Clarinetist
George Lewis & His New Orleans Stompers are heard performing old-time jazz music for the public in Bakersfield, CA May 28 1954, which seems to have been a good day for this group, as they sound happy, relaxed, and well-coordinated. What this really amounts to is the evening set from the same day that bore the matinee recording issued in 1959 as Blue Note LP 1208: "Concert! Geo.
Lewis and His New Orleans Stompers". On both occasions, and throughout much of this part of the decade,
Lewis shared the frontline with trumpeter Avery "Kid" Howard and trombonist
Jim Robinson; the rock-solid rhythm unit consisted of banjoist Laurence Marrero, pianist
Alton Purnell, string bassist Alcide "Slow Drag" Pavageau, and drummer Joe Watkins, who shared vocal duties with Howard and
Purnell. Released in 1999, Storyville's
Second Bakersfield Concert 1954 is every bit as satisfying as the Good Time Jazz label's 1994 issue of the Beverly Caverns Sessions, which drew upon material recorded in L.A. on May 26 and 27,1953, almost exactly one year prior to the Bakersfield gigs. All three albums are excellent examples of
George Lewis and his wonderful jazz band at their very best. ~ arwulf arwulf