Search - Bunk Johnson, Lu Watters :: Bunk & Lu

Bunk with help !

JACK WHITE | Montreal, Canada | 01/09/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a vintage Jazz fan for the last fifty years and I must admit that Lu Watters is one of my least favourite bands. I have always found his beat very heavy and plodding. It must be his reliance on the tuba. To be honest there are many superior revival bands.The reason that I am reviewing this disc is because of the Bunk recordings. Bunk was oner of the pioneer trumpeters and was rediscovered in 1940. To be honest his technique was really lacking and his constant mistakes exasperated Sydney Bechet when they played together. However, I have always liked his style of playing off the beat and catching up. On this disc he is featured with Lu Watter's sidemen notably Turk Murphy, Ellis Horn and Clancy Hayes. This was a great mix, some of the sides are inspired especially Careless Love with Bunk and Ellis Horn's clarinet. The two gospel sidesz When I Reach for the Sky and Nobody's fault but mine are two of the best I have heard. With the exception of Bunk's atrocious vocal on Down by the Riverside, the remaining sides especially Girls Go Crazy show great ensemble playing and are very musical. Apparently there were other sides cut but these have been lost, which is a pity.If you like Bunk then listen to his work with George Lewis and also a recent release, The Bunk Project with none other than Woody Allan on a very passable clarinet."

Bunk & Lu practicly started the Dixieland Revival...

roarin20sGuy | 09/20/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Excellent playing by Bunk Johnson(his absolute best), Lu Watters aint bad either, in fact these two masters practicly started the Dixieland revival(along with Muggsy Spannier) in the late 30's/early 40's. This CD is a must have for Dixieland lovers, and colelctors of Bunk Johnson."