Buddy Tate gained his initial fame as one of the tenor saxophonists with Count Basie's Orchestra during 1938-1948, replacing Herschel Evans. All of his early dates as a leader are on this CD, and most of the sessions were formerly quite rare. Tate is heard as a sideman in 1945 with trumpeter Karl George's swing-to-bop octet (which also starred trombonist J.J. Johnson), with pianist Skip Hall's combo in 1949 (four instrumentals featuring trumpeter Buck Clayton), and on four sessions of his own. Thirteen songs are from two dates near the end of 1947 and feature some excellent Emmett Berry trumpet, pianist Bill Doggett's arrangements, and a couple of early vocals by Jimmy Witherspoon; Tate comes across effectively in an Illinois Jacquet jump/jazz role. His other two dates (from 1949-1950) are in a similar vein, with Buck Clayton and trombonist Tyree Glenn helping out. A few songs along the way have vocals (a pair by Eddie Fullylove are essentially middle-of-the-road pop), but most of the music is quite worthwhile and swinging. Recommended. Scott Yanow
Tracklist + Credits :
18.7.23
BUDDY TATE – 1945-1950 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1207 (2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
1.5.23
ANDY KIRK AND HIS TWELVE CLOUDS OF JOY – 1936-1937 | The Classics Chronological Series – 573 (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
The Andy Kirk Orchestra ended their five-year hiatus from records in March 1936 in a big way, recording ten titles in their first session alone. Mary Lou Williams' arrangements and several strong soloists (including pianist Williams and tenor saxophonist Dick Wilson) gave the band its own musical personality, and their hit recording of "Until the Real Thing Comes Along" (included on this release) made the group a commercial success for a time. Vocalist Pha Terrell's high voice was always an acquired taste, and many of his vocals (other than the hit and "All the Jive Is Gone") are often difficult to sit through. However, most of the songs on this excellent CD are pretty heated, with highlights including "Walkin' and Swingin'," "Lotta Sax Appeal," "Froggy Bottom," "Christopher Columbus" and "The Lady Who Swings the Band." Listeners who are not completists (and the Classics CD series does skip over alternates anyway) may want to acquire GRP/Decca's single CD Mary's Idea instead. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Walkin' And Swingin' 2:55
Arranged By – Mary Lou Williams
Written-By – Williams
2 Moten Swing 3:06
Written-By – Moten, Moten
3 Lotta Sax Appeal 2:54
Written-By – Williams
4 Git 2:51
Written-By – Williams
5 All The Jive Is Gone 2:36
Written-By – Thompson
6 Froggy Bottom 3:12
Written-By – Williams
7 Bearcat Shuffle 3:00
Written-By – Williams
8 Steppin' Pretty 2:48
Written-By – Williams
9 Christopher Columbus 2:42
Written-By – Razaf, Barry
10 Corky 2:25
Arranged By – Mary Lou WIlliams
Written-By – Williams
11 I'se A Muggin' 2:45
Written-By – Smith
12 Until The Real Thing Comes Along 2:55
Written-By – Nichols, Freeman, Holiner, Cahn, Chaplin
13 Puddin' Head Serenade 2:47
Written-By – Hart
14 Until The Real Thing Comes Along 3:01
Written-By – Nichols, Freeman, Holiner, Cahn, Chaplin
15 Blue Illusion 2:44
Written By – Unknown
Written-By [Uncredited] – Emma La Freniere, Thomas J. Gindhart
16 Cloudy 2:54
Written-By – Williams
17 Give Her A Pint (And She'll Tell It All) 2:52
Written-By – Cahn, Chaplin
18 Puddin' Head Serenade 2:35
Written-By – Hart
19 Fifty-Second Street 3:01
Written-By – Cahn, Chaplin
20 The Lady Who Swings The Band 2:45
Written-By – Cahn, Chaplin
21 What Will I Tell My Heart? 3:14
Written-By – Lawrence, Tinturin
22 Dedicated To You 3:21
Written-By – Cahn, Chaplin
23 Wednesday Night Hop 3:06
Arranged By – Les Johnakins
Written-By – Kirk, Johnakins
24 Skies Are Blue 3:02
Written-By – Cahn, Chaplin
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Earl Miller (tracks: 23, 24)
Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – John Williams (14)
Arranged By – Earl Thompson (tracks: 2 to 9, 11 to 22)
Bass – Booker Collins
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – John Harrington
Directed By, Bass Saxophone – Andy Kirk
Drums – Ben Thigpen
Guitar – Ted Robinson
Piano – Mary Lou Williams
Tenor Saxophone – Dick Wilson
Trombone – Henry Wells, Ted Donnelly
Trumpet – Earl Thompson, Harry Lawson, Paul King
Violin – Claude Williams
Vocals – Ben Thigpen (tracks: 4, 6, 11, 12), Harry Mills (tracks: 19, 20), Pha Terrell (tracks: 5, 14 to 17, 21, 22, 24)
29.4.23
ANDY KIRK AND HIS TWELVE CLOUDS OF JOY – 1937-1938 | The Classics Chronological Series – 581 (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
The third Andy Kirk CD put out by the Classics label (reissuing all of Kirk's swing-era recordings) is primarily for completists, for the then-popular but rather dated singer Pha Terrell is on the majority of the songs. There are some good moments from pianist Mary Lou Williams and tenor saxophonist Dick Wilson (particularly on the instrumentals), with the most memorable numbers being "A Mellow Bit of Rhythm," "Twinklin'," and "The Big Dipper," but Terrell is often difficult to sit through. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Downstream 2:59
Rick Davies / Andy Kirk / Jack Lawrence / Guido Nisenson
2 In the Groove 3:04
Mary Lou Williams / D. Wilson
3 Worried over You 3:09
Ed Nelson, Jr. / Billy Rose
4 Foolin' Myself 3:01
Jack Lawrence / Peter Tinturin
5 I'm Glad for Your Sake (But I'm Sorry for Mine) 2:58
Jack Lawrence / Peter Tinturin
6 I'll Get Along Somehow 2:48
Buddy Fields / Gerald Marks
7 A Mellow Bit of Rhythm 3:19
Herman Walder / Mary Lou Williams
8 In My Wildest Dreams 2:52
Sammy Cahn / Saul Chaplin
9 Better Luck Next Time 2:46
Jack Lawrence / Peter Tinturin
10 With Love in My Heart 2:39
John Klenner
11 What's Mine Is Yours 3:15
Jack Lawrence / Peter Tinturin
12 Why Can't We Do It Again? 3:08
Henry Wells
13 The Key to My Heart 3:07
Niesen / Milton / Kanner
14 I Went to a Gypsy 2:49
Jack Lawrence / Mary Lou Williams
15 Lover, Come Back to Me 3:12
Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg
16 Poor Butterfly 2:50
John Golden / Raymond Hubbell
17 The Big Dipper 2:54
Larry Clinton / Frances Day Colgems
18 Bear Down 2:59
Dowell / Fox
19 I Surrender, Dear 3:06
Harry Barris / Gordon Clifford
20 Twinklin' 3:11
Mary Lou Williams
21 It Must Be True (You Are Mine, All Mine) 3:08
Harry Barris / Gordon Clifford
22 I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You) 3:05
Fred E. Ahlert / Roy Turk
23 Little Joe from Chicago 2:49
Henry Wells / Mary Lou Williams
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Earl Miller, John Harrington, John Williams
Arranged By – Earl Thompson (tracks: 1 to 6, 8 to 14)
Baritone Saxophone – John Harrington, John Williams
Bass Saxophone – Andy Kirk (tracks: 1 to 14)
Clarinet – John Harrington
Directed By – Andy Kirk
Double Bass – Booker Collins
Drums – Ben Thigpen
Guitar – Ted Robinson
Piano – Mary Lou Williams
Tenor Saxophone – Dick Wilson
Trombone – Henry Wells, Ted Donnelly
Trumpet – Clarence Trice (tracks: 15 to 23), Earl Thompson, Harry Lawson, Paul King (4) (tracks: 1 to 14)
Violin – Claude Williams
Vocals – Pha Terrell (tracks: 1, 3 to 6, 8 to 16, 19, 21)
ANDY KIRK AND HIS TWELVE CLOUDS OF JOY – 1938 | The Classics Chronological Series – 598 (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
Andy Kirk's Orchestra was at the height of its popularity during the late 1930s, still riding high from their hit "Until the Real Thing Comes Along." The star of that record, singer Pha Terrell, is on the majority of the songs on this CD (the fourth in Classics' complete reissuance of the master takes of all Andy Kirk recordings from the swing era), but there are some hotter tunes too, most notably "Mess-A-Stomp," "Jump Jack Jump," "Dunkin' a Doughnut" and "Mary's Idea." However, Terrell's dominance of many titles may make many swing fans opt for the GRP/Decca single-disc Andy Kirk sampler instead. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Bless You My Dear 3:06
Jack Lawrence
2 How Can We Be Wrong? 3:15
Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz
3 Mess-A-Stomp 3:04
Mary Lou Williams
4 Toadie Toddle 2:37
Barry Pease / Mary Lou Williams
5 I Won't Tell a Soul (I Love You) 3:09
Hughie Charles / Ross Parker
6 What Would People Say 2:50
Jack Lawrence
7 How Much Do You Mean to Me? 2:59
Levant / Adams
8 Jump Jack Jump 2:53
C.L. Roberts
9 Breeze (Blow My Baby Back to Me) 2:52
Joe Goodwin / Joe Hanley / Ballard MacDonald
10 Ghost of Love 3:12
Jack Lawrence
11 What a Life! (Trying to Live Without You) 3:09
Louis Alter
12 Sittin' Around and Dreamin' 3:03
Andy Kirk
13 What's Your Story, Morning Glory? 3:08
Jack Lawrence / Paul Francis Webster
14 Honey 2:47
Ted Fio Rito
15 September in the Rain 2:41
Al Dubin / Harry Warren
16 Clouds 2:47
Walter Donaldson / Gus Kahn
17 Julius Caesar 3:09
Shorty Rogers
18 Dunkin' a Doughnut 2:53
Mary Lou Williams
19 Goodbye 3:03
Gordon Jenkins
20 Mary's Idea 2:57
Mary Lou Williams
21 But It Didn't Mean a Thing 2:56
Mack David
22 (I Don't Believe It But) Say It Again 2:32
Richman / Silver
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Earl Miller
Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – John Williams
Bass – Booker Collins
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – John Harrington
Directed By – Andy Kirk
Drums – Ben Thigpen
Guitar – Ted Robinson
Piano – Mary Lou Williams
Tenor Saxophone – Dick Wilson
Trombone – Henry Wells, Ted Donnelly
Trumpet – Clarence Trice, Earl Thompson, Harry Lawson
Vocals – Pha Terrell (tracks: 1, 2, 5 to 7, 9 to 16, 19, 21, 22)
ANDY KIRK AND HIS TWELVE CLOUDS OF JOY – 1939-1940 | The Classics Chronological Series – 640 (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
Andy Kirk's Twelve Clouds of Joy was a top-notch Kansas City swing band that, by 1939, featured the pop vocals of Pha Terrell, the more blues-oriented singing of June Richmond, creative arrangements by Mary Lou Williams, and some excellent soloing from pianist Williams and Dick Wilson on tenor. Most memorable in this entry in Classics' "complete" Andy Kirk CD series are "Floyd's Guitar Blues" (an odd but pioneering electric guitar feature for Floyd Smith), "Wham" and "Scratching In the Gravel." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 You Set Me on Fire 2:57
Colwell / MacKinnon
2 (I Guess) I'll Never Learn 3:12
Gordon / Kaufmann
3 Close to Five 2:55
Mary Lou Williams
4 Floyd's Guitar Blues 3:09
Floyd Smith
5 (I Wanna Go Where You Go, Do What You Do) Then I'll Be Happy 2:31
Lew Brown / Sidney Clare / Cliff Friend
6 S'posin' 2:26
Paul Denniker / Andy Razaf
7 I'll Never Fail You 2:55
Victor Mizzy / Irv Taylor
8 Why Don't I Get Wise to Myself 2:42
Sid Bass / Ken Hecht
9 I'm Getting Nowhere With You 2:46
Wood / Adams
10 I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You 3:02
Bing Crosby / Ned Washington / Victor Young
11 Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone 2:51
Sidney Clare / Sam H. Stept
12 Big Jim Blues 2:56
Mary Lou Williams
13 Wham (Re-Bop-Boom-Bam!) 3:05
Eddie Durham / Taps Miller
14 Love Is the Thing 2:57
Ned Washington / Victor Young
15 Why Go on Pretending 2:57
Mary Lou Williams
16 It Always Will Be You 3:16
Hays / Copano / O'Day
17 Fine and Mellow 3:02
Billie Holiday
18 Scratchin' in the Gravel 3:10
Mary Lou Williams / D. Wilson
19 Fifteen Minute Intermission 3:06
Buddy Cannon / Sunny Skylar
20 Take Those Blues Away 2:51
Jackson
21 Now I Lay Me Down to Dream 2:54
Eddie Howard, Jr. / Ted Fio Rito
22 There Is No Greater Love 3:02
Isham Jones / Marty Symes
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Earl Miller (tracks: 1 to 16), Rudy Powell (tracks: 17 to 22)
Bass – Booker Collins
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – John Harrington
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Edward Inge (tracks: 17 to 22)
Directed By – Andy Kirk
Drums – Ben Thigpen
Guitar, Electric Guitar – Floyd Smith
Piano – Mary Lou Williams
Tenor Saxophone – Dick Wilson, Don Byas (tracks: 1 to 16)
Trombone – Fred Robinson (tracks: 13 to 22), Henry Wells (tracks: 1 to 12), Ted Donnelly
Trumpet – Clarence Trice, Earl Thomson (tracks: 1 to 16), Harold Baker (tracks: 17 to 22), Harry Lawson
Vocals – June Richmond (tracks: 5, 11, 13, 16, 17, 19, 20), Pha Terrell (tracks: 1, 2, 6 to 10, 14, 15, 21, 22)
ANDY KIRK AND HIS CLOUDS OF JOY – 1940-1942 | The Classics Chronological Series – 681 (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
The Andy Kirk Orchestra was going through some major changes during the period covered by this CD. Tenor star Dick Wilson died prematurely; pop singer Pha Terrell had left; pianist and chief arranger Mary Lou Williams departed in early 1942 (Ken Kersey was her replacement on piano); and such interesting younger players as trumpeters Harold "Shorty" Baker and Howard McGhee and Al Sears on tenor gave the group a slightly different sound. Actually, the music on this CD (late-period swing) is consistently on a higher level than on most of the previous CDs in the Classics series. Highlights include "The Count," "Hey Lawdy Mama," "Boogie Woogie Cocktail" (featuring Kersey) and Howard McGhee's recording debut on the exciting "McGhee Special." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Midnight Stroll 3:19
Sammy Lowe
Vocals – June Richmond
2 Little Miss 3:12
Ned Washington
3 The Count 3:09
Tom Gordon
4 Twelfth Street Rag 2:55
Euday L. Bowman
5 (Ev'rything Happened) When I Saw You 3:06
Mueller Johnson
Vocals – Henry Wells
6 If I Feel This Way Tomorrow (Then It's Love) 2:59
Vocals – Henry Wells
7 Or Have I 2:50
Sam H. Stept
Vocals – Henry Wells
8 Cuban Boogie Woogie 2:19
Lake / La Vere
Vocals – June Richmond
9 A Dream Dropped In 3:05
Marty Symes
Vocals – Henry Wells
10 Is It A Sin (My Loving You?) 3:04
Marcus Carcus
Vocals – Henry Wells
11 Ring Dem Bells 2:49
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
12 Big Time Crip 2:58
Wells / Mary Lou Williams
Vocals – Orchestra
13 47th Street Jive 3:11
Roosevelt Sykes
Vocals – June Richmond
14 I'm Misunderstood 3:20
Grouya
Vocals – Henry Wells
15 No Answer 2:47
Wood / Hoffman / Siegler
Vocals – Henry Wells
16 Hey Lawdy Mama (Meet Me In The Bottom) 2:56
Easton
Vocals – June Richmond
17 Boogie Woogie Cocktail 2:46
Arranged By – Kenny Kersey
18 Ride On, Ride On 2:25
Tolbert
Vocals – June Richmond
19 McGhee Special 2:58
Arranged By – Howard McGhee
20 Worried Life Blues (Someday Baby) 2:27
Henry Nemo
Vocals – Floyd Smith
21 Take It And Git 3:13
Chapman / Chapman / Green / Marshall
Vocals – Orchestra
22 Hip Hip Hooray 2:58
Nemo / Ebbins
Vocals – June Richmond
23 Unlucky Blues 2:50
Feather / Feather
Vocals – June Richmond
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Ben Smith (tracks: 16 to 23), Earl Miller (tracks: 12 to 15)
Bass – Booker Collins
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Rudy Powell (tracks: 1 to 11)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – John Harrington
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Dick Wilson (tracks: 1 to 15), Edward Inge
Directed By – Andy Kirk
Drums – Ben Thigpen
Guitar, Electric Guitar – Floyd Smith
Piano – Kenny Kersey (tracks: 16 to 23), Mary Lou Williams (tracks: 1 to 15)
Tenor Saxophone – Al Sears (tracks: 16 to 23)
Trombone – Henry Wells (tracks: 1 to 15), Milton Robinson (tracks: 16 to 23), Ted Donnelly
Trumpet – Clarence Trice (tracks: 1 to 15), Harold Baker (tracks: 1 to 15), Harry Lawson, Howard McGhee (tracks: 16 to 23), Johnny Burris (tracks: 16 to 23)
24.4.23
MARY LOU WILLIAMS – 1927-1940 | The Classics Chronological Series – 630 (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
This CD features the great pianist Mary Lou Williams during her earliest period. She is heard in 1927 on six selections with The Synco Jazzers (a small group that included her then-husband John Williams on alto) and then on the first 19 selections ever recorded under her own name. Performed during the long period when she was the regular pianist with Andy Kirk's 12 Clouds of Joy, Williams is featured on two hot stride solos in 1930, leading trios in 1936 and 1938, playing "Little Joe from Chicago" unaccompanied in 1939 and heading septets in 1940; among her sidemen were trumpeter Harold "Shorty" Baker and the legendary tenor Dick Wilson. Many of the compositions were written by Williams including "Night Life," "New Froggy Bottom," "Mary's special," and "Scratchin' the Gravel;" her version of Jelly Roll Morton's "The Pearls" is a highpoint. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Jeanette's Synco Jazzers– Midnight Stomp 2:42
Written-By – Williams
2 Jeanette's Synco Jazzers– The Bumps 2:37
Written-By – Williams
3 John Williams' Synco Jazzers– Down In Gallion 3:11
Written-By – Unknown
4 John Williams' Synco Jazzers– Goose Grease 3:15
Written-By – Unknown
5 John Williams' Synco Jazzers– Pee Wee Blues 3:27
Written-By – Unknown
6 John Williams' Synco Jazzers– Now Cut Loose 2:47
Written-By – Unknown
7 Mary Lou Williams– Night Life 2:56
Written-By – Williams
8 Mary Lou Williams– Drag 'Em 2:52
Written-By – Williams
9 Mary Lou Williams– Corny Rhythm 2:42
Written-By – Williams
10 Mary Lou Williams– Overhand (New Froggy Bottom) 2:46
Written-By – Williams
11 Mary Lou Williams– Isabelle 2:55
Written-By – Williams
12 Mary Lou Williams– Swingin' For Joy 2:34
Written-By – Williams
13 Mary Lou Williams– Clean Pickin' 2:48
Written-By – Williams
14 Mary Lou Williams– Mary's Special 2:46
Written-By – Williams
15 Mary Lou Williams– The Pearls 3:01
Written-By – Morton
16 Mary Lou Williams– Mr. Freddie Blues 2:44
Written-By – Shayne
17 Mary Lou Williams– Sweet (Patootie) Patunia 2:30
Written-By – Williams, Rogan, Alexander
18 Mary Lou Williams– The Rocks 2:34
Written-By – Burley
19 Mary Lou Williams– Little Joe From Chicago 2:33
Written-By – Wells, Williams
20 Six Men And A Girl– Mary Lou Williams Blues 3:15
Written-By – Williams
21 Six Men And A Girl– Tea For Two 2:48
Written-By – Caesar, Youmans
22 Six Men And A Girl– Scratchin' The Gravel 3:11
Written-By – Williams
23 Six Men And A Girl– Zonky 2:54
Written-By – Razaf, Waller
24 Mary Lou Williams And Her Kansas City Seven– Baby Dear 2:47
Written-By – Moten, Hayes
25 Mary Lou Williams And Her Kansas City Seven– Harmony Blues 2:47
Written-By – Moten
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Bass Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – John Williams (tracks: 1 to 6)
Banjo – Joe Williams (tracks: 1 to 6)
Bass – Booker Collins (tracks: 9 to 18, 20 to 25)
Celesta – Mary Lou Williams (tracks: 14)
Clarinet – Edward Inge (tracks: 20 to 23)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Earl "Buddy" Miller (tracks: 20 to 23)
Drums – Ben Thigpen (tracks: 9 to 18, 20 to 25), Robert Price (tracks: 1 to 6)
Electric Guitar – Floyd Smith (tracks: 20 to 23)
Guitar [?] – Ted Robinson (tracks: 14)
Piano – Mary Lou Williams
Tenor Saxophone – Dick Wilson (tracks: 20 to 25)
Trombone – Bradley Bullett (tracks: 1 to 6), Ted Donnelly (tracks: 20 to 23)
Trumpet – Earl Thompson (tracks: 20 to 23), Harold Baker (tracks: 20 to 23), Henry McCord (tracks: 1 to 6)
+ last month
KNUT REIERSRUD | ALE MÖLLER | ERIC BIBB | ALY BAIN | FRASER FIFIELD | TUVA SYVERTSEN | OLLE LINDER — Celtic Roots (2016) Serie : Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic — VI (2016) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
An exploration of the traces left by Celtic music on its journey from European music into jazz. In "Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic," ...