Native New Orleans Jazz - Tony Almerico

 

Farewell Blues

Native New Orleans Jazz

Tony Almerico and His Dixieland Jamboree All Stars

Dot Records DLP 3009

1956

From the back cover: Tony Almerico is one of New Orleans fabulous characters. He has successfully resisted every offer to showcase his band around the country. Without ever leaving New Orleans he has won far flung fame and is credited with having done more than any present day New Orleans native in reviving dixieland jazz.

A revival it was, too, for Almerico formed his dixieland band at a time when even the birthplace of jazz was "going pop". In 1948, a few New Orleans jazzmen noted that, with few exceptions, the local bands "were playing pop stuff". Dixieland jazz was being played on request – that is, at the request of the tourist trade. Out of this picture of New Orleans Jazz Club was organized.

The club's aim was to help perpetuate public interest in dixieland jazz.

The club got together with Almerico and put on Sunday afternoon jazz concerts in New Orlean's Parisian Room, 116 Royal Street. The concerts became an immediate success.

It wasn't long before Dixieland jazz once again became king in the home of jazz. Today, attending the jazz session at the Parisian Room is the big thing of a Sunday afternoon.

In 1955, the mayor of New Orleans, his honor deLesseps Morrison, awarded Almerico the city's Certificate of Merit for restoring dixieland jazz to its own home town. And Almerico's Allstar Band was the first dixieland jazz band ever to appear as guest orchestra at the Summer Pops Concert at the New Orleans Municipal Auditorium.

For the record, the Dixieland Jamboree Allstars were organized on October 3, 1948, with Roy Zimmerman (piano), Joe Loyacano (bass), Frank Frederico (guitar), Tony Almerico (trumpet), Johnny Castaing (drums), Pete Fountain (clarinet), Jack Delaney (trombone) and Sam Dekemel (bugle).

DeKemel is known in music circles as "Sam, the Bugle Man". He blows an old regulation army bugle and out of it come some of the wildest riffs ever. He started using the bugle to attract customers to his waffle wagon thirty five years ago!

One thing certain: the jazz you'll hear when Tony Almerico leads his men at the Parisian Room, jazz session is the real thing – unchanged, unspoiled – The same beat, the same tempo, the same feel that characterized the Original Dixieland Jazz Band and The Memphis Five, and Razz's Band before them.

Bourbon Street Parade

I Want To Be Happy

Farewell Blues

I'm A Ding Dong Daddy From Dumas

How Many Hearts Have You Broken?

Near You

Big Boy Blue

Woodchopper's Ball

Tail Gate Ramble

Basin Street Blues

I'll Be Glad When You're Dead You Rascal  You

I'm Saving Tonight For You