British bandleader-trombonist Chris Barber was very fortunate to have two great clarinetists in his band for extended periods: Monty Sunshine (1953-60) and Ian Wheeler (1961-68). The two-CD set Chris Barber & The Clarinet Kings features him teaming up with three other clarinetists in a variety of settings with consistently exciting results.
Edmond Hall, one of the most passionate and distinctive of all clarinetists, is well featured on three of the five sessions. At the end of a tour of the U.S., Barber had the opportunity to record with a group of Americans during Nov. 7-8, 1960, joining in with Hall, trumpeter Sidney DeParis, pianist Hank Duncan (an underrated stride master), bassist Hayes Alvis, and drummer Joe Marshall for what was originally an LP consisting of eight mostly hot numbers. Barber, in particular, sounds like he is having a great time on such tunes as “Oh Baby,” “You Tell Me Your Dream,” and “Li’l Liza Jane.”
Hall joined Chris Barber’s regular band as a guest during a tour of England in Nov. 1962. He is featured in a front line with Barber, trumpeter Pat Halcox, and altoist-clarinetist Ian Wheeler for a studio session that resulted in eight numbers on Nov. 16 and four songs from a concert the following day. While Wheeler is mostly on alto, during “High Society” his clarinet playing keeps up with Hall for a particularly stirring performance. O
