Red Allen & Kid Ory – Blues For Jimmy
Red Allen & Kid Ory – Keep Off Of Katie’s Head
Red Allen & Kid Ory – Tishomingo Blues
It’s just about to become summer here in LA, the days and nights are quite as hot as they will be and most times there’s a nice breeze that for whatever reason puts traditional Dixieland/Hot Jazz sounds into my mind. 
Something about the prospect of just hanging out in our house with the windows open and that breeze flowing in and those sounds pouring out of my speakers just makes my heart glad (as does the old school Verve label on the LP). It’s hard not to smile with a collaboration like this featuring two of masters at their craft. In fact, if there was a trad jazz record that someone who has never bought any trad jazz was going to get, I’d likely suggest this one. Kid Ory cut hs teeth in perhaps the first great jazz band along with King Oliver and Pops, he’s a New Orleans trombonist through and through. Red Allen always gets lumped in with the traditional crowd, but his playing on trumpet was always thoroughly modern, to the point where I doubt there are many contemporary trumpet players that could match his wit and skill when he solos. The pair together are pure heaven on the mid-tempo “blues” one of which is dedicated to Kid Ory’s former partner, a legend in his own right, clarinetist Jimmy Noone. The way the music swoons and sways always inspires me to do a little dance as if I’ve been transported back in time to a speakeasy where these sounds would have found a home in the 1930s, let alone during the revival of the late 1950s/early 1960s.
The most interesting track is “Keep Off Of Katie’s Head.” From the title alone, the song seems like a threat or a warning, but once Kid Ory tells this man to not only “Keep Of Of Katie’s Head” but also to “Please Keep Out Of Katie’s Bed” it gives the song a bt more of a playful bent, which seems to be less about domestic violence and more about some oral funtimes. If I was Katie’s neighbor I’m sure I’d probably still call the Cops on the person he’s singing to, but I think things might get awfully awkward for everyone once they showed up. For maximum effect I suggest playing the record with the windows open and loud enough to let your neighbors be aware that some misbehavin’ is goin’ on next door.
Cheers,
Michael