Barney Bigard

BARNEY BIGARD (cl), ART HODES (p) RAIL WILSON (b), BARRETT DEEMS (d), on tracks (1,4,6,9,11,13) add NAP TROTTIER (tp) and GEORGE BRUNIS (d).

Chicago, January 28 & 30, 1968

3 ***PENGUIN GUIDE

Tracks: 1. Bucket’s Got A Hole In It, 2. Sweet Lorraine, 3. Hesitating Blues, 4. Tin Roof Blues, 5. Lover Come Back To Me, 6. Sensation Rag, 7. Makin’ Whoopee, 8. Three Little Words, 9. Bye And Bye, 10. Nitty Gritty*, 11. Tin Roof Blues (Alternate)*,12. C Jam Blues* 13. Bye And Bye (Alternate)* (*) Previously Unissued


This is one of clarinetist Barney Bigard's best recordings of his later period. On four of the eight selections, he is well-featured on swing standards with a quartet who also includes the great pianist Art Hodes. The other four tracks are more in the Dixieland vein, with trumpeter Nappy Trottier and veteran trombonist George Brunis making the band a sextet. Throughout Bigard (whose tone was instantly recognizable) is the main star and in splendid form. ~ Scott Yanow