[Dixielandjazz] Wild Bill Davison + Strings

[Steve barbone]

For those who might be interested, here is a December 1, 2000 review of the
Arbors re-issue. WBD with strings. As Tom Saunders said, WBD liked them and
IMO, they are absolutely wonderful. Caveat - the purist / literati on the
list may not hear it that way.

The CD may still be available at Arbors.

Cheers,
Steve

Wild Bill Davison: "Pretty Wild" and "With Strings Attached"
Wild Bill Davison | Columbia Records - Arbors Re-Issue
By Mike Neely

Style: Dixieland/New Orleans/Swing

Wild Bill Davison did not always front a go-for-broke Dixieland band playing
his cornet above a high-octane rhythm section. Arbors Records has reissued
two albums featuring Davison with strings. Pretty Wild and With Strings
Attached, originally recorded in 1956 and 1957, reveal a lyrical, reflective
Davison playing ballads and slow to medium tempo standards. This other side
of Wild Bill Davison, a very attractive one, adds dimension to his
reputation.

On Pretty Wild Davison plays with a jazz quartet and the Percy Faith
Strings. The second album, With Strings Attached, features Davison with a
session orchestra and a jazz sextet with a notable line-up that includes Bob
Wilber on clarinet and Barry Gailbraith on guitar.

Davison is in good form throughout the two sessions, obviously inspired by
the settings. Those who are familiar with Davison mainly through his famous
Commodore recordings may be a bit surprised by the lush, clear ballad tone
that Davison casually sustains. At times, he dips into a growly blues that
diverges from the sweet tone of the strings, but for the most part he plays
with a graceful assurance in synch with the arranger's ambitions.

The jazz groups are notable for some outstanding performances, especially on
the With Strings Attached session. Bob Wilber's solo work on "Now That
You?re Gone," and "Limehouse Blues" compliments Davison's equally fine
contributions. Trombonist Cutty Cutshall is also noteworthy for his concise,
spirited playing.

In general, the string arrangements are fairly unobtrusive and at times
succeed. Two of the more successful arrangements are "My Inspiration" and
"Mountain Low." In the latter, the exchanges between the jazz soloists and
the strings are engaged and inspired. The typical faults of jazz string
arrangements, too sweet playing or a superfluous string presence, emerge at
times in both sessions, but Davison's cornet thrives throughout so who's
complaining?

This is a long CD with 24 tracks. The focus is on Wild Bill Davison"s solos
and he consistently delivers. If you're fortunate enough to own a copy of
the Commodore recordings this reissue is a wonderful compliment to those
rough and tumble performances. Arbors Records is also donating the net
profits from the sale of this CD to the Wild Bill Davison Memorial
Association of Defiance, Ohio.

Track Listing: Mandy, Make Up Your Mind; Black Butterfly; If I Had You; Just
a Gigolo; Blue Again; When Your Lover Has Gone; Sugar; Sweet and Lovely;
Rockin' Chair; She's Funny That Way; I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With
You; Wild Man Blues; Love Is Here to Stay; Blue (and Broken Hearted);It's
The Talk of the Town; Mournin' Blues; Prelude to a Kiss; Sentimental
Journey; You Turned the Tables on Me; My Inspiration; Now That You're Gone;
Limehouse Blues; Moanin' Low; Serenade in Blue.

Personnel: On the first session - Percy Faith and His Strings; Gene
Schroeder, piano; Art Ryerson, guitar; Frank Carroll, bass; Bobby
Rosengarden, drums. On the second session - With Strings Attached Orchestra;
Cutty Cutshall, trombone; Bob Wilber, clarinet; Gene Schroeder, piano; Barry
Gailbraith, guitar; Jack Lesberg, bass; and Don Lamond, drums. Wild Bill
Davison plays cornet on all tracks.