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The New Wonders: Steppin' Out

By Jack Bowers
November 20, 2024
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Although the ten songs performed by cornetist

Mike Davis

cornet
b.1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Davis' Brooklyn-based septet, The New Wonders, on the group's second album, Steppin' Out, are well removed from new, most have stood the test of time and remained popular with a small yet devoted number of trad jazz enthusiasts, some for a century or more. The New Wonders carry forward a storied tradition that dates at least as far back as the Original Dixieland Jazz Band in the early 1920s and whose best-known champions have included

Louis Armstrong

trumpet and vocals
1901 - 1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Louis Armstrong,

King Oliver

trumpet
1881 - 1938

" data-original-title="" title="">King Oliver,

Bix Beiderbecke

cornet
1903 - 1931

" data-original-title="" title="">Bix Beiderbecke,

Sidney Bechet

saxophone, soprano
1897 - 1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Sidney Bechet,

Jelly Roll Morton

piano
1890 - 1941

" data-original-title="" title="">Jelly Roll Morton,

Red Nichols

b.1905

" data-original-title="" title="">Red Nichols,

Kid Ory

trombone
1886 - 1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Kid Ory,

Jack Teagarden

trombone
1905 - 1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Jack Teagarden,

Henry "Red" Allen

trumpet
1906 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Henry "Red" Allen and the venerated Preservation Hall Jazz Band, among others.

Wherever a banjo is involved (and, less often, a cornet), it's a pretty sure bet that the Dixie heritage is front and center, and Steppin' Out is no exception to that rule, with leader and cornetist Davis sharing the stage with

Jared Engel

banjo

" data-original-title="" title="">Jared Engel's rhythm- centered banjo. One departure from many traditional groups is the inclusion of baritone saxophonist

Jay Rattman

saxophone
b.1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Jay Rattman, replacing the usual string bass or tuba to cover the deepest bass lines. Drummer

Colin Hancock

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Colin Hancock keeps steady time, while alto saxophonist

Ricky Alexander

woodwinds

" data-original-title="" title="">Ricky Alexander, trombonist John Holcomb and pianist Andy Schumm round out the front line.

Unlike the band's first album, which consisted for the most part of stock arrangements from its library, Steppin' Out boasts nine new charts by Davis and one ("Half-Seas Over") arranged (and written) by Schumm. Every one is an explicit and tenable sample of time-honored Dixie tenets and grammar. This is to say that everything The New Wonders have in mind is readily summarized and renewed as high-quality Dixieland (or trad) jazz, lively music that inspires a sunny and pleasant trip down memory lane.

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Track Listing

Do Do Do; Everybody Loves My Baby; Love Will Find a Way; Half-Seas Over; My Fate Is in Your Hands; My Melancholy Baby; My Gal Sal; Cornet Chop Suey; Helen Gone; My Blue Heaven.

Personnel

Mike Davis

cornet

Andy Schumm

piano

Jay Rattman

saxophone

Ricky Alexander

woodwinds

Jared Engel

banjo

Colin Hancock

drums

Additional Instrumentation

Mike Davis: cornet and vocals; Ricky Alexander, alto saxophone, clarinet and vocals; Andy Schumm, piano and cornet; Jay Rattman, bass saxophone and vocals; Colin Hancock, drums, cornet and vocals.

Album information

Title: Steppin' Out | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Turtle Bay Records

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