Savoy Blues
LP WOLF WJS-1002
Now I happen to stumble upon a Kid Ory’s Creole Jazz Band recording again. The LP presents interesting things meant to be “gap filling for collectors”. This is one from AFRS Jubilee Broadcast and was recorded in Hollywood in May 1946 with the usual suspects Mutt Carey, trumpet; Kid Ory, trombone; Bud Scott, guitar; Ed Garland bass and Minor Hall on drums. Then there is a pianist called L.Z. Cooper and the clarinet work is by Albert Nicholas. The band goes through the usual routines connected with this number and it’s quite clear that they have the classic recording by Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five in mind. Albert Nicholas plays a good clarinet solo, then as on the model version there is a guitar solo, now by Bud Scott.
Mutt Carey plays two choruses as closely copied after Armstrong’s classic solo as he was capable of. It’s nice as a tribute but when you hear a quoted solo, however good it’s made, you alway think about the original. While some of the greatness of Armstrong’s attitude on the original is that he is reflective and for once plays quite softly, Carey has to struggle a bit. Here they have also moved the tune down one step from G major to F which makes it less brilliant.
The live recording is very good with one exception. The piano is a bit to loud in the mixing and it’s ok in the first part of the recording and in his solo but in the end the volume and the playing becomes too much. It makes me think about the story that King Oliver leaned over to Lil Hardin when she played too much and said “We already have a clarinet player!”.
Apart from those minor objections it’s another example of the greatness and well deserved success of the Ory band.