Jimmy McPartland jumped at the chance to record with
Bud Freeman for this 1975 session featuring them as the guest soloists with drummer Ted Easton's Jazzband. Recorded in Holland, the two old pals from the Austin High School Gang in Chicago had a ball and delved into old chestnuts from the first half of the century, having lost none of their abilities on their respective instruments.
McPartland's loping "Third Street Blues" features the tenor saxophonist and cornetist in turn, offering rich, understated solos.
Freeman's "That D-Minor Thing" sounds like classic jazz, but this riff blues actually dates from 1969; soprano saxophonist Fritz Kaatee precedes the composer with an adventurous solo. In addition to cornet,
McPartland adds friendly vocals to several numbers, with "St. James Infirmary Blues" especially being a standout track. This CD also compiles tracks from a second LP first issued by Easton on his Riff label, though
McPartland is not present on this date. Sadly, these two giants of jazz both died in 1991, just two days apart. ~ Ken Dryden