"Wolf Trax!" is
The Barehanded Wolfchokers' premier offering, recorded in a little-known Bix hangout: the historic 1920's Danceland Ballroom on the banks of the Mississippi river in downtown Davenport. Still in use today, this opulent 9000 square foot room features a bandshell that offers powerful and resonant sound without microphones. Bix performed many of the tunes on "Wolf Trax!" on this very stage, and the Wolfchokers are proud to be the first ever band to record an album here. In particular, you can hear on this CD how "I'll Be a Friend with Pleasure" sounds both as a modern recording and as an Edison talking machine cylinder, perhaps giving the listener a new appreciation for Bix's live sound.
T'was an eerie sensation recording late into the night: the classic music echoing in the twilit vastness of the empty ballroom, the ancient mirror ball still hanging high above the polished hardwood dance floor, slowly turning in the glow of stagelights. Bix's homeys playing Bix's music on Bix's stage in Bix's hometown; we felt honored, elated and blessed all at once. The music took on a life all its own that held us spellbound as we played, more listeners than performers. For me, I had come full circle. Having played my very first professional job at Danceland back in 1967 and spending the next forty-plus years performing all over the world, I had come home to my roots, my friends and "my" music. The Wolfchokers are proud to represent Davenport and our legendary colleague, Bix Beiderbecke in every tune we play. The mighty Mississippi still flows at our doorstep, Dixieland still rings out into the night air and folks, Bix STILL lives!
