1953-1954

by Mezz Mezzrow

Overview

Volume eight in the Mezz Mezzrow department of the Classics Chronological Series contains selected recordings cut for the Vogue label between March 1, 1953 and November 21, 1954 in Paris, France. Mezz sounds entirely at home as leader and participant in 17 relaxed rituals of old-fashioned jazz, including ten minutes of the "Basin Street Blues" and a nine-minute romp through the changes of "I Can't Give You Anything But Love." Like volume seven, this is an exciting and entertaining if technically incomplete representation of the artist's professional activity during the designated time period. The first two tracks are excerpts from matinee and evening concerts given at the Theatre des Champs-Elysees on March 1, 1953. Although other excerpts appeared at the end of volume seven, the omission of numerous titles from these gigs leaves a gap in the Mezzrow discographical timeline that is uncharacteristic of the Classics reissue label. Tracks three-nine were recorded in Paris on April 2, 1953, ten-fourteen from a little known session featuring Fats Waller's chief saxophonist Eugene "Honeybear" Sedric (without a doubt some of the best Sedric ever preserved on record!) and the final three jams were taped at the Salle Pleyel concert hall on November 21, 1954 with pianist Claude Bolling, drummer man Freddie Moore, trombonist Jimmy Archey, and one of the first trumpeters ever to make records with Jelly Roll Morton, the great Lee Collins. Other key participants in this excellent collection of traditional New Orleans/Chicago styled jazz and swing are trumpeter Buck Clayton, trombonist Big Chief Russell Moore, pianist Red Richards, bassist Pierre Michelot, tap dancer Taps Miller, and primal jazz and blues drummer Kansas Fields. Once again, Mezzrow's amazing homegrown ability to surround himself with legendary jazzmen yields honest and intimate good-time music that comes across friendly and for real. ~ arwulf arwulf

Product Details

Release Date:	10/30/2007
Label:	Classics
UPC:	0826596016238

Tracks

1. I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me
2. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
3. Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams
4. Rose Room
5. West End Blues
6. Swingin' with Mezz
7. St. Louis Blues
8. Big Butter and Egg Man
9. I Ain't Got Nobody
10. Blues for Fats Waller
11. Catchin' the Boat Train
12. Cuttin' In
13. Clarinet Blues
14. Keepin' out of Mishief Now
15. Basin Street Blues
16. Squeeze Me
17. Blue Skies

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Mezz Mezzrow   Primary Artist,Clarinet
Mezz Mezzrow & His Orchestra   Primary Artist
Buck Clayton   Trumpet
Claude Bolling   Piano
Gene Sedric   Clarinet,Sax (Tenor)
Lee Collins   Trumpet
Red Richards   Piano
Georges Hadjo   Bass
Fred Moore   Drums,Washboard
Pierre Michelot   Bass
Jimmy Archey   Trombone
Kansas Fields   Drums

Technical Credits

Anatol Schenker   Liner Notes
Taps Miller   Dance
Andy Razaf   Composer
Fats Waller   Composer
W.C. Handy   Composer