Jazz
Recorded: Los Angeles, CA, April 20 & 26, May 18, June 1, 1964
Danny Alguire (cor) Ward Kimball (tb) George Probert (cl, ss) Frank Thomas (p) Dick Roberts (bj) Don Kinch (b, tu) Eddie Forrest (d)
Fire, smoke, and flame are the elements of the Firehouse Five Plus Two's latest collection, an inevitable choice of material for fire-hatted, red shirted gentlemen who play hot jazz. It's taken them a long time to get to this particular conflagration - since May 1949, to be precise, when a wailing siren began their first record session, and the now historic "Firehouse Stomp." On previous albums they've detoured South, and to sea, made it around the world in 40 minutes, serenaded lovers, entertained at Disneyland, even crashed a party. Now, after 15 years, the FH5 finally arrives at the scene of the fire!
The Firehouse Five Plus Two always played a joyous brand of Dixieland, and this LP, their next-to-last recording, finds their enthusiasm at a high level. The fine septet (which features solos from cornetist Danny Alguire, trombonist Ward Kimball and soprano saxophonist George Probert) performs a dozen songs with titles having something to do with fires, such as "Keep the Home Fires Burning," "Hot Lips," "Fireman, Save My Child," "A Hot Time in the Old Town," "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire," etc. Fans of the group will not be disappointed with this spirited effort.
--- Scott Yanow, All Music Guide |
