The main fault to this set (an Atlantic album reissued in 1999 as a Koch CD) is simply that there is not enough of it. Trombonist
Vic Dickenson, who receives top billing, is just on two of the six selections, for a total of 11 minutes.
Dickenson's octet (which also includes trumpeter
Buck Clayton,
Hal Singer on tenor, clarinetist
Herbie Hall, pianist
Al Williams, guitarist
Danny Barker, bassist
Gene Ramey, and drummer
Marquis Foster) is fine, the arrangement on "The Lamp Is Low" is catchy and
Clayton takes honors. But one suspects that the
Dickenson name was used originally to help sell the music of the other band, which is led by trumpeter
Joe Thomas. The lyrical
Thomas is joined by the extroverted trumpeter
Johnny Letman, trombonist
Dicky Wells (who has a few speechlike solos), tenor saxophonist
Buddy Tate, clarinetist
Buster Bailey, pianist
Herbie Nichols, guitarist
Everett Barksdale, bassist
Bill Pemberton, and drummer
Jimmy Crawford. With riff-filled arrangements by
Dick Vance (the ensembles are not jammed), this intriguing nonet mixes together Dixieland and swing players along with a notable pianist-composer.
Herbie Nichols is mostly heard in an accompanying role, taking his longest solo on the lengthy "Blues for Baby."
Nichols, who was completely neglected by the beboppers, fit into this trad jazz setting surprisingly well. A fun and very obscure reissue.