In 1966, trumpeter
Kid Sheik Cola
and altoist
Captain John Handy
toured England with drummer
Barry Martyn
's band. This joyful CD, which was originally put out as an LP by the
77
label, is the result.
Handy
, who takes the vocal on
"Eh La Bas,"
is the main star, taking heated solos that show that the alto sax could have a place in
New Orleans revival jazz
. His power and ideas overshadow the more erratic trumpet playing of
(whose vocal on
"Last Night on the Back Porch"
is humorous) and
Cuff Billett
and the very laid-back trombone playing of
Pete Dyer
. With
Martyn
driving the band, there are plenty of exuberant moments throughout this happy set. ~ Scott Yanow