[Dixielandjazz] Ken Colyer

[Marek Boym]

To the best of my knowledge, Bunk did not like the band forced on him by
Bill Russell.  I've heard Bunk in other settings, and liked him much
better.  The best of Bunk, to me, is on the GHB "Spicy Advice" album; I
find those with George Lewis moderately good at best (the GHB people claim
that all the shellack and the subsequent vinyl issues were pressed at a
wrong speed, something rectified on it's American Music CDs), wheras the
same band with Kid Howard in place of Bunk sound wonderful.
As to the specific question, assuming you mean the famous Bunk band (with
Lewis, Robinson, etc.), I definitely prefer the Mutt Carey's New Yorkers.
Also the recordings Bunk made with the Yerba Buena.  I could quote a few
others.
You can't teach an old dog new tricks, and this dog is quite old.  I still
remember the thrill of buying my first Bunk, and the ensuing disappointment
(it was with Albert Warner rather than Jim Robinson on the trombone).  It
did not compare with the George Lewis 10" on Esquire, featuring "Jerusalem
Blues" I bought sleeveless at Dobell's back in 1964).  I did not despair,
and bought one with Jim Robinson when I firs was one, and that one was
equally disappointing, unlike the GEorge Lewis' Blue Notes or "Kid Howard
at San Jacinto" on GHB.  I was only later that I was exposed to the
"real" Bunk Johnson - with the band he put up in New York, the Yerba Buena,
and then - the "Spicy Advice" album.
By the way, I love Wingy Manone, even if "The Isle of Capri" is not my
favourite Manone record.
As to teh other specific question - I have not heard George Lewis with Ken
Colyer.
Cheers


On 6 April 2013 22:58, John Petters <jdpetters at btinternet.com> wrote:

> I'm very surprised, Marek. Are you saying you prefer British Trad to New
> Orleans Jazz? Do you regard the Bunk band as free wheeling - or the Mutt
> Carey New Yorkers?
>
> Have you heard the live version of 'Weary Blues' with George Lewis and
> the Colyer band?
>
> Not a perfect recording - the tempo accelerates drastically in the first
> chorus (but the Geo Lewis Band often did the same). To my ears this
> contains all the elements required in a jazz band. heat, excitement,
> inner rhythms, to which Ken always referred. I don't hear any of these
> in 'Capris'. Indeed the recording they based it on was Manone's - and
> that did have all those elements.
>
> IMO only bands achieved a real free-wheeling sound in the 50s - Ken's
> circa 1957 and the late 50s Bilk band with Ron McKay. In both cases the
> drummers were the key component.
>
> Cheers,
> John
>
> On 06/04/2013 20:46, Marek Boym wrote:
> > De gustibus non disputandum est, John.
> > To my ears, whatever Ken Colyer might have thought, the following bands
> > were not an improvement at all, and were not as free wheeling as that
> band.
> > But we've been through this before.  I don't think that I'll ever listen
> > with your ears - I am physically attached to mine!  And those have all
> > these years been telling  me that teh band with Barber whas much
> > superior to what followed.
> > Cheers
> >
> >
>
> --
> John Petters
> www.traditional-jazz.com
> Amateur Radio Station G3YPZ
>