Joe Wulf & The Gentlemen of Swing: Dixieland Jubilee 2005 (2006)

Edward Blanco

CD/DVD Reviewer since 2005

Ed has been a jazz fan for 35 years and hosts a jazz radio program at WDNA 88.9 FM.

Recent articles (377 total)

Published: March 22, 2006

Joe Wulf & The Gentlemen of Swing: Dixieland Jubilee 2005

German trombonist/bandleader Joe Wulf and the so-called Gentlemen of Swing recorded this live performance in Kornwestheim, Germany in January of 2005, mixing traditional jazz swing with the blues sound of the '30s and '40s. The members of Wulf's seven-piece band provide some outstanding solo performances and collectively deliver a respectable big band feel on this fifteen-track sampling of blues, pop and mostly Dixieland-style music.

The group plays "Shoeshine Boy" straight, with fine alto and piano solos. "That's A Plenty" is pure Dixie, just like the Confederate banner song of the same name. "Jubilee" has some New Orleans jazz flavor, and the band follows the classic jazz standard "Ain't Misbehavin'" with a fine swing tune. Bobby Darin would not be upset with Wulf's rendition of his famous song "Mack The Knife," which also includes Armstrong-like vocals.

These are some truly fine Southern-style jazz interpretations from a pretty good foreign group that can play with the jump and swing of a typical Dixieland band. And another example of the saying that jazz is international—Joe Wulf and his band belt out the sweet sound of Dixie with a European touch.

Visit Joe Wulf on the web.

Track Listing: I'm Singing In The Rain; Shoeshine Boy; Play A simple Melody; That's A Plenty; West End Blues; Dapper Dan; Dixie; Wild Cat Blues; Every Street's A Boulevard; Jubilee; Dardanella; Buddy's Habits; Ain't Misbehavin'; Rockin Chair; Mack The Knife.

Personnel: Joe Wulf: trombone; Terrence Ngassa: trumpet; Francois De Ribaupierre: clarinet, tenor saxophone; Chris Nemet: piano; Sean Moyses: banjo; Bert Thompson: bass; Bernard Flegar: drums.

Record Label: Chaos
Style: Dixieland/New Orleans/Swing