Chuck and Carl Reiley grew up in a musical family in Michigan, where Chuck tutored his brother Carl in the basics of the trombone.  Carl was a fast learner and actually started playing trad jazz before Chuck with a summer gig with the Wolverine Stompers in Northern Michigan.  Chuck was in dental school and later Carl went to a medical school at the University of Michigan.  This started a long journey in Jazz apart from each other.  Carl interned in Denver and sharpened his musical skills, sitting in with the nationally known Queen City Jazz Band.  Carl set up his internal medicine practice in Woodland, near Sacramento, and in 1971 joined the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society and sat in with the Dutch Deutsch group.

While Carl was practicing medicine and playing trombone and trumpet in California, brother Chuck's Alamo City Jazz Band continued to make a name for themselves in Super Bowl VIII and touring throughout the United States and Mexico.

The ACJB started playing festivals in 1977, and it was through Carl that they were invited to the famous Sacramento Jazz Festival.  The ACJB was a steady Sacramento performer over the years, which gave the Reiley brothers a chance to perform together, since Carl lived nearby in Woodland.  After 44 years of playing festivals, the ACJB has cut back on their gigs and this gave them the opportunity to record this album.  Chuck said, "It has long been a desire of mine to record an album with my brother Carl, so on a trip to the Monterey Dixieland Festival, we were able to work out the details for recording in May 2007."

And what an album it turned out to be.  Joined by old friend Bob Pilsbury on piano and ACJB veteran players, Chuck has put together a program of many fine traditional pearls.  "Fidgety Feet" was the first Dixieland tune ever recorded in 1917.  "My Memphis Baby", written by Harry Godwin over 30 years ago, is being recorded by chuck for the first time. "40 Years of Jazz" was written by Chuck for the band's 40th anniversary party.  Jelly roll's "Wolverine Blues" rounds out a slate standard hits.

After you listen to this album you are going to say, "How come you didn't get together before now."  Well you know now they have gotten it together.  So sit back, tap your toes, and enjoy a historical presentation of Traditional Jazz. --- Corky Corcoran

PERSONNEL:

Carl Reiley, cornet (1-7) trombone (7-17)
Chuck Reiley, trombone (1-7, 13)
John Page, soprano sax
Larmon Maddox, cornet (7-15)
Bob Oroszi, drums
Doug Frantz, tuba
Bob Black, banjo
   and featuring
Bob Pilsbury, piano