Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Albert Nicholas with the Art Hodes' All-Star Stompers: A...

Albert Nicholas with the Art Hodes' All-Star Stompers: Albert's Back In Town

By Mike Neely
April 1, 2001
View read count

In 1959, the renowned New Orleans clarinetist Albert Nicholas was visiting Chicago from his expatriate home of Paris when Delmark Records decided to make the best of the opportunity. Nicholas was joined in the studio by a hand picked band that become for the session Art Hodes’ All-Star Stompers. The band included the best that Chicago had to offer. It is an extraordinary band with Nappy Trottier on trumpet, and Floyd O’Brien on trombone. In addition to Hodes on piano, the first rate rhythm section includes Marty Grosz on guitar, Mike Walbridge on tuba, and Fred Kohlman on drums. This group of well- balanced soloists was obviously up for the session, the energy and enthusiasm is infectious. Albert’s Back In Town is reason to sit-up and notice - excellent jazz always is.

Fortunately for us, Delmark has successfully re-mastered the original release. The sound quality allows us to hear clearly the subtleties of the vigorous exchange between the soloists, and their interaction with the piano, guitar, tuba, and drums rhythm section. This band can play tightly woven polyphonic New Orleans style ensemble jazz or open out into a solo, swing, swap session; in either case, this is an upbeat, at times raucous recording. Nicholas and Trottier is an exciting match, interweaving and pushing each other throughout. Hodes and O’Brien toss in their concise, thoughtful solos and imaginative accompaniment while the whole band just keeps cooking. Highly recommended.

Track Listing

Farewell Blues; Fidgety Feet; Lulu's Back In Town; Creole Love Call; Shimme Sha Wabble; Sobbin' Blues; Runnin' Wild; How Long Blues; That's A Plenty; You Gotta See Your Mama Every Night; and 5 previously unissued alternate takes.

Personnel

Albert Nicholas

Art Nicholas, clarinet; Nappy Trottier, trumpet; Floyd O'Brien, trombone; Art Hodes, piano; Marty Grosz, guitar; Mike Walbridge, tuba; and Fred Kohlman, drums.

Album information

Title: Albert's Back In Town | Year Released: 2001 | Record Label: Delmark Records

About Albert Nicholas

PREVIOUS / NEXT

David Hazeltine: Milwaukee's Best Be...
< Previous

Meet Bill Charlap
Next >

Become a Sustaining Member

Since 1995, All About Jazz has championed jazz as an art form and supported the musicians who create it. Over three decades, it has grown into one of the world's leading jazz resources, serving hundreds of thousands of readers, musicians, presenters and industry professionals each month.

Help Build the Future of All About Jazz

Your support helps us continue building All About Jazz for the next generation—expanding our editorial coverage, preserving jazz history, developing new community features and creating better ways to discover the music and the people behind it.

Become a sustaining member for as little as $20 per year and you'll immediately enjoy an ad-free experience along with access to subscriber features and future articles for a full year.

Together, we're not simply sustaining All About Jazz—we're building its future. Thank you for being part of the journey.