Ted Unseth and the Americana Classic Jazz Orchestra: 20th Anniversary Concerts

The 20th Anniversary Concerts performed by Ted Unseth's Americana Classic Jazz Orchestra were recorded in 1993, when the orchestra's guest artist, alto saxophonist Benny Waters, was a spry 91 years old. And for those who would like to see as well as hear Waters and the orchestra, the audio CD is accompanied by a briefer video that encompasses eight numbers from the concerts, which were held at Bandana Square in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The "classic jazz" played by Unseth's 13-member ensemble dates as far back as 1927 (Fletcher Henderson and Ma Rainey's "Wringin' and "Twistin' Blues") and consists for the most part of what is considered swing, mainstream or trad jazz, which is usually—but not always—a step or so removed from its close cousin, Dixieland. Waters appears on five numbers, the first of which is Duke Ellington's sorrowful "Mood Indigo" (dramatically sung by Shirley Witherspoon, as are "Wringin' and Twistin' Blues" and Lionel Hampton's high-flying "Jaybird.")

Waters unlimbers his instrumental and vocal chops on a rapid-fire version of the Gershwin brothers' "Lady Be Good" (underpinning powerful solos by pianist Butch Thompson, bassist Ron Evaniuk, guitarist Tim Sparks and drummer Phil Hey), reappears briefly on Bennie Moten and Count Basie's fast-moving "Toby" and is showcased throughout on his own blues, the soulful "Benny's Blue Waters." Waters makes his final audio appearance on "Jaybird," following Witherspoon's acrobatic scat and nimble solos by tenor saxophonist Dave Sletten, trumpeter Greg Lewis and pianist Thompson.

Unseth sings and Lewis and trombonist Steve Pikal solo on Don Redman's breezy "The Way I Feel Today," Sletten and the trumpet section are out front on Cab Calloway's animated "Man from Harlem," and trumpeter Bernie Edstrom is featured on Jabbo Smith's "Rhythm in Spain." Sparks is the vocalist on Calloway's clever "Trickeration," Witherspoon on the Jimmie Lunceford orchestra's heartfelt "Peace and Love for All." The orchestra wraps the concert with tenors Sletten and Scott Johnson replicating Paul Gonsalves' 27 memorable choruses on Ellington's "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue" before the full ensemble takes over on the raucous "Crescendo" and Unseth and the orchestra say their farewells.

Versions of four songs from the audio CD are repeated on the video, which opens with a minute-long introduction to jazz narrated by the late Willis Conover. Themes not on audio are the Ellington orchestra's "The Creeper," Fletcher Henderson's "Can You Take It?," James P. Johnson's "Hungry Blues" and the Count's "Basie's Boogie." Those repeated are Calloway's "Trickeration" and "The Man from Harlem," "Lady Be Good" and Hampton's "Jaybird." They are mostly instrumentals, sans introductions or solo listings; Witherspoon sings on "Hungry Blues" and scats on "Jaybird" while Waters turns up the heat on "Lady Be Good" and "Jaybird," his only performances on the video.

For concerts recorded live more than three decades ago, sound quality on the audio CD is remarkably clear, with only a few minor glitches along the way. Sound on the video, although far less clean and balanced, is at least acceptable, and one can see as well as hear Waters, Witherspoon and the orchestra. The ACJO is sharp and well-rehearsed, the soloists are capable, and Hey anchors a strong and flexible rhythm section. Meaningful to fans of classic jazz for all of that, but most of all for a rare chance to see and hear the late great alto saxophonist Benny Waters, still blowing up a storm at age 91.

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