Derrick Shezbie - Spodies Back

A jazz record from New Orleans - that suggests thoughts of Louis Armstrong and marching bands. In fact, on the debut of then 19-year-old trumpeter Derrick Shezbie, samples of the old-time collection are presented and themes are being recited in a collective style: the trumpet leading the melody, plus a trombone in counterpoint and a paraphrasing saxophone.But anyone who works on what has been handed down does not have to be a traditionalist. On the contrary: "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise" demonstrates to all classical jazz musicians how progressive a standard can sound, such an extravagant piano solo as that of Kenny Kirkland in "Dusk On The Delta" cannot be churned out, and the drum diction of Herlin Riley is the newest school of intricacies. Shezbie himself dazzlingly follows the long line of trumpeters from the Mississippi town, stretching from Buddy Bolden to Nicholas Payton.Postscript: Producer Delfeayo Marsalis would have done better without his liner notes about the universal influence of "American" music.