SLIM GAILLARD – 1939-1940 | The Classics Chronological Series – 724 (1993) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Volume two in the Classics Slim Gaillard chronology presents the Flat Foot Floogee Boys in all their pixilated glory. Well known for his silly and imaginative use of hip scat and cannabis-informed "viper talk," Gaillard was also one of a handful of individuals who pioneered the use of the electrically amplified guitar. This entertaining compilation presents Gaillard in the company of trumpeters Cyril Newman, Al Killian, and Henry Goodwin, lightning alto saxophonist Herman Flintall, Kenneth Hollon on tenor sax, the versatile Garvin Bushell on clarinet, pianist Loumell Morgan, bowing/singing bassist Slam Stewart, and dynamic drummer Herbert Pettaway (also known as "Hubert"). There are no sleepers among these vintage recordings, which were originally issued on the Okeh and Vocalion labels. Slow ballads come across as very cool and groovy while most of the vocal routines are based on simple riffs with lyrics derived from basic hip vernacular. A jam like "Beatin' the Board" is a miracle of collectivity and "Sploghm" is cherished by collectors and jazz heads as a masterpiece of rapid-fire small-group swing. The call and response "Broadway Jump" takes the art of nonsensical babble to new levels of silliness. Soon the public would come to associate Gaillard almost exclusively with this sort of eccentric novelty chatter rather than with the bop revolution with which in some ways he was closely aligned. Invariably tempered with Gaillard's peculiar sense of humor, the bop element would become significantly more pronounced in 1945 and 1946, as later volumes in this excellent series thoroughly demonstrate. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist :
1    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    That's A Bringer - That's A Hanger - That's A Drag    2:56
2    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    A-Well-A-Take-'Em-A-Joe (Crap Shooter's Jive)    3:01
3    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Chicken Rhythm    2:52
4    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Swingin' In The Key Of C    2:41
5    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Boot-Ta-La-Za    3:23
6    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    (My Darling) It's You, Only You    3:10
7    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Beatin' The Board    2:57
8    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Look Out    2:52
9    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Matzoh Balls    2:35
10    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Early In The Morning    2:35
11    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Chittlin' Switch Blues    2:48
12    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Huh! Uh-Huh!    2:50
13    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Windy City Hop    2:42
14    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Baby, Be Mine    2:56
15    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Sploghm    2:34
16    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Fitzwater Street (Located In Philadelphia)    2:48
17    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Don't Let Us Say Good-Bye    2:57
18    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Rhythm Mad    2:44
19    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Bongo    2:54
20    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Broadway Jump    2:47
Credits :    
Acoustic Bass – William Smith (tracks: 1 to 12)
Acoustic Bass, Vocals – Slam Stewart (tracks: 13 to 20)
Alto Saxophone – Herman Flintall (tracks: 1 to 7)
Clarinet – Garvin Bushell (tracks: 17 to 20)
Drums – Herbert Pettaway
Piano – Loumell Morgan
Tenor Saxophone – Kenneth Hollon (tracks: 8 to 12)
Trumpet – Al Killian (tracks: 4 to 12), Cyril Newman (tracks: 1 to 3), Henry Goodwin (tracks: 17 to 20)
Vocals, Guitar – Slim Gaillard

SLIM GAILLARD – 1940-1942 | The Classics Chronological Series – 753 (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Volume three in the complete chronological recordings of Slim Gaillard chronicles the further adventures of Okeh recording artists the Flat Foot Floogee Boys. Garvin Bushell blows clarinet on four titles waxed in September 1940. Bushell's long career as a multi-instrumentalist included a date with Fats Waller and James P. Johnson in 1928 and a fiery residency at the Village Vanguard with John Coltrane and Eric Dolphy in 1961. As a member of the Flat Foot Floogee Boys, Bushell sounds best on the upbeat numbers, interacting warmly with trumpeter Henry Goodwin and engaging in a bit of call and response on "Hit That Mess." Two sessions from 1941 scale the band down to a quartet and signal the return of singing bassist Slam Stewart, Gaillard's original partner in crime. Four titles from March 11 are classic Slim & Slam. "Bassology" is among Stewart's most amazing performances on record and one of the great jazz bass recordings of all time. This session is also notable for the presence of pianist Loumell Morgan and percussionist Kenny Clarke. Moving his act to Hollywood during the summer of 1941, Gaillard began to appear in motion pictures, including an appearance with Slam Stewart, Rex Stewart, and Cee Pee Johnson in a wild flick bearing the title Hellzapoppin'. Unfortunately, this compilation does not contain any portion of that film's soundtrack. What you do get to hear are four swingin' sides that constitute 20-year-old drummer Forrest "Chico" Hamilton's first appearance on record. Still in Hollywood on April 4, 1942, Gaillard and Stewart made three amazing sides with tenor sax heavyweight Ben Webster, pianist Jimmy Rowles, and drummer Leo "Scat" Watson, who couldn't restrain an occasional outburst of his own brand of scat singing. Someone appears to be tapdancing during "Groove Juice Special." If this was Watson then he managed to drum and dance at the same time. Why these three incredible recordings were rejected by Okeh and left unreleased is anybody's guess. This session was certainly a high point in the career of each participant. Gaillard's own progress was interrupted first by the 1942 AFM recording ban and then by the draft board. Gaillard would resume making records in 1945 with a decidedly different cast of characters. As a sort of dessert the folks at Classics have amended the package with four rare recordings by the Royal Rhythm Boys from 1939. This almost forgotten little band consisted of Jimmy Prince at the piano, guitarist Billy Moore, and the mighty Slam Stewart, who sings hip duets with Moore in a manner anticipating the Cats & the Fiddle and the King Cole Trio. Although the Classics discography implies that Moore composed "Peace Brother Peace," this song was written by Clarence Williams and introduced in the mid-'30s by Willie "The Lion" Smith & His Cubs. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist :
1    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Put Your Arms Around Me, Baby    2:55
2    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Lookin' For A Place To Park    3:00
3    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Hit That Mess    2:38
4    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Hey! Chef    2:40
5    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Ah Now    2:54
6    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    A Tip On The Numbers    3:06
7    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Slim Slam Boogie    2:32
8    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Bassology    2:37
9    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Bingie-Bingie-Scootie    2:55
10    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    B-19    3:01
11    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Champagne Lullaby    2:53
12    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    African Jive    2:34
13    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Palm Springs Jump    2:36
14    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Ra-Da-Da-Da    2:36
15    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Groove Juice Special    2:40
16    Royal Rhythm Boys–    In A Shanty In Old Shanty Town    2:37
17    Royal Rhythm Boys–    Blue Skies    3:03
18    Royal Rhythm Boys–    Beat It Out, Bumpin' Boy    2:29
19    Royal Rhythm Boys–    Peace, Brother, Peace    3:06
Credits :    
Clarinet – Garvin Bushell (tracks: 1 to 4)
Double Bass [Acoustic Bass] – Nick Fenton (tracks: 1 to 4), Slam Stewart (tracks: 5 to 19)
Drums – Forrest "Chico" Hamilton (tracks: 9 to 12), Hubert Pettaway (tracks: 1 to 4), Kenny Clarke (tracks: 5 to 8), Leo Watson (tracks: 13 to 15)
Guitar – Billy Moore (tracks: 16 to 19)
Piano – Jimmy Prince (tracks: 16 to 19), Jimmy Rowles (tracks: 13 to 15), Loumell Morgan (tracks: 1 to 8), Tommy Fulford (tracks: 9 to 12)
Tenor Saxophone – Ben Webster (tracks: 13 to 15)
Trumpet – Henry Goodwin (tracks: 1 to 4)
Vocals, Guitar – Slim Gaillard (tracks: 1 to 15)