Search - Ken Colyer :: Ken Colyer's Jazzmen on Tour

A Good Night

John C. Graham | toronto, ontario Canada | 06/20/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ken Colyer discs are plentiful enough, although most are on smaller European labels. Quite a few are worth searching for if you like New Orleans jazz played with a British sensibility and especially if you've fallen under the spell of Ken's distinctly warm and unwavering cornet playing. During his lifetime, Ken had an almost rabid group of fans and followers and even today his discs are cherished by collectors worldwide. This disc is a pretty good example of why!



It was Ken's band and he picked all the players. He was looking for a particular sound, a sound that was heard in taverns and road houses throughout New Orleans and neighbouring Algiers throughout the 50's. The George Lewis, Kid Thomas, and Kid Ory bands were the primary models for Ken. He especially admired Mutt Carey's trumpet with Ory and you will hear some of that in his playing. Mostly, it was Ken's tone, a tone that was immediately identifiable, a tone that George Lewis greatly admired, and a tone that set him apart from the pack. Once you hear it, you may begin to understand why he had so many die-hard fans.



The sound on this disc is really good for something that wasn't professionally recorded. The performance is lively and upbeat. The music flows well from one piece to the next. It was probably a good night for the band, a band that, incidently, included a very young Sammy Rimmington on clarinet.



I have quite a stack of Ken Colyer discs at home, from his earliest performances to his later ones, from the Crane River band to his guest spots on younger European New Orleans style bands. This disc is from one of the great periods, with a great band and lots of energy. It's a disc I've returned to often since its release some ten years or so ago. Very enjoyable.

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