A centerpiece for the dedicated New Orleans collector, this begins with Lewis' "Climax Rag" session in 1943 and ranges through a variety of studio and concert performances ending 12 years later – definitely some of the clarinetist's best work (1943-1944, 1954-1955).
Reissue with the latest 2014 remastering. Comes with liner notes. Available as CD for the first time in the world. Overlooked solo work from John Lewis – a lesser-known, Japanese-only session that features the pianist in a relaxed trio setting! The mode here is as spacious as some of Lewis' more contemplative records – still very much wrapped up in that careful sense of tone and timing – but the overall feel is maybe more personal and spontaneous, as John takes the lead in the company of Connie Kay on drums and Michael Moore on bass. There's a nicely mature feel to the music – but mature in a way that gets past some of Lewis' too-serious modes of a decade or two previous – and titles include "Lela", "Sacha's March", "Visitor From Mars", "Natural Affection", and "Monday In Milan".
Paul Lewis performed all the Beethoven piano sonatas on tour in the USA and Europe between the 2005 and 2007 seasons, in parallel with his complete recording of the cycle for Harmonia Mundi. His interpretation of the Lizst sonata was distinguished by the prestigious Edison Award, while his recording of the complete Beethoven sonatas received two Gramophone Awards in 2008.
Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. This is the music that will be playing when you die and go to heaven. Excellent original style Dixieland, George's clarinet is heaven! I don't know if any record can do justice to the live experience of the original giants of jazz creating this stuff. But the George Lewis tracks on this record come pretty close! For this alone this CD is well worth buying.