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The Bix Beiderbecke Centennial All-Stars: Celebrating Bix!
ByBeiderbecke’s music is vividly revitalized by the Centennial All-Stars and Arbors Records in this wonderfully played, beautifully transcribed and handsomely packaged homage consisting of nineteen songs on which Bix was featured during his brief but meteoric six-year recording career (1924-30). Included are stylish new arrangements of recordings Beiderbecke made with the Wolverines, orchestras led by Jean Goldkette, Paul Whiteman and Frank Trumbauer and his own ensembles. Group sizes vary from eight to twelve with one exception the great Dick Hyman on solo piano faithfully replicating Bix’s resourceful ideas and adding a few of his own on “Clementine (from New Orleans).”
As one would expect, cornets are prominent throughout, with three contemporary masters Randy Sandke, Jon-Erik Kellso, Randy Reinhart taking their turn in the spotlight alongside trombonist Dan Barrett (who doubles on cornet), guitarist Howard Alden and pianist Mark Shane. The reed section is similarly adept, with everyone doubling on clarinet and three members Dan Levinson, Pete Martinez and Scott Robinson playing the seldom-heard C-melody saxophone. Vince Giordano’s rumbling bass sax adds weight on several numbers. The vocals are superbly sculpted by Barbara Rosene (“Proud of a Baby Like You,” “I’m Coming Virginia,” “Singin’ the Blues”), James Langton (“From Monday On,” “Deep Down South”) and the Manhattan Rhythm Kings (“Borneo,” “San”).
To satisfy today’s listener while “maintaining the free-wheeling spirit of the original sessions,” the early arrangements were expertly renovated by Levinson and Peter Ecklund with almost every selection including a harmonized transcription of one or more of Bix’s solos. To add to one’s pleasure, the comprehensive and informative booklet contains a number of vintage photographs of Bix and his colleagues, an absorbing biographical essay by Chip Deffaa, useful remarks about the music by Sandke and an informative appraisal of the enterprise by its producers Levinson, Doug LaPasta and David White.
A photo of the 1924 Wolverines with Bix seated second from right is reproduced on the cover with members of the All-Stars (Kellso, Giordano, Levinson, Alden, Joe Ascione, Shane, Barrett) dressed in period costume and posed exactly as the Wolverines were, “sitting in” with Bix whose image is superimposed.
The album, Sandke writes, “is living proof of how durable and pervasive Bix’s musical legacy still is.” While I’m no authority on the seminal years of Jazz (far from it), it’s easy to fall in love with music as upbeat and pleasing to one’s ear as this, especially when it is so marvelously performed.
Contact: Arbors Records, 2189 Cleveland St., Suite 225, Clearwater, FL 33765. Phone 727–466–0571; fax 727–466–0432; e–mail [email protected]. Web site, www.arborsjazz.com
Track Listing
At the Jazz Band Ball; Proud (Of a Baby Like You); Deep Harlem; Riverboat Shuffle; Davenport Blues; The Jazz Me Blues; Blue River; I Need Some Pettin’; I’m Coming Virginia; Lonely Melody; Clementine (from New Orleans); Trumbology; From Monday On; Singin’ the Blues (Till My Daddy Comes Home); There’ll Come a Time (Wait and See); China Boy; Just an Hour of Love; Borneo; Clarinet Marmalade; ‘Way Down Yonder in New Orleans; San; Deep Down South.
Personnel
Jon-Erik Kellso
trumpetRandy Reinhart
tromboneRandy Sandke
trumpetDan Barrett
tromboneHarvey Tibbs
tromboneDan Levinson
clarinetPete Martinez
clarinetScott Robinson
saxophone, tenorJack Stuckey
saxophone, altoDick Hyman
pianoMark Shane
piano and vocalsHoward Alden
guitarMatt Munisteri
guitarGreg Cohen
bass, acousticVince Giordano
composer / conductorJoe Ascione
drumsJames Langton
vocalsBarbara Rosene
vocalsJon-Erik Kellso, Randy Reinhart, Randy Sandke: cornet; Dan Barrett: trombone, cornet; Harvey Tibbs: trombone; Dan Levinson: clarinet, alto, C-melody sax; Pete Martinez: clarinet, C-melody sax; Scott Robinson: clarinet, tenor, C-melody sax; Jack Stuckey: clarinet, alto sax; Mark Shane, Dick Hyman (11): piano; Howard Alden, Matt Munisteri: guitar; Greg Cohen: bass; Vince Giordano: bass, bass sax; Joe Ascione: drums; James Langton, Barbara Rosene, the Manhattan Rhythm Kings (Marc Kessler, Brian Nalepka, Hal Shane): vocals.
Album information
Title: Celebrating Bix! | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Turtle Bay Records
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