Wabash Blues
Lady Be Good
Tishomingo Blues
One Sweet Letter From You
When You’re Smiling
Texas Moaner Blues
Minor Chant
My Bucket’s Got A Hole In It
Good Time Swing
Little Brown Jug
Yellow Dog Blues
You Always Hurt The One You Love
Mood Indigo
Avalon
After You’ve Gone
St. James Infirmary Blues
We’ll Understand It Better Bye And Bye
Winter Wonderland
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
This takes us right back to the archaeological
sub-stratum of Terry Lightfoot’s Jazzmen. Their first recordings were
made in 1956 and are here; the first one was actually Wabash Blues
and for once Lake’s éminence grise Paul Adams
sells his band a bit short. Unlike Adams I think Lightfoot’s solo here
really is an indicator of his stature - one that is cemented by his
George Lewis-plus-rhythm section approach to Lady Be Good which
was recorded on the same day. I’ve always liked the band performance
of Tishomingo Blues – they get a big, fat ensemble sound and
a rock steady beat that still works its little spell.
When You’re Smiling was recorded
later in the year and again they build up a head of steam. Colin Smith
artfully pursues some strong lower register work on Texas Moaner
Blues. As for Lightfoot himself the dual influences were, as on
Wabash Blues the inescapable figure of George Lewis, and Sidney
Bechet. The latter’s influence is pervasive in what is in effect a bravura
tribute on Minor Chant. When Sonny Morris joined the band his
was a more archaic sounding lead – more a Mutt Carey sound – than the
sleeker Armstrong saturated Colin Smith. On Good Time Swing Morris
slips in an Isle of Capri quotation. Little Brown Jug was
arranged by Lightfoot with an ear open, it would seem, to Humphrey Lyttelton’s
earlier blending of Jazz and Caribbean elements.
In fact the band’s corporate sound changed
slightly at this point – and You Always Hurt The One You Love
sounds closer to the Chris Barber corporate sonority than to the earlier
rather rougher sound of the Lightfoot band in the previous year. Completing
the front line was John Bennett who takes a strong trombone solo on
Avalon. Rather unusually we hear the verse in full on St.
James Infirmary Blues where a Red Allen-Kid Ory ethos is evoked.
There is a spiritual, neatly played, and two novelty Christmas tunes
with Ginger Baker at the drums which are very much of their time and
place.
The overall impression however is of a thoroughly
well drilled band with mainly corporate strengths. Smith’s was a fiery
articulate and technically splendid lead, and Lightfoot wove decoratively
around that lead with New Orleanian fluidity.
Jonathan Woolf
CD Reviews
LAKE
LACD 264 [74:31]
