D. R. Schryer | Poquoson, VA United States | 09/29/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen are a British group and they are very good. They've been playing dixieland music (called "trad" in Britain) for more than 25 years, so they've got a lot of experience with this music despite their foreign roots. Their biggest hit is "Midnight in Moscow" which was a hit in the U.S. back in the 1970s, but most of their other pieces are quite good too. Personally, I prefer this British group to most American groups -- including groups based in New Orleans -- because they play very well together and do more ensemble playing and play shorter solos than is typical in the U.S. Frankly, I generally find the extended solos typically found in New Orleans dixieland boring after a while. If you like good ensemble dixieland with well-played -- but short -- solos give this CD a try."