The band you will see and hear below is one of my favorites: they create a floating lyricism and melodic inventiveness on every song, whether a pretty ballad or a hot tune. There is also a wonderful swinging lightness — could it be the New Orleans / California hybridization: imagine a shrimp po-boy that comes with a side of massaged organic kale, perhaps. They might also evoke the magical 1938 jam session when the Basie and Bob Crosby players got together at the Howard Theatre after the show. However I might whimsically analyze it, I treasure their music.
Two days ago, I posted some videos of this band from the 2014 San Diego Jazz Fest here, and the music pleased me so that I decided to repeat the process with a San Diego session performed one day later. The players are Tim Laughlin, clarinet; Connie Jones, cornet; Doug Finke, trombone; Chris Dawson, piano; Katie Cavera, guitar; Marty Eggers, string bass; Hal Smith, drums.
MUST BE RIGHT, CAN’T BE WRONG (a pretty Jabbo Smith composition):
ORIGINAL DIXIELAND ONE-STEP (or ODJB ONE-STEP):
Tim’s own MAGNOLIA DANCE:
SWING THAT MUSIC, for and by Louis — with a rocking solo chorus from Hal:
More treasures exist. But the real treasure is that this band does.
May your happiness increase!
