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)
13.4.23
BOOTS AND HIS BUDDIES – 1935-1937 (1993) The Classics Chronological Series – 723 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
BOOTS AND HIS BUDDIES – 1937-1938 (1993) The Classics Chronological Series – 738 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
Here's a taste of what the jazz scene was like in San Antonio, Texas during the mid-'30s. Clifford "Boots" Douglas (born in Temple, Texas September 7, 1908) led his 12- piece band from behind the drums, playing for dancers and leaving behind a trail of tasty Bluebird 78 rpm recordings. This is the second of two volumes containing all of this band's known works. The instrumentalists are barely remembered nowadays, even such powerful participants as trumpeter L.D. Harris, an extraordinary tenor man named Baker Millian, and an alto player with the unenviable nickname "Wee Wee." Boots became increasingly peculiar in his choice of altered and abbreviated song titles. His sense of humor welled up as "Somebody Loves Me" became "The Somebody;" "Sometimes I'm Happy" appeared as "The Happy," and "Willow Weep for Me" turned into "The Weep." It's surprising he didn't make "Ain't Misbehavin'" into "The Misbehave." This band could swing hard -- they really rock during "The Raggle Taggle." There are occasional slow ballads with crooners attached, but most of the material is hot, big-band dance music from the mid-'30s. New York had Duke Ellington, Basie was in Chicago fresh up from Kansas City, and meanwhile, all across the continental United States, there were dozens of small-time big bands trying to make a living by entertaining the public with jazz designed for dancing. Fortunately Boots and his Buddies were able to record more than 40 sides for posterity. Thanks to the producers of the Classics reissue series, interested parties may absorb all of these in chronological sequence. For best results, get both volumes. arwulf arwulf
Tracklist
1 Blues Of Avalon 3:28
Written By – Johnson-Rose-De Sylva
2 The Goo (Gonna Goo) 2:45
Written By – Young-Reser-Ahlert
3 The Weep (Willow Weep For Me) 3:08
Written By – Ronell
4 The Sad (Meditation) 3:03
Written By – Jack Bulterman
5 Ain't Misbehavin' 2:53
Written By – Fats Waller
6 The Somebody (Somebody Loves Me) 3:00
Written By – De Sylva-Gershwin-MacDonald
7 The Happy (Sometimes I'm Happy) 2:37
Written By – Caesar-Youmans
8 The Raggle Taggle 2:34
Unknown
9 A Salute To Harlem 2:27
Unknown
10 Gone 3:26
Unknown
11 Do-Re-Mi 2:50
Written By – Henderson
12 Deep South 3:02
Written By – Collins-Green
13 Lonely Moments 3:03
Unknown
14 Chubby (I'se A Muggin') 3:01
Written By – Smith
15 True Blue Lou (Blue Lou) 3:18
Written By – Henderson
16 East Commerce Stomp 3:07
Unknown
17 Lonesome Road Stomp 2:40
Written By – Shillkret
18 I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You 2:56
Written By – Young-Crosby-Washington
19 Boots Stomp 2:45
Unknown
20 Careless Love 2:59
Written By – Koenig-Williams-Handy
21 Remember 2:41
Unknown
Credits :
Bass – Walter McHenry
Guitar – Jeff Thomas
Piano – A. J. Johnson
Tenor Saxophone – Baker Millians
Trombone – George Corley
Trumpet – Charles Anderson (2), L. D. Harris, Percy Bush
Vocals – Celeste Allen (tracks: 2, 6), Cora Woods (tracks: 5, 9, 11, 12), Henderson Glass (tracks: 10)
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