Trombonist Wilbur DeParis and his brother, cornet player
Sidney, led one of the best bands to play New Orleans style
jazz well into the 1960s. This set, recorded in Stratford,
Ontario in 1956, features the group in top form. Though the
music is highly arranged and may seem to lack some of the
spontaneity of other trad jazz combos, the DeParis band was
playing much the same style that Jelly Roll Morton’s
Hot Peppers had initiated. In fact, the clarinetist here is
none other than Omer Simeon, the original clarinetist on such
Morton recordings as “Shreveport Stomp.” That
number, included here, is a highlight, especially as it represents
one of Simeon’s last live recordings (he died if cancer
in 1959, and according to the liner notes here, was unable
to perform these numbers just one year later, in 1957 because
of his illness).
This is a fine live collection of music by an intelligent
band using intelligent arrangements—listen to deParis
quoting from Mercer Ellington’s “Things Ain’t
What They Used to Be” (Sidney DeParis played with the
Ellington orchestra from 1945-1947) on “St. Louis Blues.”
There are also guest turns from Willie “the Lion”
Smith and vocalist Jimmy Rushing. Smith performs “Maori”
and “Zig Zag” both of which demonstrate his prowess
at the keys. Rushing does “Goin’ to Chicago”
and “I Want a Little Girl” as only he can.
DeParis was important in keeping New Orleans jazz alive and
in front of the public during the 1950s and on, and his repertoire,
as indicated by this set, consisted not only of jazz tunes,
but also included the marches and blues that were key inspirations
to those who composed and performed early New Orleans jazz.
Though his band might sound a bit on the mannered side to
those listening today, there is no question that the musicianship
of this group placed it near the top of the list of bands
performing in the mid-fifties. For anyone interested in hearing
a top-notch performance by this band, Live in Canada 1956
is a completely essential document.
