Retrospective offers a cavalcade of, arguably, the 24 greatest vintage jazz clarinettists from the first 45 years of recorded jazz history. From Larry Shields and the Original Dixieland Jazz Band in 1918 through to the peerless George Lewis in Burgundy Street Blues in 1962, a representative performance from each clarinet master has been carefully selected. Seldom could a jazz history lesson pass by so enjoyably as you sample the widely varying playing styles of such influential virtuosi as Benny Goodman, Sidney Bechet, Artie Shaw, Johnny Dodds and so many others. The musical moods could hardly be more contrasted, from the smooth velvet of Artie Shaw’s September Song to the frankly incredible Man With A Horn Goes Berserk from the redoubtable Buster Bailey. So many treats: just listen for instance to the gorgeous tone of Irving Fazola on My Inspiration. The Union Jack is flown by three distinctive English instrumentalists: Sid Phillips (I Got Rhythm), Monty Sunshine (Wild Cat Blues) and Acker Bilk (Creole Jazz).

Tracklisting:
1. Larry Shields: Clarinet Marmalade
2. Johnny Dodds: Clarinet Wobble
3. Omer Simeon: Beau Koo Jack
4. Jimmy Dorsey: Praying The Blues
5. Jimmie Noone: I Know That You Know
6. Frank Teschemacher: Wailing Blues
7. Pee Wee Russell: Love Is Just Around The Corner
8. Irving Fazola: My Inspiration
9. Benny Goodman: Sweet Georgia Brown
10. Buster Bailey: Man With A Horn Goes Berserk
11. Sid Phillips: I Got Rhythm
12. Barney Bigard: A Lull At Dawn
13. Woody Herman: Woodsheddin’ With Woody
14. Sidney Bechet: Blue Horizon
15. Jimmy Hamilton: The Sheik Of Araby
16. Artie Shaw: September Song
17. Peanuts Hucko: Stealin’ Apples
18. Matty Matlock: When It’s Sleepy Time Down South
19. Edmond Hall: Caravan
20. Albert Nicholas: Black And Blue
21. Monty Sunshine: Wild Cat Blues
22. Pete Fountain: St. James’ Infirmary
23. Acker Bilk: Creole Jazz
24. George Lewis: Burgundy Street Blues