Bunk's Brass Band and Dance Band 1945

by Bunk Johnson

Overview

This CD starts off with a potentially very interesting session, the first-ever recording of a New Orleans brass band. Bunk Johnson heads a group consisting of two trumpeters (the other is Kid Shots Madison), trombonist Jim Robinson, George Lewis on the eerie E flat clarinet, Isidore Barbarin on alto horn, the baritone horn of Adolphe Alexander, Joe Clark on bass horn, Baby Dodds on snare drum, and Lawrence Marrero on bass drum. Unfortunately, the band (particularly Lewis) is generally out of tune, which -- despite the power and sincerity of the music -- reduces the effectiveness of the recording. The second half of the disc has more conventional performances by Bunk, Lewis, and Robinson in a spirited New Orleans jazz sextet, playing numbers such as "Runnin' Wild," "Kentucky Home," and "The Sheik of Araby." ~ Scott Yanow

Product Details

Release Date:	04/07/1994
Label:	American Recordings
UPC:	0762247100621
Rank:	141071

Tracks

1. Gloryland
2. Just a Little While to Stay
3. Just a Closer Walk With Thee
4. Didn't He Ramble
5. Tell Me Your Dream
6. My Maryland
7. St. Louis Blues
8. Bye & Bye
9. Nearer My God to Thee
10. When the Saints Go Marching In
11. Happy Birthday
12. Runnin' Wild
13. Margie
14. Lonesome Road
15. Swanee River
16. Kentucky Home
17. Milneburg Joys
18. 827 Blues
19. All the Whores
20. The Sheik of Araby

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bunk Johnson   Primary Artist,Trumpet
Bunk's Brass Band   Primary Artist
Adolphe Alexander   Horn (Baritone)
Louis "Kid Shots" Madison   Trumpet
Joe Clark   Bass Horn
George Lewis   Clarinet
Jim Robinson   Trombone
Baby Dodds   Drums (Snare),Drums
Laurence Marrero   Drums (Bass),Banjo
Alcide Pavageau   Bass (Upright)

Technical Credits

Harry Beasley Smith   Composer
Alden Ashforth   Sound Concepts
George H. Buck, Jr.   Liner Notes
Con Conrad   Composer
Ted Snyder   Composer
W.C. Handy   Composer
Benny Davis   Composer
Francis Wheeler   Composer
Barry Martyn   Producer
Jack Towers   Transfer Engineer
J. Russel Robinson   Composer
Traditional   Composer