By 1947,
Blue Note
had switched its focus to bop; the label's final trad recordings were of
George Lewis'
band. There was always something very charming about the clarinetist's spirited music, and he became one of the most popular New Orleans jazzmen of the 1950s.
Lewis'
last of three
studio recordings are reissued in full on this 1998 CD, including three alternates and one master (
"Move the Body Over"
) that were first issued in
Mosaic's
complete
Lewis
LP box set. The band features
on clarinet, trumpeter
Avery "Kid" Howard
, trombonist
Jim Robinson
, pianist
Alton Purnell
, banjoist
George Guesnon
, bassist
Alcide "Slow Drag" Pavageau
and drummer
Joe Watkins
; they were at their best on driving ensembles, and the rhythm section could be quite powerful. The clarinetist is generally in fine form (slipping out of tune in occasional spots, as on
"Mahogany Hall Stomp"
).
was always quite reliable and, while
Kid Howard
is a bit erratic, this is one of his better sets. Highlights include
"When You Wore a Tulip,"
"I Can't Escape From You,"
"Lord, Lord, Lord, You Sure Been Good to Me"
and no less than three versions of
"Gettysburgh March."
Easily recommended to trad collectors. ~ Scott Yanow