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Dixieland and swing have fewer differences than one might think. In dixieland, the ensembles are improvised but the functions of the horns are pretty well set, with the trumpeter taking the lead, the trombonist harmonizing and the clarinetist playing countermelodies and engaging in interplay with the other two horns. Because swing was popularized by big bands, their ensembles were usually written down and arranged, emulating a small group but keeping the music more coherent and unified than if ten horns were all jamming freely together. However dixieland, although having its roots in 1920s jazz and before, did not really become a separate style until the 1930s and it has often been performed by swing-oriented players, while later dixieland musicians often played in swing combos. The boundary lines between the different styles have long been blurred.
On From Dixie To Swing, an all-star date from 1973, all of the musicians with the possible exception of the bandleader stride pianist Dick Wellstood, are associated with small-group swing. A few of the players (most notably trumpeter Doc Cheatham, trombonist Vic Dickenson and drummer Gus Johnson) were veterans of swing era big bands. No matter their roots, these masterful musicians (which also include Kenny Davern on soprano and clarinet and bassist George Duvivier) have no difficulty communicating with each other and coming together as a powerhouse group.
The repertoire does range from dixieland (“Way Down Yonder In New Orleans”) to swing (“I Want A Little Girl” and “Exactly Like You”) but the musicians simply play everything in their own styles and it all works out extremely well. Doc Cheatham, 68 at the time, had spent much of his life as a lead and section trumpeter but was finally emerging as a delightful soloist. He would play at his musical prime until he was nearly 92. Vic Dickenson, with his sly style, had come into his own in the 1940s and still sounded unlike anyone else. Kenny Davern, the co-leader of Soprano Summit with Bob Wilber, always sounded distinctive on soprano and clarinet. With Dick Wellstood leading the rhythm section and displaying versatility in his solos, this was certainly a mighty unit.
"Stride pianist Dick Wellstood teamed up with some notable small group mainstream stars on this all-star date to perform standards from both Dixieland and swing. Trumpeter Doc Cheatham, trombonist Vic Dickenson and Kenny Davern (on soprano and clarinet) are each legendary names who help make this a powerhouse band. Whether jamming “Way Down Yonder In New Orleans” or “Exactly Like You,” these masters all sound as if they were having a great time.
Whether called dixieland or swing, this CD will be enjoyed by fans of spirited small group jazz." -Scott Yanow
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