Swingville All stars - At The Jazz Band Ball (1997/2020)

"The Swingville All-Stars" was a name used on three albums featuring notable groups of jazz veterans jamming Dixieland-oriented tunes. All of the music was reissued in 1997 on two CDs (the other is Memphis Blues). Pianist Dick Wellstood, bassist Leonard Gaskin (the leader) and drummer Herbie Lovelle are joined by one of two frontlines on two songs apiece: trumpeter Doc Cheatham, trombonist Vic Dickenson, and clarinetist Buster Bailey, or trumpeter Yank Lawson, trombonist Cutty Cutshall, and clarinetist Edmond Hall. While "Keepin' Out of Mischief Now" is a showcase for the trio, "At the Jazz Band Ball" has all nine musicians playing some nearly riotous music. Everyone fares well on the Dixieland standards. The final four selections on this CD are half of an unusual set that features trumpeter Sidney DeParis, trombonist Benny Morton, and clarinetist Kenny Davern playing Dixieland interpretations of songs from country music, including "Pistol Packin' Mama" and "Yellow Rose of Texas." Fortunately, the chord changes of those tunes are easily transferable to jazz, and the results are quite swinging. Highly recommended for trad jazz collectors.