Pee Wee Russell - Swingin' with Pee Wee (1961)

During the last dozen years of his life before passing away in 1969, clarinetist Pee Wee Russell recorded and performed in a variety of surprisingly modern settings. It was not that Russell was not modern himself, for his eccentric style had long been quite distinctive, but he had previously been content to mostly play in freewheeling Dixieland bands. His encounters with valve trombonist Marshall Brown (who provided him with an advanced repertoire and arrangements) and a 1963 Newport Jazz Festival appearance with Thelonious Monk found Russell stretching himself.

The two albums that are reissued in full on this 1999 CD are not quite as adventurous, being essentially small-group swing, which was still a bit ahead of Eddie Condon's bands. Russell and trumpeter Buck Clayton make for a perfectly compatible team on the 1960 date, a relaxed and swinging quintet session with pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Wendell Marshall, and drummer Osie Johnson. The other set has basic arrangements from pianist Nat Pierce, quiet support from bassist Tommy Potter and drummer Karl Kiffe, and Russell is joined by three of his favorite horn players (trumpeter Ruby Braff, trombonist Vic Dickenson, and tenor saxophonist Bud Freeman). One can fully understand why the clarinetist was quite pleased with both of these albums. His playing is much more consistent and comfortable on the mid-tempo material than usual and he mostly gets to avoid the overly hyper Dixieland warhorses. A gem.

Tracklist:

1(What Can I Say) After I Say I'm Sorry?
2 Midnight Blue
3 The Very Thought of You
4 Lulu's Back in Town
5 Englewood
6 I Would Do Most Anything for You
7 Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams (and Dream Your Troubles Away)
8 That Old Feeling
9 I've Got the World on a String
10 Exactly Like You
11 It All Depends on You
12 If I Had You
13 Out of Nowhere
14 Pee Wee's Blues
15 I Used to Love You
16 Oh No

Personnel

Osie Johnson - drums
Buck Clayton - trumpet
Bud Freeman - tenor saxophone
Nat Pierce - piano
Vic Dickenson - trombone
Wendell Marshall - Bass
Pee Wee Russell - clarinet
Karl Kiffe - drums
Ruby Braff - trumpet
Tommy Porter - bass
Tommy Flanagan - Piano