Hearing Is Believing

AMG Review of Hearing Is Believing

Ron Wynn
All Music Guide

No traditional jazz ensemble has ever been recorded as often or with as much fanfare as The Dukes of Dixieland. Their willingness to experiment with studio innovations reflects a more ambitious nature than their music usually reveals. Their performances are always well done, but often more respectful than memorable. That's something of the case with this 1991 release, a set recorded live on DAT (Digital Audio Technology). The sound is awesome, putting their trumpet/trombone/clarinet frontline vividly at the center of the listener's attention. The same holds true for the piano/bass/drums rhythm section.