This is one of
the World's Greatest Jazz Band's
better studio albums. The repertoire has standbys (
"Bourbon Street Parade,"
"The Eel" and "What's New"), "Mercy Mercy Mercy" and some newer and lesser-known material. The all-star lineup (trumpeters
Yank Lawson
and
Billy Butterfield
, trombonists
Vic Dickenson
Eddie Hubble
, tenor saxophonist
Bud Freeman
,
Bob Wilber
on clarinet and soprano, pianist
Ralph Sutton
, bassist
Bob Haggart
and drummer
Gus Johnson
) is particularly strong and most of the players get features. Best are a
Lawson
-
Haggart
duet on "Smile,"
Freeman's
"The Eel" and
Butterfield's
warm sound and lyrical style on "What's New." ~ Scott Yanow