[Dixielandjazz] Yarra Yarra Band

[pat ladd]

Hi Bill,
spent the weekend at a small town on the north coast of Devon. Looking 
around the local market I found  a stall selling books etc., I bought a book 
on The Big Bands and the guy in charge told me that he had a few jazz CD`s.
To my surprise the first one in the stack proved to be a 2CD issue of the 
Don Ewell OZ tour of 1975 with the Yarra Yarra Band at the Nicholas Hall and 
the second was Frank Johnsons Fabulous Dixielanders `Jazz from Down under 
1952-1956.`
I have played them through and there is some good stuff, unfortunately let 
down by pretty indifferent recording, but then it was 1950.
Graeme Bell, and Bob Barnard are with Frisco Joe`s Jazz Band apparently a 
separate band with Frank Johnson.
I thought the drummer spoiled some numbers by being too`busy`, particularly 
playing as a trio with Ewell and clarinet on Rose Room.
Rose Room is a number which cries out for some tasteful brushwork and there 
is this guy laying about him with sticks particularly on the blocks when 
Ewell is trying to do take his solo.Poor.

Interesting couple of pickups to be found in the heart of the English 
countryside though. I wonder how they got there. Some collector had picked 
them up I suppose and now they were being got rid of, perhaps by his family. 
Who knows?.

Cheers to you both

Pat 



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