Tremble Kids - Midnight Session (Remastered) (2017) [Hi-Res]

The second in the MPS sessions, this 1973 recording concentrates on many of the pieces made famous by Louis Armstrong's bands. First recorded by "Satchmo's" 1926 "Hot Five" Big Butter and Egg Man appropriately features Oscar Klein on both muted and hot open trumpet, while piano and horns all contribute on Armstrong's "Someday You'll Be Sorry".

The upbeat Dixieland standard "Clarinet Marmalade" features Keller's warm solo along with exceptional ensemble play. A medley of traditional classics are taken at a walking ballad tempo, with Keller's emotive clarinet on "I Surrender Dear" merging into Droz's buttery trombone on "I'm Confessin'", and ending with a brassy Klein on "Rocking Chair".

On "Black Forest Special", piano, muted trombone, trumpet and drums strut their stuff, while "Hotter Than That" takes us back to the Chicago of Armstrong's Hot Five. Droz's sultry "Midnight Blues" comes across with a more modern jazz feel, as a soulful Keller and a growling muted Klein precede laid-back piano and guitar solos. "A Monday Date" harkens back to Earl "Fatha" Hines' influence on Armstrong's Hot Five. Naturally, it begins with a masterful piano intro. "I've Got The World On A String" was a favorite of Armstrong's orchestra in the 1930's. The Kids take the piece at a relaxed, loping tempo, the perfect end to a bravura set.

Peter Schmidli, guitar
Oscar Klein, trumpet
Werner Keller, clarinet
Raymond Droz, trombone
Jean-Pierre Bionda, piano
Isla Eckinger, bass
Charly Antolini, drums

Digitally remastered