Flow Gently, Sweet Afton
LP London LTZ-K 15024
The title comes from a poem by Robert Burns and Afton is the name of a Scottish river. (In Swedish it’s a word that means ”evening”).
Musically, there is a lot that I like here, most of all the ensemble playing with Sidney De Paris’ strong trumpet lead, his brother Wilbur’s light, yet fundamental trombone and the virtuoso clarinet by Omer Simeon. And they are backed up by a good rhythm section with Sonny White, who formerly played piano with Sidney Bechet, and Lee Blair, banjo, a participant in a couple of 1920s sessions with Jelly Roll Morton, together with drummer George Foster, once with Fess Williams, and on bass Wendell Marshall, a young cousin of Jimmy Blanton’s.
Then they have a good blend of solos, improvised ensemble, and arranged passages.
This is the third album recorded by Wilbur de Paris under his name and it’s made in 1955, a time when it was important to point out that it was ”new” New Orleans Jazz as opposed to the old stuff. Nesuhi Ertegun was supervising the session in which as you see on the cover Sidney also played tuba, and Doc Cheatham was added on trumpet on one number (but not this).