Trombonist
Wilbur DeParis led one of the top trad bands of the 1950s, although its many Atlantic recordings are somewhat scarce on CD (except for brief reissues by collectors' labels). This particular LP draws its material from three different dates and has more warhorses than usual, with five of the eight songs (including "Beale Street Blues," "Muskrat Ramble," and "Colonel Bogey's March") being old favorites; in addition,
DeParis contributes three colorful originals. The band at the time consisted of
DeParis, his brother Sideny DeParis on cornet (three songs add
Doc Cheatham's trumpet, although he gets no solo space), the great clarinetist
Omer Simeon, pianist Sonny White, Lee Blair or John Smith on banjo, bassist Hayes Alvis, and Wilbert Kirk on drums and harmonica.
Wilbur DeParis' "New New Orleans Jazz Band" sounds in typically exuberant form throughout the highly enjoyable set. ~ Scott Yanow