International New Orleans Jazz Band

Thomas Jefferson, a 52-year-old veteran trumpeter and singer by 1974, was still in his prime for this set of excellent New Orleans jazz. Teamed with European musicians (the best-known being clarinetist/altoist Sammy Rimington), Jefferson is the dominant force during eight joyous versions of standards. He is in particularly fine form on "St. Louis Blues," "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall," "When You're Smiling," and "Over the Waves." Unlike too many other veteran New Orleans trumpeters of the time, he was always in tune and quite musical, so it is a pity that he did not become more famous. This live set for Storyville (recorded in Denmark) is one of his better recordings.