Like its predecessor, this 1981 recording is as true as possible to the spirit, and even the letter, of the music that found form in New Orleans in the first decades of this century, music that had changed rapidly in the move to Chicago in the 1920s. The band brings a relaxed flow to the music whether it's a religious tune or a raucous rag, a feeling encouraged by the extended times permitted by later recording. The style is classic polyphony, with Frank Demond's trombone and Willie Humphrey's clarinet developing elaborate patterns around Percy Humphrey's stately and burnished trumpet leads; the music is propelled along by the rhythm section, including Josiah Frazier on drums and James Miller on piano. Willie Humphrey's speechlike clarinet playing stands out, especially on his solo on "Shake It and Break It." --Stuart Broomer
Let me just say that for any jazz fan, a trip to Preservation Hall in New Orleans must be on your list of things to do before you die. But if proximity is a problem for you at the moment, buying a Preservation Hall Jazz Band CD is pretty much the next best thing. I'm surprised that "New Orleans, Vol. 2" is out of print now, you can still find it in stores pretty regularly. Anyway, this is the group's second album, from 1981. On this album, the lineup includes trumpet player Percy Humphrey, pianist James Miller, banjo player Narvin Kimball, trombonist Frank Demond, clarinetist Willie Humphrey, drummer Cie Frazier, and tuba player Allan Jaffe. This wasn't the best lineup the group ever put together, but the standard pieces and style is all here. "New Orleans, Vol. 2" was recorded nicely in a studio, yet maintains a live feel of signature improvised solos and playing. They play the standards, and some of their most well loved pieces, such as the wonderful "St. Louis Blues" and "I Ain't Got Nobody," and the slow, bluesy singing is infused to the classics like "Shake It and Break It" and "The Bucket's Got a Hole in It." A lot of the songs here can be found on the group's numerous compilation releases. In any event, this album is great fun and extremely entertaining for any listener, and I highly recommend it. --ctrx
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