Jazz historian, broadcaster, bassist and bandleader Shipton formed his New Orleans Friends back in 2019 to celebrate the music of the legendary New Orleans clarinettist George Lewis.
Lewis had, during his lifetime, probably influenced more traditional musicians and fans in Europe and the UK than he did in America, outside of New Orleans that is. I recall him playing to a packed City Hall in Newcastle and he was certainly a major part of Ken Colyer's D.N.A. as well as that of Big Pete Deuchar and the recently deceased Brian Carrick .
The presenter of Radio 3's Jazz Record Requests first met up with Sancton in 1972 when both were students at Oxford where they formed their first band, as students did back then and indeed still do, albeit in a stylistically different manner. Richards was also in that band although not a student at that particular seat of learning - his stomping ground was Surrey University as well as having actually studied drums in New Orleans itself under the guidance of no less a master than Zutty Singleton!
This concert was the first time that all three of them had played together in 52 years!
Cornetist Gresty, a long-term member of Monty Sunshine's band, led the line as Sancton, who grew up in New Orleans, weaved intricate, liquid-toned clarinet patterns around it. Jelly Roll stylist Litton and Scottish banjo player Picton slotted in comfortably with Shipton's authentic sounding bass making for a band well-steeped in the Crescent City's musical tradition.
Six of the seven tracks are from Lewis' Jazz at Vespers concert and a churchy/gospel/Sunday morning feeling pervades until Kid Thomas Valentine's Algiers Strut takes the band from the Mission Hall to the Dance Hall on the opposite bank of the Mississippi.
Recorded live on May 11, 2024 at Oxford's Church of St. Giles The Oxford Concert is a must for traditional aficionados to check out. Lance
Precious Lord; Streets of the City; Just a Closer Walk; The Old Rugged Cross; Over the Waves; Jerusalem Blues; Algiers Strut
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