The French Preservation New Orleans Jazz Band has issued numerous recordings—in his liner notes JP Alessi speaks of this latest one being the 36th—and like those that came before and as the band’s name* suggests, this one again treats us to New Orleans style jazz, the emphasis being on collective improvisation rather than solos. This was not the band’s first appearance at Irigny and not the first recording made there. (See French Preservation New Orleans Jazz Band • Alive and Kicking in Europe • Upbeat URCD299D, for example. There is also a recording of different tunes from this 2016 Festival, but apparently, despite the numbering, on mp3 file only: FPCD26 French Preservation New Orleans 2016 Live at Irigny.)
Joining Alessi in the front line are two musicians with whom he has collaborated previously and who can be heard on other recordings. On cornet is Fred Vigorito from Connecticut, USA. He has travelled extensively in the US and abroad and leads his own band, The Galvanized Jazz Band. Vigorito has also had a number of previous outings with the French Preservation New Orleans Jazz Band. The other is Soren Sorensen on sax. He has also appeared with the band previously. Thus there are two saxes—which will probably make those who deplore the sax in traditional jazz gasp—one taking the place of a trombone, and quite adequately, I might add.
On piano is Cyrille O, who d
