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Various: Best Of Dixieland

By AAJ Staff
February 1, 2000
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With a title like Best Of Dixieland I had to check this one out. It is an older CD (1987) but what a gem! I like the idea of starting the tracks out with the legands of Dixieland ie: Kid Ory, George Lewis and Louis Armstrong and then progressing to the "newer" dixie style bands that helped revive the dixie sound in the late 1950's. Bands like: Mr. Aker Bilk, Chris Barber, Ken Colyer and The Humphrey Lyttelton Band.

It is interesting to note that during my search to find quality Dixieland/Traditional New Orleans style CD's, most of these recordings are going to feature bands from Europe. This is sure true on this paticular recording.The "newer" bands mentioned above are all from either Great Britain or Germany. One of the reasons why this happened back in the late 50's was the fact that you had people like Louis Armstrong and Eddie Condon traveling abroad advocating traditional jazz right before the rock explosion and bands from Europe (Beatles) coming to America. Europe latched onto Dixie/Traditional Jazz and produced some fine bands with a slight touch of refinement in their own way which is hard to define but I think this CD is a splendid example of what we are talking about.

Track Listing

Loveless Love (Kid Ory's Creole Jazz Band) Beale Street Blues (George Lewis Band) Someday You'll Be Sorry (Louis Armstrong & His All Stars) Canal Street Blues (Henry Red Allen Orchestra) Eccentric Rag (Max Kaminsky & His All Star Dixie Band) St. Louis Blues (Eddie Condin & His Boys) Basin Street Blues ( Jack Teagarden & His Sextet) Eh-La-Bas (The Original Tuxedo "Jass" Band ) Over In The Glory Land (Dejan's Olympia Brass Band) Balln' The Jack (Ken Colyer) Hindustan (Alex Welsh & His Jazz Band) Saturday Night Function ( Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band) Perdido Street Blues (Mr. Acker Bilk) Savoy Blues ( Terry Lightfoot) Stevedore Stomp ( Chris Barber's Jazz Band) Christopher Columbus ( Humphrey Lyttelton & His Band)

These recordings really do swing the Dixie and is worth checking out.You may be able to purchase this CD by dropping a line to: BMG Direct Marketing Inc. 6550 East 30th Street, Idianapolis, Indiana 46219

I am going to get busy recording and marketing my own dixieland CD's off of my massive collection of 78 LP records (some 3,000 +). I finally have the technology at my studio to do this and am checking with the copyright laws. It is time to bring some of these rare recordings to the general public. Some of these old 78's were recorded live and have no label on them & I don't know the name of the songs or musicians. I'll keep you loyal AAJ (Dixieland) fans posted. In the meantime, e-mail me if you have any thoughts or CD's you'd like to see posted and reviewed at this location. Till next time, keep jammin'!

Album information

Title: Best Of Dixieland | Year Released: 2000 | Record Label: Polydor Records

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