This is the second album of a set of private sessions which were recorded by amateur recording technicians. They represent truly special happenings in jazz. The first eight tracks are from the last known recording of the seminal clarinet player Jimmie Noone working with his own group. Since this was a privately made recording, the noise of the crowd at Yes Yes Club, where Noone was playing, is heard at higher levels than it would otherwise have been on a professional taping, adding to the authenticity of the session while not hindering appreciation of his stellar performance. Although influencing
Benny Goodman, Noone's command of the three registers of the clarinet, his expressive breaks, and use of blue notes inspired many of his contemporaries, including Joe Marsala and clarinetists to come, such as
Eric Dolphy. The next session is from a 1950s TV show which featured another jazz pioneer, Henry "Red" Allen, who headed up a veritable who's who of traditional jazz. This was a jam session-like presentation, with each cracker jack instrumentalist getting a chance to solo. The "Jazz Session Medley" is more than seven minutes of hot traditional jazz, which doesn't get much better than what's heard here. One highlight is Jack Teagarden's vocalizing of "After You've Gone." It's the last set that catches the eye. Papa Celestin's band, without the trumpeter, plays for a white wedding in New Orleans in 1957. And, like most weddings, the emphasis was on having fun rather than to making jazz statement. Not that it was done badly, but making a defining statement on traditional jazz was not the main objective that evening. Kudos to the Jazz Crusade label for making these rare jazz performances available and with good sound.