The death of longtime member Malcolm Willoughby resulted in
the Temperance Seven adding someone who would become their strongest soloist, baritonist Geoffrey Simkins. This is easily the best of their first three Upbeat CDs, with the English music-hall comedy and corny vocals de-emphasized (but not completely absent) in favor of vintage jazz. Trumpeter John Tucker, trombonist Patrick Rixon (another new member), and Wee Will McHastie (on clarinet and alto) along with Simkins make for a solid frontline, backed by banjoist Michael Deighan, drummer Graham Collicott and the group's leader Christopher Buckley on sousaphone. Even with a couple duds (mostly the original material), there are enough high points to justify the acquisition of this disc by trad jazz fans, most notably Chick Webb's "Dog Bottom," "From Monday On," "Everybody Loves My Baby" and "There Ain't No Sweet Man Worth the Salt of My Tears." ~ Scott Yanow