[Dixielandjazz] Don Lambert

[Anton Crouch]

Hello Arn and listmates

The four Lambert 1941 piano solos have always been rare and, as far as I
can tell, only one side ("Anitra's dance") is available on CD - Fremeaux
11. Bill Haesler may have more info, and better news, on this.

The first LP re-issue was the French double LP set "Harlem stride
pianists", RCA 741 118/119, and it is likely that other issues have used
the French RCA set as the source.

The quality of the re-issues is not good but I don't think it's a case of
poor recording - rather a case of the extant 78s (which, as Johnny Simmen
says in the sleeve-note to the Frence RCA set, are "as rare as hen-teeth")
being in only fair condition.

Regardless of sound quality, the performances are simply magnificent. I
know of nothing like them in the recorded history of jazz.

"Swinging the classics" was an interesting phenomenon of the late 30s-early
40s and a decent introduction to it can be found on ASV CD 5339. No Don
Lambert, but you can hear Connie Boswell singing Tchaikovsky, Grapelli &
Reinhardt playing Bach, the famous Tommy Dorsey "Song of India", and a
splendid "Anitra's dance" from John Kirby.

All the best
Anton