When You Wore a Tulip

LP Blue Note B-6501

They call themselves “Sidney DeParis and his Blue Note Stompers.”

Dixieland or New Orleans Revival? Spontaneously I would put any of these two “labels” on the music heard on this LP. If I consider it dixieland, I could compare (which is not at all necessary) with the live sessions recorded at Stuyvesant Casino at roughly the same time. Those are lively and also follow the same simple formula with ensemble-solos-ensemble. And they feature good musicians in the style. But still, I consider this Blue Note studio session to be on a higher level, better balanced, and more substantial.

The important things are the incredibly good interplay between the musicians in the front line and their ability to play good, exiting, and fluent solos. Omer Simeon on clarinet and Jimmy Archey on trombone sound really inspired, as does the driving force, Sidney himself, on trumpet. Listen, for example, to how he cuts through like the sharpest possible knife in the ensemble of the last chorus. Even if the other two play with full force, there is no collision of notes. There are two takes of this number, and they are equally good!

Add to that a first-class driving rhythm section featuring the great Pops Foster on bass and Joe Smith on drums. At the piano, it is a pleasure to hear the Jelly Roll Morton-inspired Bob Greene (1922–2013). (I once met and played a couple of tunes with him in Copenhagen.)