Pete Fountain at Piper's Opera House

Personnel: Pete Fountain (clarinet); Eddie Miller (tenor saxophone); Bob Havens (trombone); Merle Koch (piano); Nick Fatool (drums).
Liner Note Authors: Floyd Levin; George H. Buck, Jr.
Recording information: Virginia City, NV (06/26/1983).
Clarinetist Pete Fountain leads a fairly strong group on this set, which was reissued on CD in 1993. Recorded live in Virginia City, Nevada, one has to put up with some raving from the announcer, but otherwise the music is enjoyable. Fountain is joined by the underrated trumpeter John Thomas, the great tenor Eddie Miller, trombonist Bob Havens, pianist Merle Koch, bassist Bunky Jones and drummer Nick Fatool for a straightforward set of Dixieland jams and swing-era ballads. In the repertoire are such songs as "Jazz Me Blues," "Shine," "Wolverine Blues" and "South Rampart Street Parade." A fun outing, and one of Pete Fountain's few (and best) recordings of the 1980s. ~ Scott Yanow