Artist: Louis Prima
Album: The Wildest!
Year: 1957
Louis Prima's The Wildest! is one heck of a swing album. Whereas many of his contemporaries in the 1950's were going the bebop or modal jazz route (Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis), Prima draws his inspiration from '40's swing and the burgeoning rock and roll movement. I thought I'd never heard anything from Prima before listening to this album, but I soon realized that several of these songs are jazz standards. I played "Body and Soul" in jazz band in high school, and "Jump, Jive, an' Wail" became a hit for The Brian Setzer Orchestra during the short-lived 1990's swing revival.
This album kicks off exuberantly with the "Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody" medley featuring some amusing backing vocals murmuring "gigolo" repeatedly. It's an exciting number featuring the quintessential '50's saxophone sound and Prima's nonsensical lyrics that make for a strong opener. The next couple songs feature Prima's wife Keely Smith on vocals, who proves herself to be a good foil for Prima's trumpet.
The latter half of the album has the original "Jump, Jive, an' Wail," and I thought this version to be superior to the Setzer version. Prima's unique raspy voice suits the song well, the sax is punchier, and Smith's backing vocals provide great accompaniment. This tune is followed up by the mellow ballad "Buona Sera," another highlight.
I'm no expert on jazz, but I think this album is pretty exceptional. It captures an enthusiastic entertainer at the top of his game. 55 years later, the spirit and humor of this album is still palpable.
Rating: Worth repeated listens
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