Storyville Nights

Recorded 20 days before his 75th birthday, this LP (not yet out on CD) was trombonist Kid Ory's final recording. Ory plays fine on six Jelly Roll Morton-associated songs ("Doctor Jazz" and five Morton compositions) and a couple of tunes from the 1946 movie New Orleans ("Storyville Blues" and "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans"), but there is a tired feeling about this album. All of the tunes are given the same ending; the band (which also includes trumpeter Andy Blakeney and clarinetist Bob McCracken, rhythm guitarist Johnny St. Cyr and an undistinguished rhythm section) was not one of Ory's most significant. Although there are some good moments, the record is a slight disappointment. ~ Scott Yanow