1947-49

Buster Wilson is best known as the pianist with Kid Ory's band during the mid- to late 1940s, although he was also a part of the Los Angeles music scene in the 1920s. Shortly before his death in 1949 at the age of 51, he was captured on some private recordings that (with the exception of one piano solo) were released for the first time on this 1996 CD. The recording quality is often a bit shaky, as is some of the playing, but historically, this is a significant set. Wilson is heard on two numbers from 1947 with several trumpeters (including Mutt Carey) and from the same year jamming four tunes in a trio with the fine but obscure trombonist Ash Hardy and rhythm guitarist Prince Stansel. Then, just ten days before his death, he took six unaccompanied piano solos and four duets with trumpeter Ray Ronnei. In addition to his piano playing, which is somewhat influenced by Jelly Roll Morton, Wilson takes vocals on nine of the 16 numbers. If the recording quality were stronger, this would be a recommended acquisition for New Orleans jazz fans instead of being mostly for historians. ~ Scott Yanow|