AMG Review of Live at Town Hall (1944)

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

This consistently exciting CD predates all of the Eddie Condon Town Hall concerts released by Jazzology by a couple of months. Rhythm guitarist Condon, as usual, put together a spontaneous but logical show featuring quite a few top Dixieland all-stars. Trumpeter/vocalist Hot Lips Page takes honors with his "Uncle Sam Blues," tbut there are also two well-received features apiece for pianists Cliff Jackson and Joe Bushkin and plenty of solo space for trumpeters Billy Butterfield and Max Kaminsky, cornetist Bobby Hackett (whose chops are just a little off), trombonist Miff Mole and clarinetists Edmond Hall and Pee Wee Russell; bassists Bob Casey and Pops Foster and drummers Kansas Fields and George Wettling also make notable contributions. With Condon as the wisecracking M.C. and such highlights as "Muskrat Ramble," "Ja Da" and the lengthy "Impromptu Ensemble," this CD is highly recommended to Eddie Condon and Dixieland fans.