Customer Reviews

Jazz Funeral in New Orleans

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I have the original series of 10 inch George Lewis albums and have been afraid that if they were lost or destroyed this incredible music might be lost. The new CD is a marvelous achievment in both preservation of important classics and significant improvement in quality. George Lewis was undoubtedly one of the best clarinetist of all time. Anyone, be they Dixieland fan or not, need only hear him one time to be thoroughly hooked. His art in providing the soulful background in Burgundy Street provides an experience both mesmerizing and memorable. I highly recommend this CD and am confident that it will encourage you to learn and hear more about Dixieland and George Lewis.

This CD shows George Lewis and company at their best -- which is authentic New Orleans Jazz at its best!

The performances have a wide emotional range and an honesty that exceeds the players' virtuosity. Nobody could play this music like these guys!

Listening to this CD is the next best thing to being there in person.

This is one of the very best available recordings in this genre, based on information in both the Penguin Guide and All Music Guide to Jazz. Don't let the "Funeral" part of the title discourage you from purchasing: this is joyous, up-beat music, full of feeling. George Lewis is certainly a fine clarinetist, and is surrounded here by other top-notch musicians. Many of his recordings have been described as sub-par or inconsistent, but not this one, which is great throughout. A couple of minor caveats: for those of you who prefer instrumentals, note that each of these 8 tracks does includes vocals. And it's a short CD, only around 35 minutes. But quality certainly counts, and this 1953 recording is probably essential if you like authentic New Orleans jazz. I own two other George Lewis CDs which I can also recommend: THE BEVERLY CAVERN SESSIONS (also recorded in 1953) and ENDLESS THE TREK, ENDLESS THE SEARCH (1962). Both of these give you more music for your money and both include several instrumental-only tracks. The sound quality is good on all 3 of these, although this one (JAZZ FUNERAL) is probably the best sounding overall.

This awsome blend of New Orleans music with you favorite jazz makes this a must for any jazz fan