Pete Fountain in New Orleans - Sears Records

Pete Fountain in New Orleans

1966 Sears Records SPS-412 Stereo / SP-412 Mono

Same release as 1966 Pickwick Records SPC-3024 Stereo / PC-3024 Mono

Side One
1. Jazz Me Blues
2. South Rampart St. Parade
3. Sensation Rag
4. Bugle Call Rag

Side Two
1. Sidewalks Of New York
2. Hindustan
3. Till We Meet Again
4. Shine

Liner Notes:

Pete Fountain is the licorice stick man. The licorice stick, as any child well knows, is long, thin and black and full of aroma and flavor. That description also happens to fit Pete's clarinet, the tastiest reed exported from Louisiana since the discovery of cane sugar.

Pete's earliest idol was Irving Fazola, one of the great dixieland artists who swarmed around New Orleans a few decades ago. Since the age of 10, when he began studying music, Pete Fountain earnestly set about developing the deep feeling and the velvet sounds which float out of the french horn. Pete learned his lessons well and matured into a superlative instrumentalist with a style that both swings and sings.

As a young man, Pete played in all the top spots in the New Orleans French Quarter. The turning point in his career came in 1957 when he traveled to Los Angeles for a concert date and was heard by Lawrence Welk, Jr., a devotee of dixieland music. Pete was persuaded to join Welk's entertainment troupe in which his clarinet emerged as one of the most popular features.

Pete's soul, however, stayed on Bourbon Street. After two years with Welk, Pete returned to Dixieland's native habitat, New Orleans, where he has remained ever since. In New Orleans, Pete is to the clarinet what AI Hirt is to the trumpet. Both have beards, both have their own musical combos and both have their own night clubs in town; and Pete, like Al and all the other great jazzmen who have made New Orleans the capital of dixieland, brings great joy and spirit to the vast chorus of American music.

HERMAN SCHOENFELD
Music Editor of Variety

Pete Fountain That's A Plenty - Sears Records

That's A Plenty

1967 Sears Records SPS-477 Stereo / SP-477 Mono

Side One
1. That's A Plenty
2. High Society
3. Margie
4. South Rampart Street Parade

Side Two
1. Jazz Me Blues
2. Up A Lazy River
3. I'm Going Home
4. Farewell Blues

Liner Notes:

Featuring: Pete Fountain, George Girard, Joe Rotis, Roy Zimmerman, Bunny Franks, Charlie Duke

DIXIELAND FROM NEW ORLEANS, THE CAPITOL CITY OF JAZZ! Naturally! That's where it began back at a time when today's old men were kids in short pants. That's where it first flowed out over the country just before World War I. And that's where most of the best Dixieland is still coming from.

This record combines the Dixieland of that earlier time with that of the present by its blend of personnel. Heading the front line is the phenomenal Pete Fountain, protege of that unique-styled New Orleans genius Irving Fazola. Pete also doubles on tenor sax that is competently grounded on the style of that New Orleans paragon, Eddie Miller. Fountain's technique and assurance and his personal musical ideas pay homage to sound tradition while adding a great deal that is new and his own.

Joining Pete on the front line is the late trumpeter and vocalist, George Girard. With faultless musician-ship, Girard's driving style reminds old timers of Paul Mares' commanding horn, while his flow of fresh ideas stamps his playing with an up-to-date trademark.

Completing the horn section is trombonist Joe Rotis with plenty of that timeless parade style known as tailgate.

In back of all this is a rhythm section from the place where rhythm was born! Bunny Frank's bass is pungent punctuation personified; Roy Zimmerman's piano is that good old, timeless, irreplaceable ragtime; and Charlie Duke's drumming is full of good-humor, punch and real honest-to-goodness zest.

It's no wonder that Dixieland, after its resurgence in the 1950's, has continued to hold a place in the hearts of the people. To a weary world, looking for meaning, we present music with melody and honest, unashamed feeling.

If you've got it, flaunt it!