Although trombonist
Kid Ory's classic Good Time Jazz recordings of 1953-56 have been reissued many times, his nine Verve LPs of 1957-61 have yet to appear on CD. This album, his first for Verve, features
Ory leading a group also including trumpeter
Marty Marsala, clarinetist
Darnell Howard, pianist
Cedric Haywood, rhythm guitarist
Frank Haggerty, bassist
Charles Oden and drummer
Earl Watkins. Although not as strong as his previous band with trumpeter
Alvin Alcorn,
Ory in 1957 still led one of the finest New Orleans jazz groups around, featuring solid soloists and a spirited ensemble sound. The set, one of his best for Verve, has among its highlights "Song of the Wanderer," "Mahogany Hall Stomp," "Sheik of Araby" and "Tiger Rag."