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JCCD-3061:
“Another Evening at Jimmy Ryan’s”- Wilbur DeParis
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Personnel:
Wilbur DeParis [tb], Sidney DeParis [tp], Omer Simeon [cl], Don Kirkpatrick,
Norman Lester [pn], Eddie Gibbs, Danny Barker [bn], Freddie Moore [dm] |
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Reviews for:
JCCD-3061: “Another Evening at Jimmy Ryan’s”- Wilbur DeParis Jazz Gazette - Belgium When the so-called New Orleans revival attracted the attention of the
public to the original jazz styles, a lot of musicians who had been working
in the big swing bands returned to the small band format and the older
way of playing jazz. The results were not always musically successful.
I prefer myself hearing Buck Clayton, to name just one, in his usual swing
style than playing dixieland. The band Wilbur DeParis led at Jimmy Ryan's
in New York was one of those who made the transition with flying colours.
Although all the members of the group had been playing in big swing bands,
they all had their roots in older jazz styles. One of them, Omer Simeon,
even came from New Orleans and had played with Jelly Roll Morton and King
Oliver. In my opinion the one responsible for the unique style of the
band was leader Wilbur DeParis. The fact that he had worked in New Orleans
in the early twenties, where he had played alongside Louis Armstrong and
with the Armand Piron Band, probably had something to do with his knack
for making the sound of his band a kind of personal version of the New
Orleans sound. Some purists called it "black dixieland", but
they were doing injustice to this remarkable band. Later on, when he made
those series of great recordings for the Atlantic label, Wilbur called
his band "New New Orleans Jazz" and, in a way, that is exactly
what it was, just like Jelly Roll Morton with his Red Hot Peppers created
a new New Orleans jazz in his days. The similarity with Jelly is remarkable:
tight arrangements with improvised solos and the melody always going on
somewhere. Even today most purist collectors of New Orleans music, who
usually have nothing but contempt for dixieland jazz, have a soft spot
for the Wilbur DeParis Band. On the Jazz Crusade label two earlier issues
by this band have been bestsellers. Boxell's Jazz Website A contact of mine, here in NZ, was boasting to me recently about some
'classic' jazz CDs that he had bought very cheap from 'The Warehouse'.
My old speedway and jazz mate, Bob Andrews up in Auckland, had seen them
too and broke the habit of a lifetime and splashed out a wad of cash to
get one of everything on offer! Myself, I rarely go in The Warehouse as
low price normally mans low quality, and I had been stung on some of their
cheap CDs before. I made an exception this time and I went in to see what
I could buy, only to find that all that was left at my local branch was
a Johnny Dodds double CD for NZ$6, which I bought and have appreciated
ever since. Anyway, back to the contact who first mentioned the bargain
CDs to me: amongst the CDs was a double by Wilbur de Paris. My contact
seemed so fond of this album I had trouble getting him to take it off
so that I could hear what else he had acquired. To be honest, by the end
of the afternoon I knew the tunes on the dammed CD off by heart! Cadence Magazine - U.S.A. What trombonist Wilbur DeParis and his Rampart Street Ramblers have going
for them is a bright New Orleans style make-up, thanks largely to the
presence of ace banjoist Eddie Gibbs whose assertive rhythms quicken every
number but two - on which he's replaced by the more subdued Danny Barker.
Wilbur DeParis is an excellent ensemble player, as is his trumpet-playing
brother, Sidney, but the groups star soloist is clarinetist Omer Simeon
[with pianist Don Kirkpatrick only a stride or so behind]. For a style
of music that's considered by many to be passé, DeParis and his
colleagues manage to generate an ample supply of warmth and enthusiasm.
Wherever they are now, they may still be listening for a well-earned round
of applause. AMG **** Review - U. S. Jazz Guide Wilbur DeParis & His New New Orleans Jazz Band are in typically fine
form on this set of radio broadcasts from Jimmy Ryan's (their home base)
during 1951-1952. The performances, which are mostly taken from the Dr.
Jazz radio series, features the band surprisingly playing without a bassist
yet not really not missing that instrument. Trombonist DeParis, trumpeter
Sidney DeParis, and clarinetist Omer Simeon always made for a potent front
line, and these performances (cut before the band's first Atlantic album)
are full of spirit, enthusiasm, and creativity within the genre of New
Orleans jazz. Highlights include "Prelude In C Sharp Minor,"
"The Pearls," "Milneburg Joys," and "Florida
Blues." Easily recommended to fans of the band. |
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