No one sounded quite like Raymond Burke. He's clearly heard all of the great clarinetists from Leon Roppolo on down, and absorbed a bit from each of them. He had a beautiful dark tone that was pure New Orleans. Raymond Burke was one-of-a-kind. We're fortunate to have a wide selection of CDs featuring him, including his first recording (American Music AMCD-47), his great Southland sessions (GHB BCD-109), his great session with Kid Thomas (American Music AMCD-117), and several others.

This album was produced by Joe Mares, one of the legends in New Orleans music. He was the brother of cornetist Paul Mares, one of the first New Orleans musicians to bring jazz to Chicago with the New Orleans Rhythm Kings. Joe was designated to stay home and run the family business, a firm that purchased alligator skins and hides from trappers. He built a small recording studio in the shop and entertained his jazz friends when the day's work was done. He produced records for national companies, then started the Southland label; he ran it for thirty years and produced 41 albums before he sold the label to George Buck of GHB/Jazzology.

~ excerpt from liner notes by Paige Van Vorst