Singing Pretty Songs
LP RCA LPV-556
The RCA Vintage Series never let you down. Here is a lively performance with a good balance of arranged passages, loosely arranged dito and short inspired solos.
Allen is dominating in ensemble and with his exciting solo. Of course, he own a lot to Louis Armstrong like so many others at the time, especially the trumpet players from New Orleans, but he is also his own man, easy to identify. His fierce playing here also makes me think of Humphrey Lyttelton whom I think he may have influenced quite much.
Other solos are played by Greeley Walton, tenor sax, J.C. Higginbotham, trombone and Charlie Holmes on alto sax.