CLARENCE WILLIAMS – 1929-1930 | The Classics Chronological Series – 810 (1995) FLAC (tracks), lossless

The eighth CD in the European Classics series which is reissuing complete and in chronological order all of the recordings led by pianist/composer Clarence Williams documents his activity from a ten-month period. During this era Williams varied his personnel and instrumentation from session to session and the results are quite varied yet consistently hot. Williams's groups feature such sidemen as cornetist Ed Allen, trumpeter Charlie Gaines, the reeds of Arville Harris and Russell Procope, the enthusiastic tuba of Cyrus St. Clair, Floyd Casey on drums and washboard, two excellent vocals apiece by Margaret Webster (her "You've Got to Give Me Some" is a near-classic) and Eva Taylor and, on eight selections, the masterful pianist James P. Johnson. The highpoints are "How Could I Be Blue?" and "I've Found a New Baby," performances taken as piano duets by Johnson and Williams that include some humorous conversation. All of the CDs in this very valuable series are highly recommended to collectors of 1920s jazz. Scott Yanow  
Tracklist :
1    Clarence Williams And His Jazz Kings–    Whoop It Up 2:49
Vocals – Clarence Williams
Written-By – Mike Jackson
2    Clarence Williams And His Jazz Kings–    I'm Not Worrying 3:01
Vocals – Clarence Williams
Written-By – Williams, Waller
3    Clarence Williams' Washboard Band–    High Society 3:08
Written-By – Armand Piron
4    Clarence Williams' Washboard Band–    Whoop It Up 3:15
Written-By – Mike Jackson
5    Clarence Williams And His Jazz Kings–    A Pane In The Glass 2:58
Written-By – Clarence Williams
6    Clarence Williams And His Jazz Kings–    Freeze Out 2:47
Written-By – Fats Waller
7    Clarence Williams And His Jazz Kings–    Nervous Breakdown 2:45
Written-By – Clarence Williams
8    Clarence Williams And His Jazz Kings–    Railroad Rhythm 3:03
Written-By – Fats Waller
9    Clarence Williams' Washboard Band–    You've Got To Give Me Some 2:55
Vocals – Clarence Williams
Written-By – Clarence Williams
10    Clarence Williams' Washboard Band–    I've Got What It Takes (It Breaks My Heart To Give It Away) 3:12
Vocals – Clarence Williams
Written-By – Williams, Jenkins
11    Clarence Williams' Washboard Band–    You Don't Understand 3:02
Vocals – Clarence Williams
Written-By – Williams, Johnson, Williams
12    Clarence Williams' Washboard Band–    (Oh! Baby) What Makes Me Love You So? 3:21
Vocals – Clarence Williams
Written-By – Williams, Longshaw
13    Clarence Williams And His Jazz Kings–    Zonky 2:44
Vocals – Eva Taylor
Written-By – Razaf, Waller
14    Clarence Williams And His Jazz Kings–    You've Got To Be Modernistic 2:49
Vocals – Eva Taylor
Written-By – James P. Johnson
15    Seven Gallon Jug Band–    What If We Do 3:01
Recorder [Descant Recorder] – Frank Robinson
Written-By – Johnson, Williams
16    Seven Gallon Jug Band–    Wipe 'Em Off 2:40
Harmonica, Vocals – Frank Robinson
Vocals – Clarence Williams, Fats Waller
Written-By – Johnson, Williams
17    Clarence Williams' Orchestra–    Left All Alone With The Blues 3:28
Written-By – Williams, Jackson
18    Clarence Williams' Orchestra–    I've Found A New Baby 3:35
Written-By – Palmer, Williams
19    Jimmy Johnson And Clarence Williams–    How Could I Be Blue? 3:23
Speech – Clarence Williams, James P. Johnson
Written-By – Razaf, Wilson
20    Jimmy Johnson And Clarence Williams–    I've Found A New Baby 2:50
Speech – Clarence Williams, James P. Johnson
Written-By – Palmer, Williams
21    Clarence Williams' Washboard Band–    Whip Me With Plenty Of Love 3:10
Written-By – Williams, Urquhart
22    Clarence Williams' Washboard Band–    Worn Out Blues 3:14
Written-By – Joseph Rogalle
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – Unknown Artist (tracks: 1, 2)
Banjo – Leroy Harris (tracks: 5 to 8, 13, 14, 17, 18)
Bass Saxophone – Frank Robinson (tracks: 15, 16)
Bass [String Bass] [?] – Richard Fullbright (tracks: 13, 14)
Brass Bass – Cyrus St. Clair (tracks: 1, 2, 5 to 8, 17, 18)
Clarinet – Unknown Artist (tracks: 15, 16)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Unknown Artist (tracks: 3, 4)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone [?] – Don Redman (tracks: 13, 14), Russell Procope (tracks: 5 to 8, 17, 18)    Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Prince Robinson (tracks: 21, 22)
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone – Arville Harris (tracks: 1, 2, 5 to 14, 17, 18)
Cornet – Ed Allen (tracks: 1 to 8), Ed Anderson (tracks: 5 to 8)
Directed By – Clarence Williams (tracks: 11, 12, 15 to 17)
Drums – Floyd Casey (tracks: 1, 2)
Piano – Clarence Williams (tracks: 1 to 10, 19 to 22)
Piano [?] – Willie "The Lion" Smith (tracks: 15, 16)
Piano, Celesta – James P. Johnson* (tracks: 11 to 14, 17 to 20)
Trombone – Geechie Fields (tracks: 5 to 8, 13, 14, 17. 18), Unknown Artist (tracks: 1, 2)
Trumpet – Charlie Gaines (tracks: 9 to 12, 17, 18, 21, 22), Leonard Davis (tracks: 13, 14), Unknown Artist (tracks: 13, 14)
Trumpet [?] – Henry "Red" Allen (tracks: 21, 22)
Washboard – Floyd Casey (tracks: 3, 4, 9 to 12, 21, 22)