Cornetist
Bob Schulz leads his Frisco Jazz Band on a variety of tunes from the 1920s, mixing together familiar pieces with obscurities. Based in Berkeley, California, his band also includes trombonist Tom Bartlett, clarinetist
Kim Cusack, pianist Steve Pastorius, banjoist John Gill, Bill Caroll on tuba and drummer
Wayne Jones. The weak point of the set is that there are vocals from
Schulz, Gill or Bartlett on ten of the 21 selections, and as is all too usual with this type of band, the singing is not on the same level as the playing. Fortunately,
Schulz is a fine cornetist, both in his crisp solos and in his lead during ensembles; the level of musicianship is high, and the Frisco Jazz Band's versions of such tunes as "Once In a While," "Fidgety Feet,"
Scott Joplin's "The Easy Winners" and "Weary Blues," among others, are full of joy and swing. ~ Scott Yanow