Description
Release Date: 1997
Label: GHB Records
Track List
1.SWEET GEORGIA BROWN
2.LITTLE COQUETTE, YOU DON’T LOVE ME
3.AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’
4.LORENZO’S BLUES
5.OH! BABY
6.IT’S ONLY A PAPER MOON
7.ROSE ROOM
8.MY BUDDY
9.HOW COME YOU DO ME?
10.MR. SANDMAN
11.ON TREASURE ISLAND
Personnel
Tracks 1-8
- Alton Purnell – piano, vocals
- John Defferary – clarinet
- Brian Turnock – string bass
- Barry Martyn – drums
Tracks 9-12
- Alton Purnell – piano, vocals
- John Defferary – clarinet
- Yoshio Toyama – trumpet
- Keiko Toyama – banjo
- Barry Martyn – drums
Review
Put out for the first time on this 1997 CD, the two happy dates on the release both match veteran pianist Alton Purnell (who takes occasional vocals) with British clarinetist John Defferary (they’re sometimes joined by bassist Brian Turnock and drummer Barry Martyn). The first eight numbers are a blues and a variety of swing and traditional standards including “Sweet Georgia Brown,” “It’s Only a Paper Moon” and “Rose Room.” The final four selections (which include a surprisingly effective rendition of “Mr. Sandman” and “On Treasure Island”) team up Purnell, Defferary and Martyn with Japanese trumpeter Yoshio Toyama and banjoist Keiko Toyaman but no bass. In both cases the combination works. Although Purnell (best-known for his long association with George Lewis) gets top billing, the main star is the swing-based clarinetist John Defferary, who makes one wonder why he is not better-known.
