George Lewis was working as a stevedore when he was plucked from obscurity in 1942 to back trumpeter Bunk Johnson. Johnson’s “re-discovery” is often credited with jumpstarting the revival of New Orleans jazz that lasted through the 1960s, and Lewis’ association with him began his journey from ignominy to international renown. Lewis became one of the most popular figures of the revival period, and his simple, melodic playing and wide vibrato came to epitomize the New Orleans clarinet sound for players of that era.

Today, much of Lewis’ catalog is owned by French Quarter-based GHB records. To create their new best-of collection, GHB assembled a global panel of George Lewis aficionados to nominate recordings. Culling it all down to an album’s worth of cuts couldn’t have been an easy task; like most traditional jazz musicians, Lewis recorded his favorite tunes many times, leaving a would-be curator with some difficult decisions.

In the end, it was decided that one disc just wouldn’t cut it, and so we have this two-CD set with a total of 36 tracks. All of Lewis’ trademark tunes are here, from the upbeat, playful “St. Philip Street Breakdown” to the plaintive hymn “Old Rugged Cross.” Some great renditions of Lewis’ signature “Burgundy Street Blues” had to be left on the cutting room floor in favor of a 1952 version with the George Lewis Ragtime Band. It’s an energetic performance, with his bandmates shouting and cheering Lewis on during his solo passages. Most of the recordings will be familiar to Lewis lovers, but anyone looking to wet their toes in revival-era jazz will find plenty to enjoy in this collection.