CLARENCE WILLIAMS – 1924-1926 | The Classics Chronological Series – 695 (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The second CD in the Classics label's "complete" Clarence Williams series traces the pianist/bandleader's recordings during a 14-month period. The first six titles feature soprano great Sidney Bechet (who has a unique sarrusophone solo on "Mandy Make up Your Mind") while the first 13 also have Louis Armstrong. The pairing of these two classic and competitive greats is at its zenith on a brilliant version of "Cake Walking Babies from Home"; Satch gets the edge. In addition there are notable contributions on these 23 performances by trombonist Charlie Irvis, tenor-saxophonist Coleman Hawkins, cornetists Joe Smith, Bubber Miley and Ed Allen, clarinetist Buster Bailey and singer Eva Taylor among others. Williams's series of hot performances really epitomized small-group 1920s jazz and every entry in this Classics series is highly recommended. Other highlights include "Coal Cart Blues," "Shake That Thing," "Dinah" (which features Hawkins on baritone), "I've Found a New Baby" and two versions of "Santa Claus Blues." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Clarence Williams' Blue Five–    Mandy, Make Up Your Mind 3:07
Written-By – Johnston, Meyer, Clarke, Turk
2    Clarence Williams' Blue Five–    I'm A Little Blackbird Looking For A Bluebird 3:13
Written-By – Johnston, Meyer, Clarke, Turk
3    Clarence Williams' Blue Five–    Cake Walking Babies From Home 2:59
Written-By – Smith, Williams, Troy
4    Eva Taylor–    Pickin' On Your Baby 3:17
Written-By – Jones, Reynolds
5    Eva Taylor–    Cast Away 2:51
Written-By – Brown, Stewart, Easton
6    Clarence Williams' Blue Five–    Papa De-Da-Da 3:02
Written-By – Todd, Williams, Williams
7    Clarence Williams' Blue Five–    Just Wait 'Till You See My Baby Do The Charleston 2:46
Written-By – Todd, Williams, Simmons
8    Clarence Williams' Blue Five–    Livin' High Sometimes 2:31
Written-By – Belledna, Pinkard
9    Clarence Williams' Blue Five–    Coal Cart Blues 2:50
Written-By – Hardin, Armstrong
10    Clarence Williams' Blue Five–    Santa Claus Blues 2:34
Written-By – Straight, Kahn
11    Clarence Williams' Trio–    Santa Claus Blues 3:15
Written-By – Straight, Kahn
12    Clarence Williams' Blue Five–    Squeeze Me 3:05
Written-By – Williams, Waller
13    Eva Taylor–    You Can't Shush Katie (The Gabbiest Girl In Town) 3:03
Written-By – Warren, White, Creamer
14    Clarence Williams' Blue Five–    Shake That Thing 2:54
Written-By – Jackson
15    Clarence Williams' Blue Five–    Get It Fixed 3:00
Written-By – Clarence Williams
16    Clarence Williams Stompers–    Spanish Shawl 3:07
Written-By – Elmer Schoebel
17    Clarence Williams Stompers–    Dinah 2:36
Written-By – Harry Akst
18    Eva Taylor–    I've Found A New Baby 3:01
Written-By – Palmer, Williams
19    Clarence Williams' Blue Five–    I've Found A New Baby 2:53
Written-By – Palmer, Williams
20    Clarence Williams' Blue Five–    Pile Of Logs And Stone (Called Home) 2:31
Written-By – Maceo Pinkard
21    Dixie Washboard Band–    Wait Till You See My Baby Do The Charleston 2:54
Written-By – Todd, Williams, Simmons
22    Dixie Washboard Band–    Livin' High 3:11
Written-By – Belledna, Pinkard
23    Dixie Washboard Band–    Wait Till You See My Baby Do The Charleston 2:32
Written-By – Todd, Williams, Simmons
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – Unknown Artist (tracks: 14, 15)
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Clarinet – Don Redman (tracks: 5 to 9, 12, 13, 16, 17)
Banjo – Buddy Christian (tracks: 1 to 18)
Banjo [prob.] – Leroy Harris (tracks: 16 to 20)
Brass Bass – Cyrus St. Clair (tracks: 16 to 20)
Clarinet – Bennie Moten (tracks: 21 to 23), Buster Bailey (tracks: 14, 15)
Cornet – Charlie Thomas (tracks: 14, 15), Ed Allen (tracks: 21 to 23), Joe Smith (tracks: 16, 17), Louis Armstrong (tracks: 1 to 13)
Piano – Clarence Williams
Sarrusophone – Sidney Bechet (tracks: 1)
Soprano Saxophone – Buster Bailey (tracks: 5 to 10), Sidney Bechet (tracks: 1 to 6)
Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet – Coleman Hawkins (tracks: 12, 13, 16, 17)
Trombone – Charlie Irvis (tracks: 1 to 10, 12, 13, 16 to 20)
Vocals – Eva Taylor (tracks: 1 to 15, 18 to 20)
Washboard – Jasper Taylor (tracks: 21 to 23)

CLARENCE WILLIAMS – 1926-1927 | The Classics Chronological Series – 718 (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The third CD in the Classics label's Clarence Williams program reissues all of the pianist/bandleader's dates from a ten-month period, 23 selections in all. Such groups as Joe Jordan's Ten Sharps and Flats (performing a memorable version of "Morocco Blues"), The Dixie Washboard Band, The Blue Grass Foot Warmers and Clarence Williams's Stompers (or Blue Seven or Jazz Kings or Washboard Four). Williams uses some of the top musicians of the era (including cornetists Bubber Miley, Tommy Ladnier and Ed Allen, trombonist Jimmy Harrison, clarinetist Buster Bailey, Coleman Hawkins on tenor, Cyrus St. Clair on tuba and Jasper Taylor on washboard among others) for the heated and freewheeling performances. Highlights include "Jackass Blues," "I Found a New Baby," "Senegalese Stomp" and a truly classic version of "Candy Lips" (which features two clarinets in hot pursuit). All of the CDs in this valuable series are highly recommended to classic jazz fans. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Clarence Williams Stompers–    Jackass Blues 3:00
Written-By – Kassel, Stitzel
2    Clarence Williams Stompers–    What's The Matter Now? 2:20
Vocals – Don Redman
Written-By – Williams, Williams
3    Joe Jordan's Ten Sharps And Flats–    Morocco Blues 3:20
Vocals [Comments] – Clarence Williams
Written-By – Williams, Jordan
4    Dixie Washboard Band–    You For Me, Me For You 3:07
Vocals – Clarence Todd
Written-By – Mack, Johnson
5    Dixie Washboard Band–    My Own Blues 2:53
Vocals – Clarence Todd
Written-By – Clarence Williams
6    Dixie Washboard Band–    Boodle Am 3:06
Vocals – Clarence Todd
Written-By – Palmer, Williams
7    Dixie Washboard Band–    I Found A New Baby 2:53
Vocals – Clarence Todd
Written-By – Palmer, Williams
8    Blue Grass Foot Warmers–    Señorita Mine 2:38
Written-By – Unknown Artist
9    Blue Grass Foot Warmers–    Charleston Hound 2:51
Written-By – Williams, Waller
10    Blue Grass Foot Warmers–    How Could I Be Blue 2:47
Speech – Clarence Todd
Written-By – Unknown Artist
11    Blue Grass Foot Warmers–    Old Folks Shuffle 2:44
Written-By – Williams, Waller
12    Dixie Washboard Band–    Dark Eyes 3:10
Vocals – Clarence Todd
– Traditional
13    Dixie Washboard Band–    Gimme Blues 3:04
Vocals – Clarence Todd
Written-By – Clarence Williams
14    Dixie Washboard Band–    King Of The Zulus 3:25
Dialog – Clarence Todd, Clarence Williams
Written-By – Lil Hardin Armstrong
15    Dixie Washboard Band–    The Zulu Blues 2:55
Vocals – Clarence Todd
Written-By – Clarence Williams
16    Clarence Williams' Blue Seven–    Would Ja? 2:49
Written-By – Manning Sherwin
17    Clarence Williams' Blue Seven–    Senegalese Stomp 2:37
Written-By – Clarence Todd
18    Joe Sims (And Clarence Williams–    What Do You Know About That? 2:55
Vocals – Clarence Williams, Joe Sims
Written-By – Unknown Artist
19    Joe Sims (And Clarence Williams–    Shut Your Mouth 3:11
Vocals – Clarence Williams, Joe Sims
Written-By – Unknown Artist
20    Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings–    Gravier Street Blues 3:00
Written-By – Clarence Williams
21    Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings–    Candy Lips 2:44
Written-By – Lauria, Jackson
22    Clarence Williams' Washboard Four–    Nobody But My Baby Is Getting My Love 2:38
Written-By – Razaf, Williams
23    Clarence Williams' Washboard Four–    Candy Lips 2:43
Vocals – Clarence Williams
Written-By – Lauria, Jackson
Credits :    
Banjo – Leroy Harris (tracks: 16, 17, 20, 21), Mike McKendrick (tracks: 3), Unknown Artist (tracks: 14, 15)
Banjo [?] – Buddy Christian (tracks: 1, 2), Leroy Harris (tracks: 1, 2)
Brass Bass – Cyrus St. Clair (tracks: 16, 17, 20, 21), Ed Bergen (tracks: 3), Unknown Artist (tracks: 1, 2)
Clarinet [?] – Ben Whitted (tracks: 20, 21), Benny Moten (tracks: 20, 21)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Bennie Moten (tracks: 3 to 11, 22, 23), Buster Bailey (tracks: 16, 17), Don Redman (tracks: 1, 2), James Nichols (tracks: 3)
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins (tracks: 16, 17), Unknown Artist (tracks: 12 to 15)
Cornet – Bubber Miley (tracks: 1, 2), Ed Allen (tracks: 3 to 11, 22, 23), Thomas Morris (tracks: 1, 2), William Logan (tracks: 3)
Cornet [?] – Addington Major (tracks: 18, 19), Louis Metcalf (tracks: 12 to 15, 18, 19)
Drums, Washboard – Jasper Taylor (tracks: 3 to 11)
Piano – Clarence Williams (tracks: 1, 2, 4 to 17, 20 to 23), Fats Waller (tracks: 18, 19)
Piano, Directed By – Joe Jordan (tracks: 3)
Tenor Saxophone – Clarence Miller (tracks: 3)
Trombone – Jimmy Harrison (tracks: 16, 17), Joe Brown (22) (tracks: 3)
Trombone [?] – Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton (tracks: 1, 2), John Mayfield (tracks: 14, 15)
Trumpet – Tommy Ladnier (tracks: 16, 17)
Washboard – Bruce Johnson (tracks: 12 to 15), Floyd Casey (tracks: 22, 23)

CLARENCE WILLIAMS – 1927 | The Classics Chronological Series – 736 (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Pianist/bandleader Clarence Williams was at the height of his productivity in 1927; the 22 numbers on this CD were recorded within a 6 1/2 month period. With the exception of The Dixie Washboard Band, all of the performances were originally released under Clarence Williams's name but the personnel and instrumentation often differ from session to session. The fourth in Classics' complete reissuance of Williams's recordings features such top sideman as cornetists Ed Allen and Louis Metcalf, trumpeter Red Allen (in what was probably his earliest recording), trombonist Charlie Irvis, clarinetist Buster Bailey and a variety of lesser-known players with some of the best performances being "Cushion Foot Stomp" (which is heard three different times), "Shooting the Pistol," "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home" and Williams's solo version of "When I March in April with May." Highly recommended to collectors of vintage jazz. Scott Yanow
Tracklist
1    Clarence Williams And His Washboard Band–    Cushion Foot Stomp 2:59
Written-By – Clarence Williams
2    Clarence Williams And His Washboard Band–    P.D.Q. Blues 2:54
Written-By – Henry, Simson
3    Dixie Washboard Band–    Anywhere Sweetie Goes (I'll Be There) 2:58
Written-By – Williams, Waller
4    Dixie Washboard Band–    Cushion Foot Stomp 3:00
Written-By – Clarence Williams
5    Clarence Williams' Washboard Five–    Cushion Foot Stomp 3:20
Written-By – Clarence Williams
6    Clarence Williams' Washboard Five–    Take Your Black Bottom Outside 3:01
Written-By – Williams, Green
7    Clarence Williams' Blue Five–    Black Snake Blues 2:54
Written-By – Johnson, Spivey
8    Clarence Williams' Blue Five–    Old Folks Shuffle 2:49
Written-By – Williams, Waller
9    Clarence Williams' Blue Five Orchestra–    Baltimore 2:53
Written-By – Healy, Kahal, McHugh
10    Clarence Williams' Blue Five Orchestra–    Take Your Black Bottom Outside 3:02
Written-By – Williams, Green
11    Clarence Williams And His Bottomland Orchestra–    Slow River (Vocal) 3:13
Written-By – Clarence Williams
12    Clarence Williams And His Bottomland Orchestra–    Slow River (Instr.) 3:12
Written-By – Clarence Williams
13    Clarence Williams And His Bottomland Orchestra–    Zulu Wail (Vocal) 2:59
Written-By – Clarence Williams
14    Clarence Williams And His Bottomland Orchestra–    Zulu Wail (Instr.) 3:09
Written-By – Clarence Williams
15    Clarence Williams' Orchestra–    Shooting The Pistol 2:38
Written-By – Smith, Williams
16    Clarence Williams' Orchestra–    Bottomland 3:08
Written-By – Williams, Trent
17    Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings–    I'm Goin' Back To Bottomland 2:33
Written-By – Williams, Trent
18    Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings–    You'll Long For Me (When The Cold Winds Blow) 3:02
Written-By – Clarence Williams
19    Clarence Williams–    When I March In April With May 3:08
Written-By – Clarence Williams
20    Clarence Williams–    Shootin' The Pistol 2:53
Written-By – Clarence Williams
21    Clarence Williams' Blue Seven–    Baby, Won't You Please Come Home? 2:51
Written-By – Warfield, Williams
22    Clarence Williams' Blue Seven–    Close Fit Blues 2:58
Written-By – Clarence Williams
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone [?] – Alberto Socarras (tracks: 11 to 14)
Banjo – Leroy Harris (tracks: 7 to 10, 17, 18, 21, 22)
Clarinet – Buster Bailey (tracks: 5, 6)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Alberto Socarras (tracks: 17, 18), Arville Harris (tracks: 7 to 10, 21, 22), Ben Whitted (tracks: 7, 8), Carmelo Jari (tracks: 1 to 4)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone [?] – Arville Harris (tracks: 15, 16)
Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone, Flute [?] – Alberto Socarras (tracks: 15, 16)
Cornet – Ed Allen (tracks: 1 to 9, 15 to 18), Louis Metcalf (tracks: 21, 22)
Drums – Floyd Casey (tracks: 7 to 14)
Piano – Clarence Williams
Soprano Saxophone – Buster Bailey (tracks: 21, 22)
Sousaphone – Cyrus St. Clair (tracks: 5 to 8, 15 to 18, 21, 22)
Trombone – Charlie Irvis (tracks: 7 to 18, 21, 22)
Trumpet – Ed Anderson (tracks: 11 to 14), Henry "Red" Allen (tracks: 11 to 14)
Vocals – Clarence Lee (2) (tracks: 1, 2), Clarence Williams (tracks: 5, 6, 19, 20), Evelyn Preer (tracks: 11, 13), Katherine Henderson (3) (tracks: 9, 10), Shufflin' Sam
Washboard – Floyd Casey (tracks: 1 to 6)

CLARENCE WILLIAMS – 1929 | The Classics Chronological Series – 791 (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The seventh volume in the European Classics label's complete reissue of bandleader Clarence Williams' very valuable recordings documents his music during a four-month period. Included are two Williams piano solos; his sessions leading the Barrelhouse Five Orchestra, Jazz Kings, and the Memphis Jazzers; and quite a bit of superior small-group jazz. Among the sidemen are cornetist Ed Allen, trombonist Ed Cuffee, Arville Harris and Albert Socarras on reeds, banjoist Leroy Harris, pianist James P. Johnson (on two songs), the exuberant tuba of Cyrus St. Clair, Floyd Casey on drums and washboard, and Williams himself on piano and occasional vocals. Highlights include "Endurance Stomp," "If You Like Me Like I Like You," "Steamboat Days," "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home," "In Our Cottage of Love," and the original version of "Breeze." All of the CDs in this enjoyable series are easily recommended to 1920s collectors. Scott Yanow  
Tracklist :
1    Barrel House Five Orchestra–    Hot Lovin’ 3:00
Written-By – Charles Warfield
2    Barrel House Five Orchestra–    Mama Stayed Out 3:05
Vocals – Clarence Williams, Ed Allen
Written-By – Razaf, Wilson
3    Barrel House Five Orchestra–    Nobody’s Business (How I Love That Man) 2:51
Written-By – Glady Rodgers
4    Barrel House Five Orchestra–    Endurance Stomp 2:50
Written-By – Angelo Fernandez
5    Barrel House Five Orchestra–    Some Do And Some Don’t 2:59
Written-By – Unknown Artist
6    Barrel House Five Orchestra–    Scufflin’ Blues 3:01
Written-By – Garrison, Jefferson
7    Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings–    If You Like Me Like I Like You 2:51
Vocals – Clarence Williams
Written-By – Clarence Williams
8    Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings–    Have You Ever Felt That Way? 2:59
Vocals – Clarence Williams
Written-By – Castleton, Williams
9    Clarence Williams–    A Pane In The Glass 3:01
Written-By – Clarence Williams
10    Clarence Williams–    Too Low 2:54
Written-By – Clarence Williams
11    Clarence Williams’ Washboard Band–    Mississippi Blues (Home Town Toddle) 3:07
Written-By – Williams, Hegamin
12    Clarence Williams’ Washboard Band–    Steamboat Days 3:14
Written-By – Clarence Williams
13    Memphis Jazzers–    Close Fit Blues 3:07
Written-By – Clarence Williams
14    Memphis Jazzers–    Baby, Won’t You Please Come Home? 3:34
Written-By – Warfield, Williams
15    Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings–    Breeze (Blow My Baby Back To Me) 2:57
Vocals – Clarence Williams
Written-By – MacDonald, Hanley, Goodwin
16    Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings–    Mountain City Blues 2:58
Vocals – Clarence Williams
Written-By – Charlie Troutt
17    Clarence Williams And His Band–    I’m Not Worryin’ 3:27
Written-By – Williams, Waller
18    Clarence Williams And His Band–    Touch-Down 2:51
Written-By – Fats Waller
19    Clarence Williams’ Washboard Band–    In Our Cottage Of Love 3:17
Written-By – Shafer, Milne
20    Clarence Williams’ Washboard Band–    Lazy Mama 2:57
Written-By – Gifford, Jr., Gray
21    Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings–    In Our Cottage Of Love 2:49
Written-By – Shafer, Milne
22    Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings–    Them Things Got Me 2:58
Written-By – Williams, Jackson
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – Unknown Artist (tracks: 21, 22)
Banjo – Leroy Harris (tracks: 13 to 16), Unknown Artist
Banjo [?] – Leroy Harris (tracks: 7, 8)
Brass Bass – Cyrus St. Clair (tracks: 13 to 16, 21, 22), Unknown Artist
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Alberto Socarras (tracks: 15, 16), Arville Harris (tracks: 1 to 6, 11 to 14), Russell Procope (tracks: 15, 16), Unknown Artist (tracks: 17 to 20)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone [?] – Alberto Socarras (tracks: 17, 18)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Flute – Alberto Socarras (tracks: 7, 8)
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Arville Harris (tracks: 7, 8, 19 to 22), Prince Robinson (tracks: 15, 16)
Cornet – Ed Allen (tracks: 1 to 8, 11 to 20)
Cornet [Either/Or] – Ed Allen (tracks: 21, 22), King Oliver (tracks: 21, 22)
Drums – Floyd Casey (tracks: 21, 22)
Piano – Clarence Williams (tracks: 1 to 6, 9 to 16, 19 to 22), James P. Johnson (tracks: 7, 8)
Piano [?] – J.C. Johnson (tracks: 17, 18)
Trombone – Ed Cuffee (tracks: 13 to 18), Unknown Artist (tracks: 21, 22)
Washboard – Floyd Casey (tracks: 1 to 6, 11, 12, 19, 20)