1. My Baby
2. Low Down Dirty Shame Blues
3. Willie the Weeper
4. Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me
5. Weary Blues
6. Hear Me Talkin’
7. Come on Coot, Do That Thing
8. Drop That Sack
9. Gully Low Blues
10. Sweet Mumtaz
11. Lonesome Blues
12. My Baby
13. Georgia Bobo
14. Beer Garden Blues
Roland Pilz – Cornet, vocals
Claus Jürgen Möller – Clarinet
Ullo Bela – Trombone
Cristoph Ditting – Alto sax, tenor sax
Andreas Clement – Piano
Owe Hansen – Banjo
Dietrich Kleine-Horst – Tuba
Gunther Andernach – Washboard, percussion
The
Jazz-o-Maniacs was originally the name of
an American band which was active in St Louis
and made several recordings under the leadership
of Charlie Creath in the 1920s. The more modern
version is a German group which has been playing
in the style of Louis Armstrong and King Oliver
for 40 years. This DVD is a film of two appearances
they made on a visit to the United States
in March 2005 for the annual Bixfest, a tribute
to Bix Beiderbecke held in Racine, Wisconsin.
But first they went to Chicago to play at
a hardware store which was the site of the
Sunset Café, where Louis Armstrong
and where the bands of Earl Hines, Fletcher
Henderson and Count Basie performed when it
became the second home of the Grand Terrace
ballroom. Even later, Sun Ra played there,
so it has seen all kinds of jazz. The DVD
includes interviews which fill out this interesting
history.
The
first four tracks were filmed at Meyers Ace
Hardware Store in Chicago, where the band
started by playing two numbers in the store’s
office, the original site of the Sunset Café.
It is fascinating to see the original murals
still visible on the wall. Several guests
join in for Willie the Weeper and Blues
My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me. The band’s
music is very much in revivalist style, with
much of the repertoire taken from tunes played
by Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five and Hot Seven.
The
Jazz O’Maniacs capture the feel of those early
recordings, with leader Roland Pilz often
sounding a lot like Louis. It has to be said
that the musicians are not technically faultless,
although this seems to be acceptable in many
"trad" bands which somehow excuse
technical flaws in the name of historical
authenticity (even though classical musicians
playing "authentic" instruments
are seldom allowed this licence). But they
all play with verve and enthusiasm. Percussionist
Gunther Andernach deserves special mention
for his expertise on the washboard. He contributes
a remarkably impressive solo to Weary Blues
and generally does all that is required of
a drummer, using just washboard, woodblocks,
cowbells and a solitary cymbal.
The
recordings in Racine take place in a more
conventional venue, with the audience seated
at tables and applauding appreciatively. This
allows more concentration on the music, although
it also makes one aware of the minor shortcomings.
At times the rhythm seems to limp along, with
the tuba and banjo creating a rigidz two-beat
feel. But the spirit is there: the Jazz O’Maniacs
underline the "tradition" in traditional
jazz. If you close your eyes, you can imagine
yourself back in the Chicago of the twenties,
without worrying about the gangster culture
of the time.
Tony Augarde
CD Reviews
Delmark
1244
