Critic's Review
Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
The debut recording by pianist James Dapogny's (other than a set backing blues singer Sippie Wallace) features plenty of hot playing by the octet. From classic jazz and Dixieland to more arranged renditions of vintage tunes, Dapogny and his group (which includes cornetist Paul Klinger, the reeds of Peter Ferran and Russ Whitman and the excellent drummer Hal Smith) revitalize 1920s jazz throughout their performance, displaying both high musicianship and creative ideas within the idiom. Highlights include "At the Jazz Band Ball," "Oh Peter, You're So Nice," "Copenhangen," "I Never Knew What a Gal Could Do" and a Fats Waller composition that Waller never recorded ("Caught"). Recommended.
