Barney Bigard & the Pelican Trio

Personnel: Barney Bigard (clarinet, tenor saxophone).
Recording information: Hollywood, CA (1976).
Unknown Contributor Role: Barney Bigard.
Clarinetist Barney Bigard's final recording (cut four years before his death) is perhaps more notable for the name of his group and the cover drawing (of three pelicans playing jazz) than it is for the music. The performances of mostly swing standards (along with three standards) is fine, but the group (consisting of Bigard, pianist Duke Burrell and drummer Barry Martyn) would have certainly benefited from the inclusion of a bassist, while the three vocals (two by Burrell and one by Martyn) do not help much. In general, Bigard is in good form and, despite the lack of any real adventure, the music is pleasing and swinging. ~ Scott Yanow