Jazz / Dixieland, New Orleans Jazz Revival
Pete Fountain - Clarinet, Producer, Arranger
Bill Bachman Trumpet
Bill Evans Engineer
Bob Molinelli Piano
Charles Bud Dant Arranger, Adaptation
Charlie Lodice Drums
Earl Vuiovich Piano
Gene Foster Engineer
Georgette Pantello Pre-Production
Jimmy Duggan Clarinet, Arranger
Jimmy Weber Trumpet
John Gimbel Fiddle
Lloyd Ellis Arranger
Michael Genevay Arranger, Trombone
Mike Terranova Photography
Oliver Felix Bass
Owen Bradley Arranger
Susanne Smoka Package Design
Susanne Smolka Design
Tom Gekler Trombone
Clarinetist Pete Fountain interacts with musicians from both the dixieland and country music worlds on the OK effort, Swingin' Blues. Most of the selections on the CD are the usual dixieland standards, but the disc also includes "Walking the Floor over You," "Honky Tonk," and "Amazing Grace." This is fairly predictable but reasonably pleasing melodic music from the always-enthusiastic clarinetist. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
Pete Fountain
Active Decades: '40s, '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s and '00s
Born: Jul 03, 1930 in New Orleans, LA
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Dixieland, Dixieland Revival
One of the most famous of all New Orleans jazz clarinetists, Pete Fountain has the ability to play songs that he has performed a countless number of times (such as "Basin Street Blues") with so much enthusiasm that one would swear he had just discovered them. His style and most of his repertoire have remained unchanged since the late '50s, yet he never sounds bored. In 1948, Fountain (who is heavily influenced by Benny Goodman and Irving Fazola) was a member of the Junior Dixieland Band and this was followed by a stint with Phil Zito and an important association with the Basin Street Six (1950-1954), with whom the clarinetist made his first recordings. In 1955, Fountain was a member of the Dukes of Dixieland, but his big breakthrough came when he was featured playing a featured Dixieland number or two on each episode of The Lawrence Welk Show during 1957-1959. After he left, he moved back to New Orleans, opened his own club, and has played there regularly up until retiring from the nightclub business in early 2003. Fountain's finest recordings were a lengthy string for Coral during 1959-1965 (they turned commercial for a period after that).
---Scott Yanow, All Music Guide |
