The Gully Low Jazz Band
, a group that was active in the 1980s, was a swing/Dixieland band led by tuba player
David Ostwald
, who ironically was the least-known member of the ensemble. His sidemen on this CD reissue are
Dan Barrett
(normally a trombonist but heard here exclusively on cornet), trombonist
Joel Helleny
, clarinetist
Clarence Hutchenrider
(81 at the time and a veteran of
the Casa Loma Orchestra
),
Frank Vignola
on banjo and guitar, and drummer
Fred Stoll
. The ensemble runs through ten mostly familiar veteran standards with
"Borneo"
and
Stuff Smith
's
"It's Wonderful"
being perhaps the least known. The ensembles are uncluttered and swinging while the solos are at the level one would expect. Highlights include
"Oh Baby,"
"Struttin' with Some Barbecue,"
"Jubilee"
"The Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me."
Easily recommended to Dixieland collectors and to those who may not realize
Barrett
's great talent as a cornetist. ~ Scott Yanow