Muggsy Spanier'S Ragtime Band - The Great 16 (1956) [Hi-Res]

Muggsy Spanier was a predictable but forceful cornetist who rarely strayed far from the melody. Perfectly at home in Dixieland ensembles, Spanier was also an emotional soloist (equally influenced by King Oliver and Louis Armstrong) who was an expert at using the plunger mute. He started on cornet when he was 13, played with Elmer Schoebel's band in 1921, and first recorded in 1924. Spanier was a fixture in Chicago throughout the decade (appearing on several important early records) before joining Ted Lewis in 1929. Although Lewis was essentially a corny showman, Spanier's solos gave his band some validity during the next seven years. After a stint with Ben Pollack's orchestra (1936-1938), Spanier became seriously ill and was hospitalized for three months. After he recovered, the cornetist formed his famous eight-piece "Ragtime Band" and recorded 16 Dixieland performances for Bluebird (later dubbed The Great Sixteen) that virtually defined the music of the Dixieland revival movement. But because his group actually preceded the revival by a couple years, it soon had to break up due to lack of work. Muggsy joined Bob Crosby for a time, had his own short-lived big band, freelanced with Dixieland bands in New York, and starting in 1950 he gradually relocated to the West Coast. During 1957-1959 Spanier worked with Earl Hines' band and he continued playing up until his retirement in 1964, touring Europe in 1960 and always retaining his popularity in the Dixieland world. ~ Scott Yanow

Tracklist:
01. Muggsy Spanier'S Ragtime Band - Relaxin' at the Touro
02. Muggsy Spanier'S Ragtime Band - Mandy, Make Up Your Mind
03. Muggsy Spanier'S Ragtime Band - Bluin' the Blues
04. Muggsy Spanier'S Ragtime Band - That Da Da Strain
05. Muggsy Spanier'S Ragtime Band - I Wish That I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate
06. Muggsy Spanier'S Ragtime Band - At Sundown
07. Muggsy Spanier'S Ragtime Band - Lonesome Road
08. Muggsy Spanier'S Ragtime Band - Eccentric
09. Muggsy Spanier'S Ragtime Band - At the Jazz Band Ball
10. Muggsy Spanier'S Ragtime Band - Dinah
11. Muggsy Spanier'S Ragtime Band - Big Butter and Egg Man
12. Muggsy Spanier'S Ragtime Band - Livery Stable Blues
13. Muggsy Spanier'S Ragtime Band - Black and Blue
14. Muggsy Spanier'S Ragtime Band - Riverboat Shuffle
15. Muggsy Spanier'S Ragtime Band - Someday Sweetheart
16. Muggsy Spanier'S Ragtime Band - Dipper Mouth Blues