‘Dick Cathcart’ (1924-1993) should be a name familiar to all jazz enthusiasts as one of the great trumpeters. In fact, this Retrospective survey of the 25 finest of his wonderful 50s recordings is the first CD to be devoted to this most under-rated of artists. With a group of like-minded musicians from Ben Pollack’sPick-A-Rib Boys such as clarinettist Matty Matlock and tenor-man Eddie Miller, he made an enormous impact as “Pete Kelly’s Big Seven” – yet the general public remained unaware that his was the sound of the fictitious Pete Kelly. One hearing of these tracks, as well as other contemporary recordings and later examples with the Kings of Dixieland (plus the persuasive advocacy of note-writer Digby Fairweather) will persuade anyone that here is some of the most thoroughly enjoyable, as well as brilliant,

Dixieland jazz on record.

The release happily joins a string of Retrospectives (now 15-strong!) spotlighting the trumpet masters of jazz: Humphrey Lyttelton (RTS 4108), Louis Armstrong (RTR 4129), Bunny Berigan (RTR 4139), Nat Gonella (RTR 4146), Bix Beiderbecke (RTS 4154), Billy Butterfield (RTR 4203), Bobby Hackett (RTR 4208), Don Goldie (RTR 4216), Red Nichols (RTS 4227), Henry Red Allen (RTS 4248), Muggsy Spanier (RTS 4254), Wingy Manone (RTS 4267), Harry Sweets Edison (RTS 4271), and Harry James (RTS 4281).