George Lewis' Ragtime Jazz Band, Municipal Auditorium, Congo Square

Clarinetist George Lewis appeared at a pair of New Orleans jazz club concerts held almost exactly a year apart. Listeners most familiar with him using Kid Howard on trumpet may find these versions of his groups quite interesting. Percy Humphrey is on trumpet on both occasions, while his occasional sub, Albert Walters, gives the band a completely different sound on the 1952 date by playing second trumpet; their renditions of "Climax Rag" and "Bugle Call Rag" are quite exciting and happily crowded. Otherwise, Lewis is mostly heard playing with his usual players (trombonist Jim Robinson, pianist Alton Purnell, banjoist Lawrence Marrero, bassist Alcide Pavageau and drummer Joe Watkins) other than on the first date where Louis Barbarin fills in for an absent Watkins. The recording quality of this reissue (most of the music came out years earlier on a Heritage LP) is decent, and other highlights of the dates include "Panama Rag," "Heebie Jeebies" and "Down in Honky Tonk Town." "Bugle Boy March" was previously unreleased. Although not essential, this is a CD that George Lewis fans will want.