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 This band last recorded for Stomp Off in 1986. We sure are
glad to have them back! Some changes in personnel (the hot
cornet of Bob Neighbor, Kim Kusack's incisive clarinet and
Wayne Jones' sensitive drummings), but the basic elements
are still here: Joan Reynolds' full-bodies arrangements;
tight ensembles; a varied program of stomps, blues and
rages; tight ensembles; wonderful dynamics; and on this CD
in particular the emotional impact of minor keys. This one
should have wide appeal to lovers of hot West Coast style jazz
and of ragtime.
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Record Label: Stomp Off Records 1360
Total Time: 73:54
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Tracks on
'Chicago Buzz'
| 1. Chicago Buzz [3:36] |  Preview | | 2. African Hunch [3:47] | | | 3. Climax Rag [2:54] | | | 4. Wild Man Blues [5:53] | | | 5. Quality Shout [3:12] | | | 6. Texas Fox Trot [3:33] | | | 7. Changes [3:39] | | | 8. Blues of the Vagabond [4:36] | | | 9. Grace and Beauty Rag [4:12] | | | 10. Rumba Negro [4:31] | | | 11. Weather Bird Rag [2:58] | | | 12. Panama [5:01] | | | 13. Snake Hips [3:24] | | | 14. I'm More Than Satisfied [4:03] | | | 15. Satanic Blues [4:03] | | | 16. I'm Goin' Huntin' [3:45] | | | 17. Bantam Step [2:54] | | | 18. Daybreak Blues [4:11] | Preview | | 19. The Smiler [3:42] | |
Reviews:
Just Jazz April 2003, Tony Foulkes:
Was it the poet and jazz commentator Philip Larkin who wrote
"jazz died some time ago but the body is in remarkably good
condition"? This comment, when applied to the revival of the jazz
music of the 1920s and 30s, is at odds with the opinion that
declares that revivalism is a vapid re-creation of the jazz
sounds of eighty years ago.
I suppose we must accept that, to a large extent, Traditional
jazz reflects the happy nostalgia of an ageing white middle class
still resisting the cavalry charge of rock music, but there is
little doubt that the contemporary recreation of the period
music represented on, for example, the GHB and Stomp Off
labels, has consistently been received enthusiastically by jazz
fans who know what they like, and is invariably matched by the
knowledgeable and professional performance of the musicians.
The Executive Producer of Stomp Off Records, Bob Erdos, has long
been an advocate of the resurrection of the more obscure material
from the Classic period of the first three decades of the
twentieth century, and the nineteen numbers on this CD by
the Chicago-based Red Rose Ragtime Band satisfy this criteria
as well as including a balanced cross section of the
American musical heritage of ragtime, blues, jazz and
popular material.
The title of the band suggests orchestrated Ragtime, and
indeed this is represented by the concise written arrangements of
Climax Rag, Texas Fox Trot, Grace And Beauty, Bantam Step,
The Smiler, and a piano solo version of Panama. However, the
naive harmonies, predictable progressions and generally cliche ridden
composition of orchestrated Ragtime are only saved by a certain
lyrical charm, and much more appealing is the full blooded
attack displayed on the Junie Cobb composition Chicago
Buzz, the Oliver/Armstrong tune, Weather Bird Rag, and the
little heard Alex Hillnumber, Quality Shout.
The stately Wild Man Blues, credited jointly to Armstrong and
Morton, is an interesting fusion of the Armstrong Hot Seven version
and the Jelly Roll Morton Red Hot Peppers' recording of
1927, and displays the exciting technique of trumpet player
Bob Neighbour, whose CV includes four years with the Turk
Murphy band on the West Coast between 1962 and 1966.
Clarinettist Kim Cusack is equally proficient on alto sax, and
trombonist Tom Bartlett, who has performed with, amongst others,
the now defunct South Frisco Jazz Band and the Original
Salty Dogs Jazz Band, talkes his inspiration from Turk Murphy.
The rhythm provides stolid two-beat support throughout,
particularly notable being the piano playing of arranger/leader
Joan Reynolds. Of the other numbers, the 1929 Ellington
composition, Blues Of The Vagabond, the ODJB number, Satanic
Blues, and Fats Waller's I'm Goin' Huntin', add considerable
variety to the performance. A certain poignancy is associated
with the conclusion of Daybreak Blues, whose author, the
clarinet player and long-time member of the Lu Watters Yerba
Buena Jazz Band, Bob Helm, died a few months ago.
Technically the musicians are faultless, but in common with a
number of bands playing this style, they appear to lack identity.
I was surprised to find, a few years ago at the San Diego Jazz Festivl,
that many of the Revival-style bands played from music,
which seemed to lead to a culture of conformity. (The version
of Changes on this CD is virtually indistinguishable from
the 1983 Stomp Off recording by Banu Gibson and the N.O.
Hot Jazz Orchestra.) That apart, the excellent recording
quality, the informaive insert notes and the generous playing
time makes this CD very good value.
Perhaps we can let Philip Larkin have the last word on the
re-creation issue - "the old numbers are like vintage cars - they
are not as anyone would make them nowadays, but historically they
are worth preserving and aesthetically they are a delight." Some
may consider this to be museum music, but if it still
communicates, I suppose the sensible attitude would be to be
grateful for the past, and the musicians who wish to preserve it.
The Rag Times February 2003, Jack Rummel:
There have been a number of personnel changes since the last
recording was issued by the Red Rose Ragtime Band, yet
leader/arranger/pianist Joan Reynolds has kept true to the
original concept in selecting her replacements and so this group
still remains a band that likes ragtime.
More than a third of the selections are actual rags (Climax Rag,
Texas Fox Trot, Grace and Beauty Rag/Weather Bird Rag, Panama,
Bantam Step and The Smiler) and many of the other tunes are from
composers associated with ragtime, such as Richard M. Jones
(African Hunch), Jelly Roll Morton (Wild Man Blues) and James P.
Johnson (I'm Goin' Huntin'), thus making this a CD that should
have a good appeal.
The arrangements are strong for all of the pieces, but the rags
seem exceptionally well done with thoughtful consideration given
to the melody and the presentation. Most of the solos come from
the front line but before the disc is over all the players get a
chance to show their stuff. The liner notes are generous and the
sound quality is generally good, although I found myself
straining a bit to hear the piano solos on some of the cuts,
most notably Texas Fox Trot.
The Red Rose Ragtime Band was - and, thankfully, still is - a top
flight traditional jazz band that programs a lot of ragtime. It's
a winning combination, especially for those fans of ragtime that
enjoy the fuller sound of a band.
No Votes have been recorded
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| Performers |
Bob Neighbor (tp)
Kim Cusack (cl, al sx)
Tom Bartlett (tb, vc)
Joan Reynolds (pno)
Leah Bezin, Jack Meilahn (bjo)
Mike Short (tba)
Wayne Jones (dm.)
Released in 2000
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List Price: $16.97
Our Price: $14.95
You Save: $2.02 (12%)
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