Pye Nixa NJE 1013
Nixa Jazz Today Series
7” EP
Recorded 13/1/55 & 18/3/55
TRACKS
Side 1
(recorded 18/3/55)
Tuxedo Rag (Celestin)
Camp Meeting Blues (Oliver)
Side 2
(recorded 13/1/55)
Brownskin Mama (Blythe)
Blue Sunshine (Sunshine)
SLEEVE NOTES
The ancient station-waggon in which Jim Bray transports himself to his various musical engagements broke down in the wilds of Ealing. His five confreres in the Chris Barber Band, impatient to commence a recording session, decided that rather than wait indefinitely for Jim to get the wheels a-turning it might be a good idea to cut some sides with Chris Barber (an admirable doubler) taking over on a borrowed string bass. The result – Chris Barber Minus One – is two well contrasted titles which display inventive interplay between the cornet of Halcox and the clarinet of Sunshine.
“Blue Sunshine”, a thoughtful, moody piece, dreamed up on the spot, is an extended exercise in blues improvisation; “Brownskin Mama,” a lively stomp tune, was first recorded in 1928 on Gennett by composer Jimmy Blythe and his State Street Ramblers.
To compensate for short-weight on the Minus One sides it was agreed that two Plus One sides should be recorded at a future session. The additional member to the regular band was cornet player Ben Cohen – renewing an old association with Chris Barber.
“Tuxedo Rag” was an excellent choice for a two-cornet line-up – a real old-time New Orleans number with a syncopated marchy beat. The late Papa Celestin, New Orleans brassbander and trumpet king, wrote the tune and first recorded it with his original Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra in 1924. “Camp Meeting Blues”, from the King Oliver Creole Jazz Band repertoire, is, of course, the piece which Duke Ellington later “borrowed”, re-scored, and himself recorded under the title “Creole Love Call”.
PERSONNEL
(Side 1)
Chris Barber (trombone)
Monty Sunshine (clarinet)
Pat Halcox & Ben Cohen (cornets)
Lonnie Donegan (banjo)
Ron Bowden (drums)
(Side 2)
Monty Sunshine (clarinet)
Pat Halcox (cornet)
Lonnie Donegan (banjo)
Ron Bowden (drums)
Chris Barber (bass)
Sleeve:
Ian Bradbery (design)
Walter Hanlon (photography)
Recording:
Tig Roe and Bernard Marsden (balance)
Denis Preston (supervision)
Nixa Jazz Today 