A fine collection of pieces from New Orleans-based (but British-born) clarinetist
Sammy Rimington.
Rimington follows the sound of
George Lewis, the heir to
Bunk Johnson's band long ago. The clarinet bobs and weaves a bit among the rest of the band, with a bumping, casual rhythm section and a swinging trombone. This isn't quite the
Preservation Hall-style brass band sound, it's not quite the Dixieland sound, it's somewhere in between instead. And that's a fine place to be, showing off some highly capable musicians who never take too much from a solo when they could be playing together instead. The sound is sweet, tender, and relaxed. Maybe not what people think of when they pick up an album of N'Orleans music with a hot five or a hot six involved, but a fine pick nonetheless. As a bonus,
Michael and
David Doucet join in for a couple of tracks at the end, as does the
Treme Brass Band with
Kermit Ruffins in tow. ~ Adam Greenberg