[Dixielandjazz] Latter-day Pee Wee

[Jim Denham]

Now that both Pee Wee Russell's "modern" albums with Marshall Brown and 
the quartet are available on CD ("Ask Me Now!", on Impulse A-96, and 
"New Groove" on  Collectables COL-CD-6893), we have the opportunity to 
review this period of Pee Wee's career (ie: 1962).

I personally like this stuff (even the Coltrane and Ornette Coleman 
material), but I refuse to go along with those who claim this was Pee 
Wee's finest hour, and all else that had gone before was mere 
"dixieland"
  dross.

I also understand that Pee Wee himself soon tired of this band and of 
Marshall Brown's self-righteous strictures.

My personal view is that Pee Wee's happiest latter-day recording was 
"Swingin' with Pee Wee" (1958, presently available on Prestige 
PRCD-24213-2), with Buck Clayton and Tommy Flanagan, which found him 
free from the limitations of Condonesque "dixieland", but not yet a 
self-conscious "modernist".

Any one else agree?
-- 
Jim Denham