Search - Boots & His Buddies :: Boots & His Buddies 1937 38

The later recordings of a hot territory band

Yves F. Smierciak | Chicago, Illinois United States | 03/06/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"While the first CD by this ensamble focused on the first three sessions by this enthusiatic ensamble, this CD focuses on the last three sessions. The first session equals the music from the first two sessions on the "1935-1937" CD, with 2 great trumpeters (Charles Anderson is great on both "The Sad" and the terrific "Blues Of Avalon", while both he and another split "Ain't Misbehavin'") and Baker Millian as strong as ever, the 1938 material (esp the April session) are of a much lower quality. Evidently there must have been more frequent personell changes, for the band has lost its drive (not to mention the horrible intonation on the April 1938 session, but listen to the piano,its totally out of tune) on the latter sessions (though the later session from 1938 has some tasty plunger trumpet and an acrid toned clarinet on "East Commerce Stomp"), even the recording quality is inferior to the 1935-6 material (partly Bluebird's fault,there were using what sounds to be a smaller room than before, however, owning several of the 78's I feel there was too much filtering on Classic's part on this CD's material as well). Be that as it may, the first 8 recordings are a pleasure to listen to, and the reading of "The Weep" (aka a killer diller uptempo version of the normally slow "Willow Weep For Me")is worth the price of admission alone."