Bob Barnard

BOB BARNARD & JIM CULLUM - CORNET COPIA (2000)

1.Jubilee
2.Chimes Blues
3.Sugarfoot Strut
4.Almost Daylight
5.Shreveport Stomp See All 3
6.Bobby Hackett Waltz
7.When You're Smiling Jim Cullum WHEN YOURE SMILING Lyrics
8.Potato Head Blues See All 2
9.Lyin' to myself
10.Wildman Blues
11.On The Road To Gundagai
12.West End Blues See All 2
13.Hear Me Talkin' To Ya
14.Skit Dat de Dat
15.Waltzing Matilda

The shorter, squatter cornet has over time given way to the trumpet. This CD offers a rare occasion to hear two cornetists who have stuck with the instrument irrespective of what others are doing. Cornet Copia compiles several studio and live recording sessions made by San Antonio's Jim Cullum and Australia's Bob Barnard between 1993 and 2000 in San Antonio and Sidney, respectively. While all tracks are excellent, there is a certain fervor that comes only when playing before a large and appreciative audience fully attuned to what's going on. This comes through on King Oliver's "West End Blues." Each player takes some solos, of course. But it's the perfection in the way they play together that is the most captivating portion of this track. It's clear that they are feeding off each other's ideas and one senses a bit of friendly competition between these two veteran short horn players, which the audience responds to. Another preferred track, again live, is "Waltzing Matilda," Australia's unofficial National Anthem. Given that these recordings were made over a period of seven years, the groups are diverse in both size and membership. But one constant is the piano of John Sheridan, adding much with his comping and solos on all but one session. The same can be said of Don Mopsick on bass and Howard Elkins on banjo and guitar. Cullum and Barnard are following in the footsteps of those who resisted the transition to the trumpet, most significantly Bix Beiderbecke and Rex Stewart, and to a lesser extent, Bobby Hackett and Jimmy McPartland. But this is not some tribute album paying respect to past cornet players. It is a significant jazz session that stands on its own considerable merits. ~ Dave Nathan