The emphasis is on Dixieland throughout this historical and very enjoyable two-LP set put out by Arista in 1980. The primitive trumpeter
Mutt Carey is heard on his only two sessions as a leader performing some jazzy versions of ragtime along with a couple of veteran tunes;
Carey's band includes trombonist
Jimmy Archey, either
Albert Nicholas or
Edmond Hall on clarinet and
Cliff Jackson or
Hank Duncan on piano. English trumpeter
Humphrey Littleton welcomes the great soprano
Sidney Bechet to his septet ("Some of These Days" is a highlight), cornetists
Bobby Hackett and Wild Bill Davison star on a few Dixieland standards, drummer
Ben Pollack features trombonist
Jack Teagarden on "Mightly Lak a Rose" and there are eight selections by
Edmond Hall with a sextet that also stars trumpeter
Ruby Braff and trombonist
Vic Dickenson. Dixieland fans should bemoan the fact that most of this music has yet to be reissued on CD.
–
Scott Yanow, Rovi