In 2003 Bix Beiderbecke enthusiast Doug LaPasta assembled an all star line-up to play and record the music of cornetist and icon of the golden age of jazz, Leon Bismark 'Bix' Beiderbecke. The year - 2003 - marked the centenary of the birth of Bix and the recording, from all of twenty years ago, was released on one disc. Now, two decades on, Turtle Bay Records present an expanded package extending across two discs which includes some previously unreleased material.
The best part of ninety minutes' playing time, Celebrating Bix! is truly a celebration of the music of Bix Beiderbecke. The musicians' loving recreation and twenty first century interpretation of Bix's music radiates from each and every one of the album's twenty two tracks. Peter Ecklund's arrangements and scoring of Bix's solos must have been a labour of love and the all star ensemble, including the three cornetists - Jon-Erik Kellso, Randy Reinhart and Randy Sandke - no doubt marvelled at Ecklund's craft. The rhythm section, variously pianist Mark Shane, guitarists Howard Alden and Matt Munisteri, bassist Greg Cohen, bassist and bass saxophonist Vince Giordano and drummer Joe Ascione, A-listers all, make this two-disc recording a swinging affair.
Doug LaPasta and Peter Ecklund died in 2020 and it was down to Dan Levinson to take the reins, thus ensuring this new release would see the light of day. Levinson's essay in the accompanying booklet Still Celebrating, Twenty Years On does just that - celebrating Bix and recalling the session all of twenty years ago. A detailed discography guides the listener from track to track, noting cornet solos, cornet leads, the three C-melody saxophones of Levinson, Scott Robinson and Pete Martinez, China Boy is broken down into who plays which 4 bars and when. Yes, Celebrating Bix! is an amazing homage to the man, Bix Beiderbecke. The BSH reader familiar with Mike Durham's International Class Jazz Party on North Tyneside, England (Nov. 3 -5 this year!) will want to acquire a copy of this album. Highly recommended.
* On San Scott Robinson plays the 'clariNOT', that's clarinet sans mouthpiece! Russell
Collective personnel: Jon-Erik Kellso, Randy Reinhart, Randy Sandke (cornet); Dan Barrett (trombone, cornet); Harvey Tibbs (trombone); Dan Levinson (clarinet, alto sax, C-melody sax); Pete Martinez (clarinet, C-melody sax); Scott Robinson (clarinet, tenor, C-melody sax, clariNOT*); Jack Stuckey (clarinet, alto sax); Dick Hyman (piano - Clementine only); Mark Shane (piano); Howard Alden, Matt Munisteri (guitar); Greg Cohen (bass); Vince Giordano (bass, bass sax); Joe Ascione (drums); James Langton, Barbara Rosene (vocals); The Manhattan Rhythm Kings: Marc Kessler, Brian Nalepka, Hal Shane (vocals); Peter Ecklund (arrangements, scoring of Bix's cornet solos); Dan Levinson (arrangements); The Bix Centennial All Stars (arrangements - China Boy & Borneo); Pete Martinez & The Manhattan Rhythm Kings (vocal arrangement - San)
CD 1: At the Jazz Band Ball; Proud (of a Baby Like You); Deep Harlem; Riverboat Shuffle; Davenport Blues; The Jazz Me Blues; Blue River; I Need Some Pettin'; I'm Coming Virginia; Lonely Melody; Clementine (from New Orleans)
CD 2: Trumbology; From Monday On; Singin' the Blues (Till My Daddy Comes Home); There'll Come a Time (Wait and See); China Boy; Just an Hour of Love; Borneo; Clarinet Marmalade; Way Down Yonder in New Orleans; San; Deep Down South
The Bix Centennial All Stars - Celebrating Bix! is available from September 1st on Turtle Bay Records (cat. no. TBR-22-005-CD) as a double album on CD and vinyl.
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