The Dukes of Dixieland at Disneyland

AMG Review of The Dukes of Dixieland at Disneyland

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

This is not only the finest of all the Dukes of Dixieland records (the alternate title, "The Best of the Dukes of Dixieland," is accurate), but one of the hottest of all Dixieland albums. The only one of the Dukes' sets thus far reissued on CD (although it was little noticed and dropped out of print again), this album features trumpeter Frank Assunto (an underrated great), trombonist Fred Assunto, the talented clarinetist Jerry Fuller, pianist Gene Schroeder, either Herb Ellis or Al Hendrickson on guitar, Jac Assunto on banjo and second trombone, pianist Gene Schroeder, bassist Bob Casey, and drummer Charles Lodice. They perform fairly lengthy versions of "Original Dixieland One Step" (which has some great clarinet), "Wolverine Blues," "Royal Garden Blues," "The Saints," "Canal Street Blues," and the usual New Orleans funeral routine (with "Oh Didn't He Ramble"). Classic music.