Complete Deccas Victors V Discs Alternate Takes (1945-46)

• Artist: Bunk Johnson & His New Orleans Jazz Band
• Rating:
• Release Date: September 10, 1996
• Total Time: 72:38
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Jazz

Review

This single CD collects Bunk Johnson's sessions for Decca and Victor plus his two V-discs and eight alternate takes, three of which were previously unissued. Bunk is heard throughout in prime form, and his band -- clarinetist George Lewis, trombonist Jim Robinson, pianist Alton Purnell, banjoist Lawrence Marrero, bassist Alcide "Slow Drag" Pavageau, and drummer Baby Dodds (without Dodds, this would become the Lewis group of the 1950s) -- is mostly in tune and swinging hard. Johnson and Lewis never sounded better together, and unlike some of the earlier American Music performances, the recording quality here is mostly quite good despite a faulty piano. For the two V-discs (versions of "I Can't Escape From You" and "Snag It" that exceed five minutes), Bunk's band (with Red Jones on drums) is heard live from the Stuyvesant Casino. Among the highlights of the high-quality New Orleans Dixieland set, which was put out by Document in 1996 (much of the music had formerly been on an Arhoolie LP), are spirited renditions of "Maryland, My Maryland," an up-tempo "A Closer Walk With Thee," "When the Saints Go Marching In," and "Darktown Strutters Ball." ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Maryland, My Maryland [Take B]	James Ryder Randall, Traditional	Bunk Johnson	(2:47)
Alexander's Ragtime Band [Take B]	Traditional, Irving Berlin	Bunk Johnson	(3:15)
Tishomingo Blues [Take A]	Spencer Williams	Bunk Johnson	(3:21)
You Always Hurt the One You Love [Take B]	Doris Fisher, Allan Roberts	Bunk Johnson	(2:53)
I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate [Take 2]	Armand Piron	Bunk Johnson	(2:57)
A Closer Walk with Thee [Take 1]	Traditional	Bunk Johnson	(2:48)
Snag It [Take 1]	King Oliver	Bunk Johnson	(3:11)
One Sweet Letter from You [Take 2]	Harry Warren, Sidney Clare, Lew Brown	Bunk Johnson	(3:07)
When the Saints Go Marching In	Traditional, James Black	Bunk Johnson	(3:01)
High Society	Walter Melrose, Porter Steele	Bunk Johnson	(3:23)
Darktown Strutters' Ball	Shelton Brooks	Bunk Johnson	(3:14)
Franklin Street Blues	Bunk Johnson, Louis Dumaine	Bunk Johnson	(3:15)
I Can't Escape from You [V Disc]	Hank Williams	Bunk Johnson	(5:05)
Snag It (V Disc)	King Oliver	Bunk Johnson	(5:47)
Maryland, My Maryland [Take A]	James Ryder Randall, Traditional	Bunk Johnson	(2:49)
Alexander's Ragtime Band [Take A]	Traditional, Irving Berlin	Bunk Johnson	(3:13)
Tishomingo Blues [Take B]	Spencer Williams	Bunk Johnson	(3:14)
You Always Hurt the One You Love [Take A]	Doris Fisher, Allan Roberts	Bunk Johnson	(2:45)
I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate [Take 1]	Armand Piron	Bunk Johnson	(3:01)
A Closer Walk with Thee [Take 2]	Traditional	Bunk Johnson	(2:46)
Snag It [Take 2]	King Oliver	Bunk Johnson	(3:12)
One Sweet Letter from You [Take 1]	Harry Warren, Sidney Clare, Lew Brown	Bunk Johnson	(3:06)

Credits

Howard Rye (Liner Notes), Baby Dodds (Drums), Gary Atkinson (Producer), Bunk Johnson (Trumpet), Alton Purnell (Piano), Jim Robinson (Trombone), Kevin Witt (Graphic Design), Gerhard Wessely (Remastering Supervisor), Alan Taylor (Digital Remastering), Joseph "Slow Drag" Pauageau (String Bass), Johnny Parth (Compilation), George Lewis (Clarinet), Laurence Marrero (Banjo), Red Jones (Drums), Johnny Parth (Producer)