This was the final recording by the original Dukes of Dixieland, a group that ended with trumpeter Frank Assunto's premature death a few years later. In the mid-'70s, another Dukes of Dixieland was formed, but that group has never reached the level of the earlier band. Although the performances are quite brief on this LP (as is true of all of the Dukes' late-period Decca recordings), at least the material is strong. All 11 songs were "hits" in their own ways, including "Midnight in Moscow," "Heartaches" (which clocks in at ...
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This was the final recording by the original Dukes of Dixieland, a group that ended with trumpeter Frank Assunto's premature death a few years later. In the mid-'70s, another Dukes of Dixieland was formed, but that group has never reached the level of the earlier band. Although the performances are quite brief on this LP (as is true of all of the Dukes' late-period Decca recordings), at least the material is strong. All 11 songs were "hits" in their own ways, including "Midnight in Moscow," "Heartaches" (which clocks in at only 1:15), "Bill Bailey," "Rose of Washington Square" and "The 3rd Man Theme." Trumpeter/singer Frank Assunto was always the main star of the band; he is assisted by clarinetist Jerry Fuller and trombonist Charles Bornemann for this final effort. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi
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