Eleven drummers leaping, all from New Orleans, their inclusion here supporting this Upbeat CD’s compiler (and drummer) John Petters’ contention that Crescent City drumming styles were the primary propulsive bedrock of early jazz performance.

Largely snare and bass drum-based, fusing the city’s marching band traditions with African rhythms, his chosen players created a kind of percussive momentum that was unique and thus highly influential.

Sbarbaro (aka Spargo) was the original drummer with the white New Orleans pioneers, the ODJB, here, though, he’s heard with the 1936 versions of the band, and is in wonderfully rumbustious form, all ‘showy technique’ on ’Tiger Rag’ and ‘Shake It and Break It’.

Next, it’s Baby Dodds, for three tracks, with Jelly Roll, Bechet, and solo. It was Gene Krupa who said of Dodds, “He developed ideas and built excitement through a tune, playing mostly on the snare drum. He was just marvellous.” The percussive variations and supportive beats Dodds offers here seem almost avant-garde in their impact.

Thereafter, Petters has picked a rich selection of companion figures, their tracks invariably hot, the drumming central, of course, but consider performances which feature Armstrong, Ory, George Lewis, Wingy Manone, Pee Wee Russell, as well as Earl Hines, Luis Russell, Eddie Miller and Barney Bigard, to mention a random few. So, a welcome tutorial – but a joyous one with gems aplenty, Petters’ accompanying note a detailed commentary on the rudiments involved and the techniques deployed by each of these individuals. A valuable read. Full personnel details are in the booklet; they’re too copious to include here.