Sunset Cafe Stomp

A band in existence for 40 years and dedicated to the music of Louis Armstrong, the German octet Jazz-O-Maniacs played a concert in Racine, WI, comprising 11 of the 12 tracks on this release It's clear from the opening number that these musicians are seasoned professionals, well rehearsed and dedicated to their craft. Influenced by Armstrong's Hot Five's and Seven's (eight of those tunes are included,) the group instrumentally expands a bit on the original concept adding tuba, banjo, clacking drums or washboard, loads up on call-and-response joy, and swings pretty consistently from start to finish. They've got that early New Orleans and Dixieland spirit -- no doubt -- no beer barrel polkas here. The band has chosen their material very carefully, the songs are what you might expect: the most popular and well-known pieces from Pops are on the shelf. You do get Satchmo's mischievous "Drop That Sack" and the hot "Gully Low Blues" featuring the vibrato-laden, vocal-like Johnny Dodds-style clarinet playing of Claus Jürgen Möller and that unmistakable "shake-that-thing/bucket's got a hole in it" rhythm. Lil Hardin Armstrong's songs are also represented by the cakewalkin' "Heah Me Talkin'" and the downhearted "Lonesome Blues." Fats Waller's fun "Georgia Bobo" combines the gritty Armstrong vocal style of cornetist/leader Roland Pilz with Dietrich Kleine-Horst's dour tuba. A most unexpected choice is the darker, dramatic King Oliver obscurity "Sweet Mumtaz." The finale "Willie the Weeper" is a jam session with two additional local players, recorded in Chicago at a venue Armstrong himself played in back in the day. For vintage early period jazz fans this is possibly a sleeper release, one you shouldn't snooze on, and is easily recommended. [Sunset Cafe Stomp is also available on DVD.] ~ Michael G. Nastos|