Swing Out from Vappie’s Creole Jazz Serenaders is an exuberant affair of traditional jazz loaded with sudden stops, quick changes, snappy high-hat cymbal snappings, clucking banjos and sailing trumpet, clarinet and sax solos that make for vibrant dance music. Similar to Banjo A La Creole, the Creole element in New Orleans jazz is evidenced by a trio of Creole French-sung numbers: Kid Ory’s risqué “Creole Song,” the sexy “Madame Becassine” and “Les Ognons.” The latter is a mature treatment of a children’s folk song in Haiti.

 

Although the folk song has long been adapted into the New Orleans trad jazz repertoire, and has been recorded and popularized by many, Vappie opted for Danny Barker’s signature arrangement. The song kicks off with clarinetist Tom Fischer playing the infectious melody line before by smooth crooner Vappie sings about cooking chickens and napping. Trumpeter Charlie Fardella shines on the next solo, which is then followed by both Fardella and Fischer madly diverging and converging upon the melody in unison.

 

Other Crescent City fodder includes a kicking version of King Oliver’s “Nelson’s Stomp” and a swanky rendition of Jelly Roll Morton’s “Fussy Mabel” featuring Fardella’s animated, muted trumpet blowing, Vappie’s crisp guitar picking and Larry Sieberth’s bouncy piano.

 

The Creole Jazz Serenaders venture beyond the Crescent City to cover significant New Orleans-influenced jazz groups such as McKinney’s Cotton Pickers (“Beedle-um-bum,” “Plain Dirt”) and Mills Blue Rhythm Band (“Blue Rhythm”). On Harry Reser’s soundtrack-resembling “Heebe Jeebes,” Vappie stages a dazzling clinic of virtuosity. For jazz disciples of any stripe, this double dose of Vappie is essential listening.