Dixieland Goes West - The Lawson - Haggart Band

 

Ghost Riders In The Sky

Dixieland Goes West

The Lawson-Haggart Band

Everest LPBR 1084 (with "Stereophonic" sticker applied to cover, a repurposed LPBR 5084 jacket)

1960

Trumpet - Yank Lawson

Bass - Bob Haggart

Tenor Saxophone - Bud Freeman

Clarinet - Bill Stegmeyer

Piano - Lou Stein

Drums - Cliff Leeman

From the back cover: As is characteristic of previous Lawson-Haggart sessions (for example, Junior Prom, Everest SDBR-1040, LPBR-5040), Dixieland Goes West is a thoroughly relaxed date that clearly conveys the enjoyment the musicians had in the playing. "There was a good feeling," says Yank Lawson, "all through the three sessions that made up this album. We've all played together often and enjoy working with each other." In addition, the crisp, warm rapport between these musicians is faithfully and excitingly projected through Everest's superior sound.

In choosing a western theme for this collection Yank Lawson and Bob Haggart were looking for a relatively new album idea for their kind of free-wheeling music. "So far as I know," says Lawson, "a whole set of western tunes has never been done in this style, and the melodies lent themselves easily to the way we like to play."

So far as it can be categorized, the Lawson-Haggart approach can be called swing-based Dixieland. All of the musicians have had extensive experience in both Dixieland and swing groups, and all have appeared on scores of jazz record sessions. Co-leader Yank Law- son (John R. Lausen) was born in Trenton, Missouri, May 3, 1911. He studied piano and saxophone before he decided to concentrate on trumpet. Beginning with the college dance band at the University of Missouri, Yank went on to work with several big bands, includ- ing Ben Pollack's from 1932-34 and Bob Crosby's from 1935-38. It was while with Crosby that Yank first es- tablished a national reputation as one of the hottest of the jazz trumpeters through such specialties as Five Point Blues and I'm Prayin' Humble.

After Crosby, Lawson was featured with the bands of Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman, eventually settling down in New York where he has been active in studio and recording work.

Bob (Robert Sherwood) Haggart was born in New York March 13, 1914. His early instruments included piano, banjo, guitar, and trumpet. For almost ten years, Haggart was a poll-winning bassist in the Bob Crosby band and also did some notable arrangements for that unit. Like Lawson in recent years, Haggart has become a busy freelancer in New York, and also is part-owner of a highly successful firm that specializes in commercial jingles.

Tenor saxophonist Lawrence "Bud" Freeman is one of the major figures in jazz history. Born in Chi- cago March 13, 1906, Freeman was a member of the "Austin High Gang," an informal fraternity of early Chicago jazzmen. His big band experience included engagements with Art Kassel, Roger Wolfe Kahn, Ben Pollack, Red Nichols, Ray Noble, Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman. He has led several combos of his own and has 'been featured with all-star units on records and in clubs. His unvarying enthusiasm and consistent imaginativeness continue to mark his playing.

Clarinetist Bill Stegmeyer, who is also an arranger, was born in Detroit, Michigan, October 8, 1916. His band credits include Glenn Miller and Bob Crosby. He has done extensive writing for radio and television as well as for several record dates, including a number of previous Lawson-Haggart albums.

Pianist Lou Stein, who can be heard in a new Everest album, 101 Hit Songs (SDBR-1082/LPBR- 5082) was born in Philadelphia, April 22, 1922. He has been with Ray McKinley, the Glenn Miller Army Band, and Charlie Ventura, and currently is engaged in an unusually active recording and writing career in New York. Drummer Cliff Leeman, born in Port- land, Maine, September 10, 1913 has been with several of the major big bands, including those of Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Charlie Barnet, Jimmy Dorsey, and Glen Gray. Freelancing in New York, Cliff has been busy with network radio and TV shows and a full schedule of recordings, both jazz and commercial.

On this western-flavored date, the Lawson-Haggart band used no elaborate arrangements. They were all "head" routines, worked out at the session. "We hope," says Yank Lawson, "to appeal to the wide general audience that's fond of these western themes but who may appreciate hearing them in a new way. We had some "tongue in cheek" fun with a few of them, and the album as a whole is meant to be a good-humored, light hearted, swinging session."

Although not all of these songs were exactly collected on the trail, they do contain the spirit and humor of those early cowpunchers whom collector John Lomax has described as the "bold, youthful vikings of the seas of sage grass through which they pushed their way." – NAT HENTOFF

South Of The Border

Buttermilk Sky

Eyes Of Texas

Soft Hands

Wagon Wheels

Empty Saddles

I'm An Old Cowhand

Home Of The Range

Yellow Rose Of Texas

High Noon

Rose Of The Rio Grande

Ghost Riders In The Sky