All-Stars At Bob Haggart's 80th Birthday Party CD

The first annual March of Jazz celebration and concert took place in 1994 and served double duty as a birthday tribute to the great bassist Bob Haggart on his 80th birthday. To call the contributing players "The All Stars" is no exaggeration in this case -- they include trombonist Dan Barrett, clarinetist Kenny Davern, guitarists George Van Eps and Bucky Pizzarelli, drummer Jake Hanna, and many others. The two-disc program is, as one might expect, a joyful look back at jazz history, from pre-swing standards like "Muskrat Ramble" and "Wolverine Blues" to big band classics like "Air Mail Special" and "The Mooche." Don't be put off by the cover photo -- this is not a bass showcase filled with endless boring and barely audible solos, but rather a joyful jazz party in which camaraderie and ensemble sense shape the music far more than any one musician's ego. Highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson

Recorded at St. Petersburg Hilton, St. Petersburg, Florida on March 11-13, 1994. Includes liner notes by Dan Morgenstern.

Personnel: Rick Fay (vocals, reeds); Milt Hinton (vocals); George Van Eps, Howard Alden, Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar); Flip Phillips, Jerry Jerome, Ken Peplowski, Kenny Davern, Allan Vaché, Walter Levinsky, Bob Wilber (reeds); Dan Barrett , George Masso (trombone); Derek Smith , Dick Hyman, Ralph Sutton (piano); Jackie Williams, Jake Hanna, Bobby Rosengarden (drums).

Liner Note Author: Dan Morgenstern.

Recording information: St. Petersburg Hilton, St. Petersburg, FL (03/11/1994-03/13/1994).

Personnel: Bob Haggart (bass); Milt Hinton (vocals, bass); Kenny Davern, Rick Fay, Jerry Jerome, Walt Levinsky, Ken Peplowski, Flip Phillips, Bob Wilber, Allan Vache (reeds); Ruby Braff, Yank Lawson, Randy Sandke, Joe Wilder (trumpet, cornet); Dan Barrett, George Masso (trombone); Dick Hyman, Drek Smith, Ralph Sutton (piano); Howard Alden, Bucky Pizzarelli, George Van Eps (guitar); Jack Lesberg (bass); Jake Hanna, Bob Rosengarden, Jackie Williams (drums).