Search - Barry Martyn's Orchestra :: Everybody's Talkin' 'Bout the Sam Morgan Band & The A.J. Piron Band

A real treasure

John C. Graham | toronto, ontario Canada | 09/27/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Barry Martyn was responsible for bringing a number of New Orleans musicians,who were still musically active, to England in the mid sixties. He would schedule touring and accomodation for the visitors and the exposure to the British audience must have been joyous for all.

These recordings and others from this period are remarkable in many ways. The older Americans sound rejuvinated playing the music of their younger days and the Brits are playing as if they were born to it. It's clearly an excellent mix. The music just flows in an extremely relaxed way. There are many stand-out solos from Capt. John Handy, Cuff Billet, Kid Sheik Cola, Frank Brooker, Louis Nelson, Bill Greenlow, and Richard Simmons. Brian Turnock, as usual, is excellent on the bass and Barry Martyn really is one of the great New Orleans style drummers. He's also a tireless champion for the music. He writes, produces, tours, lectures, and plays old tyme New Orleans music. He's in charge of the American Music catalogue, one of George Buck's labels, and THE label that issues historically important music by the likes of George Lewis, Bunk Johnson, and Kid Thomas Valentine.

There are nine tunes from the Morgan band and eight tunes from the Piron band. It's all beautifully recorded and you get well over an hour's worth of music. It really is a superb release that will continue to give you much enjoyment through the years to come."