Sister Kate – 1959
Kid Ory
Ory and Red Allen perform a relaxed standard
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One of the great New Orleans pioneers, trombonist Kid Ory was setting the standard for other jazz trombonists as early as 1915; his band at times included King Oliver or Louis Armstrong on cornet.
Ory was on many classic recordings in the 1920s (including with Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five, King Oliver’s Dixie Syncopators, and Jelly Roll Morton’s Red Hot Peppers), spent much of the 1930s outside of music, and then made a big comeback in 1944.
His renaissance lasted until the early 1960s with Ory leading a string of excellent bands and playing trombone in his unchanged percussive style.
In 1959 he toured Europe, leading a group with the great trumpeter Red Allen, clarinetist Bob McCracken, pianist Cedric Haywood, bassist Squire Gersh, and drummer Alton Redd.
Although Allen was actually a more modern soloist and a major name, he was happy to tour with Ory and added a lot to this version of the trombonist’s band; they perform a relaxed and happy version of “I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate.”
-Scott Yanow
Ella Fitzgerald