During the 1990s, the Miami Folk Arts Society and American Records brought out a sizable series -- at least 17 volumes -- of previously unreleased recordings made by George Louis Francis Zeno, better known as New Orleans clarinetist George Lewis, on tour with his jazz band during the years 1952-1955. Volume five in the series documents half of a concert that took place on March 20, 1953 at Miami University in Oxford, OH. On that occasion the group was billed as George Lewis & His Ragtime Jazz Band.
Avery Kid Howard was the trumpeter,
Jim Robinson blew the trombone,
Alton Purnell was at the piano, ex-prize fighter
Laurence Marrero strummed the banjo,
Alcide "Slow Drag" Pavageau plucked his string bass, and
Joe Watkins rode the drums. The band sounds happy to be entertaining a responsive and appreciative audience. Lewis, who openly stated during an Ohio State radio interview that he preferred his band have a "an unrehearsed, ragged and rough sound," also spoke candidly in a different interview, regarding his own controversial handling of the clarinet: "It's true I might overpower the horn sometime, when I feel good." Feeling good seems to have been the main order of business on March 23, 1950. With the exception of Lewis' signature "Burgundy Street Blues" each of the old-time melodies is driven under a full head of steam in order to please the audience. Bandmembers laugh, talk, and sing with gusto. The eight-minute version of
Sam Theard's "I'll Be Glad When You're Dead, You Rascal You" is a particularly convincing example of seven men having fun in front of a delighted public.
