Clarinet: New Orleans Style

Personnel: Larry Shields (clarinet); Raymond Burke (clarinet); Lester Bouchon (tenor); Joe Capraro (guitar); Armand Hug (piano); Albert Brunies , Monk Hazel (drums).
Liner Note Author: George H. Buck, Jr.
Released in 2009, the GHB label's Clarinet: New Orleans Style makes available 16 traditional jazz recordings made during the years 1954-1960 by four superb Crescent City reedmen. None of them managed to record very much prior to this time period, and seldom, if ever, under their own names, so what you get here are significant portions of each man's preserved musical legacy. Rhythm section members include guitarist Joe Capraro and Armand Hug, a venerable old pianist who, like many of the players on this collection, developed his professional chops back in the 1920s. Bassists were Emile Christian or Chink Martin, and drumming was by either Monk Hazel or Albert "Little Abbie" Brunies. Tracks 1-7 feature Raymond Burke (b. 1904), whose given surname was Barrois, and whose uncle was early jazz bassist and trombonist Jules Cassard. Burke's tone is arrestingly beautiful, as he was uncommonly skilled at operating in the chalumeau register of the clarinet. "Eccentric," "I'm Forever Blowin' Bubbles," and "Riverboat Shuffle" are toe tappers, and on the slower numbers, he is backed by electric organ. Burke, who also played soprano and tenor saxophones, gigged or recorded with cornetist Johnny Wiggs and trumpeters Sharkey Bonano, George Hartman, and George Girard. It's hard to believe that a man capable of sounding this good in person made so few recordings and is largely forgotten today.
Irvine or Irving Pinky Vidacovich (b. 1905) is heard on tracks 8-12. Possessed of a tone that was nearly as attractive as Burke's, Pinky presents a satisfying set that emanates warmth and ease while building to a pair of upbeat standards. "Pontchartrain Waves" is a geographically specific treatment of the old-time waltz "Over the Waves." In his youth, Vidacovich played with the Princeton Revellers and recorded with the New Orleans Owls. Later in life he sat in with Sharkey Bonano, broadcast over radio station WWL with an ensemble billed as the Dawn Busters, emceed for Pete Fountain at the Parisian Room above Gluck's Restaurant on Royal Street, became a script writer for Al Hirt, and spent the last years of his life as a radio announcer, sometimes assuming the character role of Cajun Pete. The title of this compilation was lifted from Vidacovich's 10" LP on the Southland label.
The eldest of the clarinetists featured in this collection, Harry Shields (b. 1899) was the youngest of the four Shields brothers. Eddie Shields played piano with the Original Dixieland Jazz Band before they left town; Larry Shields became internationally famous as that group's clarinetist, and Pat Shields played guitar with King Watzke's Dixieland Band. (Note that vaudeville and string band multi-instrumentalist Bernard "Bernie" Shields was not genetically linked to this family). Harry recorded as clarinetist and bass saxophonist with pianist Norman Brownlee's orchestra, and worked with trombonist Tom Brown, Johnny Wiggs, and (like every clarinetist on this album) with Sharkey Bonano. Harry's gentle rendition of "Singin' the Blues" and his lively "Alice Blue Gown" are mirrored by versions of the same melodies played by clarinetist Lester Bouchon (b. 1906), a former member of Johnny Bayersdorffer's Red Devils. ~ arwulf arwulf