AMG Review of Pete Fountain Presents the Best of Dixieland: Al Hirt

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

A straight CD reissue of Al Hirt's Jazz Band Ball from 1956, this is one of the finest recordings ever of trumpeter Al Hirt and clarinetist Pete Fountain. A classic Dixieland set, it finds Hirt and Fountain in their early prime quite inspired by each other's ideas. With the assistance of a fine rhythm section and the underrated trombonist Bob Havens, Hirt and Fountain romp through such numbers as "The Original Dixieland One-Step," "Royal Garden Blues," "Jazz Me Blues," and "South Rampart Street Parade." A special bonus is that Fountain takes very rare tenor solos on two songs, being showcased (and sounding like Eddie Miller) on "Washington and Lee Swing." Essential music for Dixieland fans.