Circus Time with the Dukes of Dixieland

AMG Review of Circus Time with the Dukes of Dixieland

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

The popular Dukes of Dixieland (who recorded a dozen albums for Audio Fidelity in less than four years) perform a variety of unusual circus-related themes on this LP. The Dukes (featuring their usual frontline of trumpeter Frank Assunto, trombonist Fred Assunto, Papa Jac Assunto on second trombone and banjo, and clarinetist Jack Maheu) play such numbers as "Entry of the Gladiators," "The Man on the Flying Trapeze," "Asleep in the Deep" and "Over the Waves," plus some real obscurities. This particular concept works quite well. Pity that this LP (along with the Dukes' other Audio Fidelity dates) has not yet been reissued on CD).