuba, and leader/drummer
Smith
really pushes the group. This is a
New Orleans jazz
set with a lot of spirit and impressive musicianship. All 16 selections are fun and full of joy. ~ Scott Yanow