ALBERT AMMONS – 1946-1948 (2000) The Classics Chronological Series – 1100 | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Here's vibrant proof that virtually any melody could be heated up and hammered out into an enjoyable boogie-woogie stomp. "Deep in the Heart of Texas," "Margie," "Roses of Picardy," "You Are My Sunshine," "Sheik of Araby," "When You And I Were Young, Maggie," and "Twelfth Street Rag" were all fair game for Albert Ammons' eight-to-the-bar gyrations. The twangy electrified guitar of Ike Perkins maintained rhythmic velocity with well-timed kicks and struts. On August 6, 1947, Ammons' Rhythm Kings quartet was fortified by the presence of Albert's son -- tenor saxophonist Gene Ammons -- and trumpeter Marvin Randolph. The pianist sounds deliberately old-fashioned during the introduction to W.C. Handy's hit of 1914, "St. Louis Blues." When the horns chime in during the bridge, everyone's rolling in a solid groove. Then Gene takes over, sounding majestically hip. This mood is continued and expanded on the flip side, "Shufflin' the Boogie," which is a rocker. "S.P. Blues" cooks just a bit hotter, and Gene wails up a storm. "Hiroshima" is this band's version of "Nagasaki," another goofy 1930s pop song turned jazz jam standard. Given what had happened to both cities in August of 1945, the retitling seems grimly playful. This session is perfectly symmetrical, with two steamy up-to-date boogies sandwiched between old standards. The Albert-and-Gene father-and-son combination is very exciting, and should be better known than it seems to be, even among seasoned jazz heads. "In a Little Spanish Town" sounds like a premonition of Professor Longhair's own Louisiana approach to the boogie-woogie, and compares well with Lester Young's version recorded in March of 1951. "Tuxedo Boogie" begins with a guitar lick that would eventually surface as "Shake Your Money Maker." Israel Crosby plays his upright bass on all six sessions, and the final date introduces a fine alto sax player by the name of Riley Hampton. These are the final sessions of Albert Ammons, preserved for posterity on Mercury Records. He passed away in Chicago on December 2, 1949, at the age of 42. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist :
1     Kilroy Boogie 2:44
Hattie Young
2     Deep in the Heart of Texas Boogie 2:58
June Hershey / Don Swander
3     Sweet Patootie Boogie 2:57
Hattie Young
4     Twelfth Street Boogie 2:48
Euday L. Bowman / Andy Razaf
5     St. Louis Blues 2:57
W.C. Handy
6     Shufflin' the Boogie 3:04
Hattie Young
7     S.P. Blues 2:36
Hattie Young
8     Hiroshima 2:46
Hattie Young
9     Roses of Picardy 2:56
Frederick Edward Weatherly / Hayden Wood
10     Sheik of Araby 2:47
Harry Beasley Smith / Ted Snyder / Francis Wheeler
11     You Are My Sunshine 2:50
Jimmie Davis / Charles Mitchell
12     In a Little Spanish Town 2:49
Sam M. Lewis / Mabel Wayne / Joe Young
13     Margie 2:38
Con Conrad / Benny Davis / J. Russel Robinson
14     Tuxedo Boogie 2:43
Hattie Young
15     Mr. Bell Boogie 2:58
Hattie Young
16     Bear Den Boogie 2:21
Hattie Young
17     Rhythm Boogie 3:04
Albert Ammons
18     Ammons Stomp 2:56
Albert Ammons
19     Baltimore Breakdown 3:04
Hattie Young
20     When You and I Were Young, Maggie 3:07
James Austin Butterfield / George Washington Johnson
21     The Clipper 3:02
Hattie Young
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Riley Hampton (faixas: 18 to 21)
Bass – Israel Crosby
Drums – Alvin Burroughs (faixas: 5 to 8), Armand "Jump" Jackson (faixas: 13 to 21), Jack Cooley (faixas: 1 to 4), Unknown Artist (faixas: 9 to 12)
Guitar – Ike Perkins (faixas: 1 to 13)
Piano – Albert Ammons
Tenor Saxophone – Gene Ammons (faixas: 5 to 8)
Trumpet – Marvin Randolph (faixas: 5 to 8)