| The latest CD of the Deacons of
Dixieland, "Revival", recorded in two days during March 2008 at the
Schreyer House by our trombonist Mike Loewen and produced by Nation
Wide Disc, is intended to convey two themes. The first is the
concept of revival that characterizes some of what is heard in the
words and motivation of Dixieland jazz. The second is the
reformulation of the membership of the Deacons of Dixieland group as
it has evolved over the years after some retirements and the
premature death of two of its former valued members. The CD includes
a generous array of 19 songs, including some tunes that are rarely
played and have been recently rediscovered after decades, such as
"Wild Cherries Rag", "China Boy", "San", and "Old Green River"; some
old standards that most listeners will readily recognize such as
"Ma, She's Making Eyes at Me", "Bye Bye Blackbird", and "Wonderful
World"; our version of some fun tunes such as "Coney Island
Washboard" and "Never Hit Your Grandma With a Shovel"; and some
rousing versions of favorites such as "Alabama Jubilee" and our
version of "Tiger Rag", which we call "Lion Rag", in recognition of
Penn State University. The CD features music written as far back as
1909. |
