Oscar “Papa” Celestin’s Tuxedo Jazz Band – 1950’s Radio Broadcasts CD 7024

Description

CD 7024

Papa Celestin – vocals and trumpet; Bill Mathews – trombone; Alphonse Picou – clarinet; Octave Crosby – piano and vocals; Ricard Alexis – string bass and vocals; Christopher “Black Happy” Goldston – drums and vocals.

Trumpeteer Papa Celestin is from the first generation of New Orleans jazz musicians who recorded in the 1920s and made an impressive comeback in the early 1950s with this incredibly spirited band with Alphonse Picou on clarinet. In the early 1950s they were broadcasting coast to coast over the ABC network. These are some of the best surviving selections from those weekly broadcasts.

1. Sheik Of Araby
2. Eh La Bas
3. Lil’ Liza Jane
4. Just A Closer Walk With Thee
5. Bill Bailey
6. Mama Don’t Allow
7. Jazz It Blues
8. It Don’t Mean A Thing
9. Panama
10. San
11. Sister Kate
12. Dippermouth Blues
13. Tiger Rag
14. Maryland My Maryland
15. Milenburg Joys
16. War Cloud
17. W00dchopper’s Ball
18. High Society
19. Eh La Bas (2)
20. Fidgety Feet
21. Ballin’ The Jack
22. Oh Did’t He Ramble
23. When The Saints Go Marching In

REVIEW

“Here’s about as much energy and drive as you will experience in traditional jazz. Celestin and band were much like a shouting encouraging calling out congregation. Most of these 23 delightful romps have a live feel from radio broadcasts in 1950 and 1951. The pulse is so infectious from the opening ‘Sheik of Araby’ with the great piano break by Octave Crosby to ‘Eh La Bas’ with the booming bass of Richard Alexis behind the front line of Papa-Trumpet Bill Mathews trombone and Alphonse Picou-clarinet . . . A must buy for lovers of traditional.”

(Chris Lunn — Victory Review)