Search - Sam Butera :: Hot New Orleans Nights

Pre-Prima Powerhouse Saxophone

05/05/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These recordings were made on the RCA Victor label by Sam in New Orleans with his band The Night Trainers. Though trombonist Jimmy Blount is present here (who can also be heard on many earlier Prima/Butera re-issues from '56 and '57), the cuts are from 1953-54; before his time with Louis Prima and the Witnesses. The album is almost all instrumental, and focuses on Sam's sultry, raunchy R&B sax style. His own composition, "Easy Rockin'" (which he later re-did with the Witnesses) sounds enticingly sleezy. To put it plainly: it is fun, wailing, down home New Orleans bar-room music. His sultry version of "I don't Want to set the World on Fire" is of special interest here, as well as his first vocal recordings including "Linda" (recorded for a young Linda McCartney) and "Giddy-ap Baby," an early sounding R&B number. If you like Sam, this is a good CD to have to see where his roots started in recording. If you want the fast-paced, driving sounds of Las Vegas, try "The Wildest Clan/Apache!" from Jasmine Records. However, if you want to take a trip "way down yonder to N'Awlins," this CD is the best ticket around today."