Sunday, January 27, 2008

The Basin Street Six - Way Down South In New Orleans - Mercury Records

The Basin Street Six
Way Down South In New Orleans
featuring Pete Fountain



1952 Mercury Records EP-1-3116 Mono 7" EP

Side A:
1. Hindustan
2. Melancholy Rhapsody

Side B:
1. If I Could Be With You
2. Farewell Blues


Liner Notes:

Personnel:
George Girard (trumpet,vocals)
Joe Rotis (trombone)
Pete Fountain (clarinet)
Roy Zimmerman (piano)
Bunny Franks (bass)
Charlie Duke (drums)

Recording Dates New Orleans August and November 1950, Chicago September 19, 1951 Record released March 1952

In this Extended Playing album Mercury presents the newest sensations in the jazz field, the Basin Street Six, in a medley of torrid tunes which have been rocking Chicago for the past two years. Whether or not you are a devotee of the Dixieland type of jazz, you will enjoy the amazing virtuosity of the various members of the Basin Street Six and their uninhibited yet sound musicianship.

The Basin Street Six is made up of 21 year old George Gerard, whom many have already compared to the immortal Bix Beiderbecke, on trumpet, Pete Fountain on clarinet, Joe Rotis on trombone, Ray Zimmerman on piano, Charlie Duke on drums and Bunny Frank on bass. Together they came up from New Orleans to Chicago, an unheralded group, filled with dreams of success and boundless energy and ambition.

The dreams were not long in being fulfilled. Their very first appearance in one of Chicago's jazz niteries created a furor of enthusiasm unseen since the glorious days of the New Orleans Rhythm Kings, still considered tops among jazz groups. The Basin Street Six has since amassed a fanatical and loyal following at such noted Chicago jazz emporiums as Jazz, Ltd., and the Blue Note. They have been responsible for the renaissance of Dixieland, the jazz form which, through its limitless freedom of expression. has given rise to all the great jazz musicians of memory.

The selections offered in this album are pure gems from the rapidly expanding repertoire of the Basin Street Six. The basic melodies of several of these, such as "Hindustan" and "If I Could Be With You," are doubtless familiar to you, but the variations on them, skillfully exploited by the individual instruments of the Basin Street Six, offer you a delightful and unique musical experience.

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