Dixieland Music

That's right: this disc is comprised of some bodaciously phat Dixieland tracks performed by the Mezzrow-Bechet Quintet. The elegance of the combo of clarinet, soprano, piano, bass, and drums makes this music the real deal.

For my money, and to my ear, this is the best of the Bechet series on CC. The first five tracks are exquisite and unique: 5-over 6 mins. in length, with Mezz Mezzrow on clarinet and James P. Johnson streching out on stride piano, you really must hear "Royal Garden Blues," etc. If you wanted just one Bechet disc to get or give, this is the one!

The great New Orleans soprano saxophonist Sidney Bechet recorded prolifically in the late 1940s, and this disc, part of the Classics series of chronological re-issues, provides good cross-section of his work at the time.

Tracks 6 - 9 feature Bechet with protege Bob Wilbur's Bobcats (including the young Dick Wellstood). Rather better are tracks 10 - 17, quartet performances which showpiece Bechet's more lyrical introspective side. The final four tracks are exciting performances by Bechet's Blue Note Jazzmen (featuring Wild Bill Davidson).

Personally, the most interesting recordings are tracks 1 - 6. Recorded in February 1947, these are rare extended blues performances (all around 5 - 6 minutes long), originally issued on an obscure Wax LP. They feature a six piece group with Bechet partnering Mezz Mezzrow, trombonist Vernon Brown and, best of all, James P. Johnson. Johnson, in poor health by this time, was in magnificent form, and gives a fine demonstration of his blues ability while Bechet stretches out to great effect.

Recommended.