DOC CHEATHAM AND SAMMY PRICE - DOC & SAMMY

DOC CHEATHAM AND SAMMY PRICE  
DOC & SAMMY
SACKVILLE 3013 

Sackville has followed their wonderful Jay McShann and 'Buddy Tate duet album with another duet recording of two older jazz stylists. Sammy Price is one of the few true surviving boogie woogie pianists left, though his playing also incorporates some stride and swing elements. Doc Cheatham is representative of the blues-drenched trumpet stylings of the twenties. Together they do some wonderful earthy interpretations of traditional jazz staples like "Tishomingo Blues" and "Sheik of Araby." Fats Walter's "Ain't Misbehavin" and "Honeysuckle Rose" receive lively takes. The empathy of Price and Cheatham is quite high and they produce a most rewarding set for which we should be thankful to Sackville and Doc and Sammy for giving us. Here's hoping Sackville continues this series of traditional jazz stylists in duo settings. Incidentally the order of tunes on the record Iabel and jacket is erroneous though listening makes it clear which is "Summertime" and which is "The Sheik of Araby." 

I do not remember how I acquired this release back in 1978. Delmark has since acquired the Sackville catalog and I am not sure if the reissue program of Sackville has yet reached the two albums by the pair. The review appeared originally in the June 1978 Buffalo Jazz Report (Issue 52). Here is a video of a group led by Sammy Price that includes Doc Cheatham doing "One O'Clock Jump."