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 This is just so good. Where do we start to describe it? Let's say
there is a heep of hot playing and a big sound that belies the
size of the group. Four can be BIG when all four fully appreciate
the beauty of a strong melody line enhanced by rich counterpoint.
Leader Duke Heitger, one of the top trumpet players in
traditional jazz, here maintains a firm Armstrong-like lead
throughout, while another new star Evan Christopher supplies
exciting countermelodies -- and the steady rhythm of banjoist
John Gill and the tuba or string bass of Tom Saunders gives the
front line a HUGH beat and harmonic backing. This adds up to a
jazz event of a very high order, and what terrific bunch of
tunes!
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Record Label: Stomp Off Records 1367
Total Time: 64:04
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Tracks on
'Prince of Wails'
| 1. There Ain't No Land Like Dixieland to Me [4:20] | | | 2. Too Late [2:39] | | | 3. If I Could Be With You (one Hour To-night) [3:34] | | | 4. Eccentric [3:10] | | | 5. Prince of Wails [3:05] | | | 6. Get Out of Here [3:49] | | | 7. When You're Smiling (the Whole World Smiles With You) [3:32] |  Preview | | 8. Words [4:06] | | | 9. Pleasure Mad [3:50] | | | 10. Goody Goody [3:39] | | | 11. West End Blues [3:32] | | | 12. Static Strut [3:06] | | | 13. You're Driving Me Crazy (what Did I Do?) [3:48] | | | 14. Strut Miss Lizzie [2:16] | | | 15. What Ya Want Me to Do? [5:24] | | | 16. My Honey's Lovin' Arms [4:18] | | | 17. Blame It On the Blues [3:11] | | | 18. I'm Goin' Huntin' [2:45] | Preview |
Reviews:
The Mississippi Rag, August 2003, William J. Schafer:
This is one of the most thoroughly musical, thoroughly enjoyable
CDs I've heard in years - it's joyous, relentlessly swinging and
impeccably lyrical throughout, with just four musicians
generating a multicolored universe of sound. The group recalls
the Muggsy Spanier-Sidney Bechet chamber jazz of the early 1940s
but is radically different in many ways. The band includes
Heitger (trumpet and [perhaps] uncredited piano on "My
Honey's Lovin Arms" [?]), Evan Christopher (clarinet and alto
sax), John Gill (banjo, guitar), Tom Saunders (tuba and string
bass). Heitger and Gill split vocal honors, both with great style
and humor.
Heitger is the finest Armstrong-style trumpeter going now by
several leagues, but he is an amazingly generous leader, and all
four players here get equal shares in the band voice - all
acquitting themselves very well. Gill and Saunders provide a
very strong, flexible beat, and Christopher often matches
Heitger in unleashed virtuosity and lyricism. The warmth and
tightness of this little group makes you immediately forget the
possiblity of the other jazz voices - no need for drums,
trombone, piano, etc.
The choice of materials is excellent, with some strongly
Armstrong-associated works like "When You're Smiling" or "Words"
or "I'm Goin Huntin" or (most emphatically) "West End Blues" (and
yes, Heitger plays the famous fanfare-cadenza perfectly). There
are also pieces associated with Joe Oliver - "Eccentric, "
"Too Late," "What Ya Want Me to Do?" - equally congenial
for Heitger and Christopher. Other numbers evoke Bechet
("Pleasure Mad" or "Blame It on the Blues") or are just pleasant
standards like "Prince Of Wails" or "Goody Goody." In every
category, Heitger and Christopher come up with fresh lead and
solo sounds, which both stimulate our collective jazz memory and
seem wholly original.
Christopher is a completely engaging partner for Heitger,
with a big clarinet sound to match his trumpet and a lyrical
voice that hints distantly of Dodds or Noone but with traces of
George Lewis' special wistfulness. He is also able to take on the
reed section parts from Oliver's big band with aplomb or to sound
like your on-the-job Chicago clarinetist from (say) 1925. Most of
all, he provides a voice that contrasts but totally complements
Heitger's concepts of rhythm and melody.
Gill's energetic but sensitive banjo and guitar comping puts a
harmonic floor under the group but also gives it a clear, singing
string voice, nicely meshed with Saunders' bass voicings and like
a song accompaniment for Heitger and Christopher. While
this is a "big four" sound, it is also intimate and lyrical -
the songlike feeling permeates the music, with or without vocals.
Heitger's control of this feeling and his trust in his
compatriots are vividly shown here. He may be fronting this show
- and his talent is surely worth very close listening - but he
also exudes a super-strong musicality that comes through all four
players and on every track. An extraordinary CD, and as usual an
excellent technical production from Bob Erdos.
Just Jazz, April 2003, John Collinson:
Since the first appearance of theStomp Off label with its LP
microgroove issues in the 1980s, producer Bob Erdos has
consistently kept us supplied with recordings of the best of current
bands and soloists who work mainly within the classic styles.
Piano soloists, trios, quartets, five-to seven-piece bands, and
big bands, have all been given a chance to strut their stuff on
this label, and the fact that the CDs keep appearing probably
says a great deal for the product.
The Duke Heitger CD under review here is just up my street. To me
it has all the essentials that I look for in listening to and
appreciating, jazz music - (1) a thorough knowledge by the
musicians of what the band leader requires, (2) the ability of
those players to carry it out, and (3) that vital necessity
- swing!
Instrumentally, this group does not differ from any supermarket
opening outfit, ie, trumpet, clarinet, banjo and sousaphone/tuba.
The necessity for this abbreviated line up on record becomes
apparent when reading the sleeve notes. (The boys were due on
their first overseas trip as four-piece and needed an
accompanying CD to reflect the band as their audiences would
hear them.)
The band romps through some early jazz repertoire with great
authority. The rarely heard Too Late, Prince Of Wails and
Static Strut are played with due nods to the originals, and
I was delighted to hear the correct third theme to C.L.
Cooke's Blame It On The Blues. On some titiles, John Gill
effectively switches to guitar and Tom Saunders plays string
bass, which provides an alternative sound. When playing the CD
through the whole programme, a change of instrumentation can be
welcome in view of the small degree of flexibility available to a
quartet.
Duke Heitger's performance is exceptional - if you like trumpet
played in the early Armstrong style, then this is for you. West
End Blues and When You're Smiling salute Louis' classic
records for Okeh. I found it intriguing on hearing What Ya
Want Me To Do - Duke made me realize how Louis might have
played this song, having been used to the Oliver/Williams version
for years.
The whole atmosphere of this CD brings out memories of the Bent
Persson recordings of Armstrong's Fifty Hot Choruses', made
almost 20 years ago.
The clarinet/alto of Evan Christopher achieves a fine rapport
with the leader's trumpet, and I look forward to hearing this
young man again on future issues. He has a solo feature on My
Honey's Lovin' Arms, on which his full abilities can be
heard. The addition of piano, presumably played by Heitger,
fills out the hardworking rhythm section on this number.
John Gill provides excellent support on both banjo and, in
particular, guitar, but the brief snatches of single string banjo
work in his solos left me wanting more of that style. As for Tom
Saunders, he can join my band any time!
This CD was recorded two years ago and has only recently reached
us for review, so maybe by now another CD by Duke Heitger and his
boys is already winging its way across the pond. (Mr. Erdos,
please note!) Do NOT be put off buying this CD because you may
be unfamiliar with the names involved. Readers of 'Just
Jazz' can purchase this one in total confidence. Our music is
in safe hands with the likes of these fellows.
Great!!
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Total Votes: 1
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List Price: $16.97
Our Price: $14.95
You Save: $2.02 (12%)
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