Meet Clifford "Boots" Douglas, a solid drummer who led a fine big band in and around San Antonio, Texas during the mid-'30s. Thanks to the efforts of the men behind Victor's budget Bluebird label, Boots managed to make no less than 42 recordings, exactly half of which are presented here, on 1935-1937. Most of the players are shrouded in obscurity. A.J. Johnson was an able pianist, Walter McHenry packed punches with his upright bass, and Baker Millian handled a tenor sax with warmth and finesse. The leader's straightforward shuffle-drumming punctuated with concisely employed cymbal strikes is delightfully consistent, and at times exciting, for example during the stomp simply known as "Riffs." Boots liked to mask the tune titles using a kind of glib shorthand: "Sweet Georgia Brown" becomes "Georgia," Will Hudson's "Hokus Pocus" is rechristened "The Vamp" and "Sleepy Time Gal" is "Sleepy Gal," for short. Duke Ellington's "Stompy Jones" is reworked here as "The Swing," and "San Antonio Tamales" turns out to be "Angry," a ripe old number from the repertoire of the New Orleans Rhythm Kings. Five sides feature vocalist Celeste Allen, a robust fellow who could easily pass for the young Jimmy Rushing, and two titles are sacrificed to a sentimental Israel Wicks, who chose the crooning Pha Terrell approach. Allen returns to the microphone with two other vocalists who harmonize with him in a performance worthy of Jimmie Lunceford's orchestra, cheerfully intoning: "When I see a jelly roll, I lose all my self control." Altogether a splendid introduction to a band that dared to operate far from the New Orleans/Chicago/New York triangle. arwulf arwulf
Tracklist
1 Rose Room 2:39
Arranged By – Eddie Heywood Jr.
Written-By – Hickman, Williams
2 How Long? - Part 1 3:27
Arranged By – Lloyd Glenn
Vocals – Celeste Allen
Written-By – Carr
3 Riffs 2:34
Written-By – Unknown Artist
4 Wild Cherry 3:19
Written-By – Redman
5 Anytime 2:41
Arranged By – Jim Wheat
Written-By – Unknown Artist
6 I Love You Truly 2:49
Vocals – Celeste Allen
Written-By – Jacobs-Bond
7 Marie 2:56
Arranged By – Baker Millian
Written-By – Berlin
8 How Long? - Part 2 3:22
Arranged By – Lloyd Glenn
Vocals – Celeste Allen
Written-By – Carr
9 Coquette 3:26
Arranged By – Baker Millian
Written-By – Lombardo, Kahn, Green
10 The Vamp (Hokus Pokus) 2:40
Written By – Hudson
11 Georgia 2:50
Arranged By – Baker Millian
Written-By – Bernie, Casey, Pinkard
12 The Swing (Stompy Jones) 2:34
Written-By – Ellington
13 Sweet Girl 3:18
Arranged By – Jim Wheat
Vocals – Celeste Allen
Written-By – Unknown Artist
14 Jealous 2:59
Arranged By – Harold Holmes
Vocals – Celeste Allen
Written-By – Finch, Little, Malie
15 Haunting Memories 3:05
Vocals – Israel Wicks
Written-By – Unknown Artist
16 When The Time Has Come 2:43
Vocals – Israel Wicks
Written-By – Unknown Artist
17 Rhythmic Rhapsody 3:11
Arranged By – Harold Holmes
Written-By – Unknown Artist
18 I Like You Best Of All 2:43
Vocals – C. H. Jones, Celeste Allen, L. D. Harris
Written-By – Unknown Artist
19 San Antonio Tamales (Angry) 2:50
Arranged By – Harold Holmes
Written-By – Mecum, Brunies, Cossard, Brunies
20 Sleepy Gal 2:55
Arranged By – Harold Holmes
Written-By – Lorenzo, Alden, Whiting
21 Swanee River Blues 2:55
Arranged By – Herbert "Peanuts" Goodwin
Written-By – Foster
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Alva Brooks, Arthur Hampton (tracks: 14 to 21), Jim Wheat (tracks: 1 to 13)
Double Bass [String Bass] – Walter McHenry
Drums, Leader – Clifford "Boots" Douglas
Guitar – Jeff Thomas
Piano – A. J. Johnson (tracks: 1 to 13), Herbert "Peanuts" Goodwin (tracks: 14 to 21)
Tenor Saxophone – Baker Millian, David Ellis (tracks: 14 to 21)
Trombone – George Corley (tracks: 14 to 21), Johnny Shields (tracks: 1 to 13)
Trumpet – C.H. "Chubby" Jones (tracks: 14 to 21), Douglas Byers (tracks: 1 to 6), L. D. Harris, Lonnie Moore (tracks: 7 to 13), Percy Bush, Thaddeus Gilders (tracks: 1 to 6) 
