"It's great when a leader takes care to bring us some nearly-forgotten gems, rather than recording just the same Dixieland warhorses that everyone has heard a million times. This album - Peter Ecklund's debut as a leader - includes a few older tunes that I never expected anyone to record again. "And throughout, Ecklund has focused on making the best possible music, not just showcasing his own playing. Too many leaders get self-indulgent when they record. They solo endlessly, using sidemen basically to provide backgrounds for them, which can get boring. You will hear a good deal of Ecklund's lively cornet on this album, but you will also hear a good deal of Dan Barrett's trombone, Vince Giordano's bass sax, Frank Vignola's guitar, Joe Muranyi's clarinet, etc. both in solo spots and in ensemble passages (plenty of them). Ecklund knows listeners welcome variety. "...to play the old-time jazz [he] plays on this album, you have to have a feel for the spirit of the music. And an understanding of the pre-bebop trumpet tradition. And [Ecklund] clearly does." -Chip Deffa, Jazz Critic, The New York Post (1988) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "This is a wonderful album by Peter Ecklund. Perhaps his best ever and he's assisted by a terrific band of top level jazz musicians. The program is very diversified, with some great contributions by Marty Gross on vocals and acoustic guitar. If there's one early jazz album you pick up this month this is definitely the one." -Pat Decchis