[Dixielandjazz] Sop Sax George Probert and Canal St. Blues

[Bill Gunter]

Hi All,

Art Wood writes (regarding Probert's Soprano Sax):

>Hi: I invite anyone who has an aversion to the Sop Sax to listen to George
>Probert's version of Canal St Blues on track 4 of "Firehouse Five +2" 
>Dixieland
>Favorites.
>
>His solo starts out with a pianissimo plaintive cry and tells a sad
>story...no fish-horn blats here. Listen and become a convert.

As a matter of fact, at the jazz festival in Chilliwack, B.C. last month, 
Probert and his sax played that very same song (Canal St. Blues) with us 
(Cell Block 7). It was the second time he has done so. The first time was at 
the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee a couple of years ago.

It was a "musical moment" for me which I'll remember for a long time.

In Chilliwack there was a member of the audience who came up to the band 
stand while I was introducing George and talking about his recording on the 
old Firehouse Five + 2 LP and he had that very same LP in his hand. He had 
brought it along knowing Probert was going to be with us and he wanted to 
get it autographed.

I pointed it out to George in the course of my introduction and George 
yelled out "Well, hell - why don't we just play the record!"  We had a good 
laugh and then we proceded to play Canal Street which once again brought 
George and the band a standing "O" -

It was great fun!

Cheers,

Bill Gunter
jazzboard at hotmail.com