AMG Review of Mis'ry and the Blues

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

Trombonist Jack Teagarden's Verve recordings, his last batch of studio sides, have tended to be underrated. Teagarden was actually still in prime form up until the time of his unexpected death in early 1964. For this set, his sextet (which also includes trumpeter Don Goldie, clarinetist Henry Cuesta, pianist Don Ewell, bassist Stan Puls, and drummer Barrett Deems) mostly performs obscurities. Teagarden sings a couple of charming Willard Robison songs ("Don't Tell a Man About His Woman" and "Peaceful Valley"), Ewell is featured on "Froggie Moore Blues," organist Shay Torrent sits in on an unusual version of "Love Lies," and Goldie is showcased on "Afternoon in August." Other songs include "I Don't Want to Miss Mississippi," "It's All in Your Mind," and "Mis'ry and the Blues." The only Dixieland standards performed are "Basin Street Blues" and "Original Dixieland One-Step." Whether taking trombone solos or singing, Teagarden sounds inspired by the fresh material throughout.