In 2008,
Jasmine
released the largest compilation ever devoted to the music of trumpeter and vocalist
Sharkey Bonano
. Its 58 tracks represent his complete
Kappa
and
Capitol
recordings, which were made in New Orleans between June 8, 1949 and November 2, 1953. With the exception of a few
Storyville
,
Circle
, and
Riverside
albums, these are most of
Bonano
's recordings from this period. They were preceded only by about a dozen titles dating from 1936.
, whose approach to jazz could be compared with that of
Wingy Manone
or young
Louis Prima
, was a boisterous and sometimes bawdy singer. It is
who grabs the microphone and cuts loose during the
"Famous Door Boogie."
His fellow musicians on the 1949 sessions include trombonist
Santo Pecora
of the
New Orleans Rhythm Kings
and clarinetist
Larry Shields
, a cardinal member of the
Original Dixieland Jazz Band
. This calls up parallels with recordings made during the '50s by trumpeter
Pee Wee Erwin
and a band driven by drummer
Tony Spargo
, also of the
ODJB
. The collective personnel on this mammoth stash of Truman-era Dixieland also includes trombonists
Charles Miller
Julian Laine
Jack Delaney
Jimmy Blount
; bassist and tuba man
Chink Martin
; clarinetists
Lester Bouchon
Leonard Bujie Centobie
(who recorded with
Art Hodes
for
Blue Note
); pianist
Armand Hug
, and drummer
Monk Hazel
who sometimes doubles on mellophone. The vocalist on
"Bill Bailey,"
"Salty Dog,"
"Darktown Strutters' Ball,"
"Lizzie's Blues"
is none other than the great
Lizzie Miles
, who made her first recordings in 1922 and was in the midst of a second comeback when she teamed up with
's band. The guy heard airing his tonsils on
"Dinah"
"How'm I Doin'"
has been identified as
Sam De Kemel
, a mysterious character who also blows into a bugle. ~ arwulf arwulf