BILL GAITHER — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order Volume 3 · 1938-1939 | DOCD-5253 (1994) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Of the five installments in Document's complete recordings of Bill Gaither, volume three's 22 selections are the most instrumentally diverse. According to the liner notes by Louisville, KY historian Pen Bogert, the addition of an unidentified alto saxophonist on seven titles recorded at the session that took place in New York City on June 23, 1938 might have been suggested by a producer at Decca Records. By this time, Gaither, a friend and proud follower of Leroy Carr, had also expanded his guitar technique to combine the initial Scrapper Blackwell influence with that of Lonnie Johnson. On June 24, Gaither's Indianapolis-based colleague Honey Hill cut his only known piano solos, a tidy "Boogie Woogie" and a swinging set of variations that he called "Set ‘Em." Five days later, Gaither made his only recordings with a pianist other than Hill, anchored by a drummer and with someone else playing the guitar while he sang. According to the enclosed discography, it is possible that the trio backing him on this date consisted of pianist Lil Armstrong, guitarist Teddy Bunn, and drummer O'Neil Spencer. Whoever they were, this little group (and the aforementioned saxophonist) provided Bill Gaither with the most jazz-inflected accompaniments of his entire career. arwulf arwulf
Tracklist :
1.    Leroy's Buddy, (Bill Gaither)–    Old Coals Will Dwindle 2:56
Piano – Honey Hill
Vocals, Guitar – (Bill Gaither), Leroy's Buddy
2.    Leroy's Buddy, (Bill Gaither)–    Babyfield Ways Girl 2:40
Piano – Honey Hill
Vocals, Guitar – (Bill Gaither), Leroy's Buddy
3.    Leroy's Buddy, (Bill Gaither)–    It's Grieving Me 2:41
Piano – Honey Hill
Vocals, Guitar – (Bill Gaither), Leroy's Buddy
4.    Leroy's Buddy, (Bill Gaither)–    Old Model "A" Blues 2:35
Piano – Honey Hill
Vocals, Guitar – (Bill Gaither), Leroy's Buddy
5.    Leroy's Buddy, (Bill Gaither)–    You Done Lost Your Swing No. 2 3:06
Alto Saxophone – Unknown Artist
Bass – Unknown Artist
Piano – Honey Hill
Vocals, Guitar – (Bill Gaither), Leroy's Buddy
6.    Leroy's Buddy, (Bill Gaither)–    Champ Joe Louis 2:51
Alto Saxophone – Unknown Artist
Piano – Honey Hill
Vocals, Guitar – (Bill Gaither), Leroy's Buddy
7.    Leroy's Buddy, (Bill Gaither)–    So Much Trouble  2:32
Alto Saxophone – Unknown Artist
Piano – Honey Hill
Vocals, Guitar – (Bill Gaither), Leroy's Buddy
8.    Leroy's Buddy, (Bill Gaither)–    It's Coming Back Home To You 2:39
Alto Saxophone – Unknown Artist
Piano – Honey Hill
Vocals, Guitar – (Bill Gaither), Leroy's Buddy 
9.    Leroy's Buddy, (Bill Gaither)–    Right Hand Friend 3:07
Alto Saxophone – Unknown Artist
Piano – Honey Hill
Vocals, Guitar – (Bill Gaither), Leroy's Buddy
10.    Leroy's Buddy, (Bill Gaither)–    If I Was The Devil 2:47
Alto Saxophone – Unknown Artist
Piano – Honey Hill
Vocals, Guitar – (Bill Gaither), Leroy's Buddy
11.    Leroy's Buddy, (Bill Gaither)–    New Pains In My Heart 2:28
Alto Saxophone – Unknown Artist
Piano – Honey Hill
Vocals, Guitar – (Bill Gaither), Leroy's Buddy
12.    Honey Hill–    Boogie Woogie 2:49
Piano – Honey Hill
13.    Honey Hill–    Set 'Em 2:38
Piano – Honey Hill
14.    Leroy's Buddy, (Bill Gaither)–    Sweet Mama 2:36
Drums [Poss.] – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar [Poss.] – Teddy Bunn
Piano [Poss.] – Lil Armstrong
Vocals – (Bill Gaither), Leroy's Buddy
15.    Leroy's Buddy, (Bill Gaither)–    Noah's Dove 2:33
Drums [Poss.] – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar [Poss.] – Teddy Bunn
Piano [Poss.] – Lil Armstrong
Vocals – (Bill Gaither), Leroy's Buddy
16.    Leroy's Buddy, (Bill Gaither)–    Old Fashioned Woman 2:35
Drums [Poss.] – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar [Poss.] – Teddy Bunn
Piano [Poss.] – Lil Armstrong
Vocals – (Bill Gaither), Leroy's Buddy
17.    Leroy's Buddy, (Bill Gaither)–    I Got Your Water On 2:53
Drums [Poss.] – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar [Poss.] – Teddy Bunn
Piano [Poss.] – Lil Armstrong
Vocals – (Bill Gaither), Leroy's Buddy
18.    Leroy's Buddy, (Bill Gaither)–    Too Late Too Late 2:32
Drums [Poss.] – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar [Poss.] – Teddy Bunn
Piano [Poss.] – Lil Armstrong
Vocals – (Bill Gaither), Leroy's Buddy
19.    Leroy's Buddy, (Bill Gaither)–    New Rocky Mountain Blues 2:50
Drums [Poss.] – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar [Poss.] – Teddy Bunn
Piano [Poss.] – Lil Armstrong
Vocals – (Bill Gaither), Leroy's Buddy
20.    Leroy's Buddy, (Bill Gaither)–    Big Time Town Woman 2:51
Drums [Poss.] – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar [Poss.] – Teddy Bunn
Piano [Poss.] – Lil Armstrong
Vocals – (Bill Gaither), Leroy's Buddy
21.    Leroy's Buddy, (Bill Gaither)–    When My Woman's Lovin' Someone Else 2:31
Drums [Poss.] – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar [Poss.] – Teddy Bunn
Piano [Poss.] – Lil Armstrong
Vocals – (Bill Gaither), Leroy's Buddy
22.    Leroy's Buddy, (Bill Gaither)–    Racket Blues 2:30
Drums [Poss.] – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar [Poss.] – Teddy Bunn
Piano [Poss.] – Lil Armstrong
Vocals – (Bill Gaither), Leroy's Buddy
Credits : 
Compiled By, Producer – Johnny Parth
Liner Notes [Booklet Notes] – Pen Bogert
Remastered By – Gerhard Wessely 

PEETIE WHEATSTRAW — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order Volume 6 · 1938- 1940 | DOCD-5246 (1994) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Vol. 6 in the complete works of Peetie Wheatstraw as reissued by Document covers a timeline from October 1938 to April 1940, opening with the last three recordings on which he ever played piano and following his progress through a fine swing-inflected session that took place in New York with pianist Sammy Price, guitarist Teddy Bunn, and drummer O'Neil Spencer; a real Chicago blues outing with guitarist Lonnie Johnson and harmonica handler Rhythm Willie Hood, and the first five titles from a phenomenally satisfying date featuring three of New York's greatest jazz musicians: trumpeter Jonah Jones, pianist Lil Hardin Armstrong, and drummer Big Sid Catlett. While Peetie had previously made records that ventured into jazz territory (see "Throw Me in the Alley" with trombonist Ike Rodgers on Vol. 2), interacting with musicians of this caliber was a fresh development and hearing him in this company is a treat not to be missed. Note that Sam Price dutifully played Wheatstraw's signature intro on the first version of "Possum Den Blues," then abandoned it on take two and never looked back. Why did Peetie cease playing piano for keeps on his own records in 1939? According to an informed theory advanced by his biographer Paul Garon, Peetie's relations with the musicians' union might have deteriorated to the point where he was permitted to sing in a recording studio but not to play any instruments. In any case, what you get here is an excellent sampler of Peetie Wheatstraw's later work that taps into four decidedly different sessions, including the only date he ever shared with a jazz trumpeter. "I Want Some Sea Food" was partly inspired by Fats Waller's recording of "Hold Tight (Want Some Seafood Mama)," which was cut about nine months earlier. Peetie's tune references vaginal pungency even more directly than his 1936 recording (see Vol. 3) of "The First Shall Be Last and the Last Shall Be First," which contains a reference to limburger cheese. arwulf arwulf
Tracklist :
1.    Black Horse Blues 3:08
Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar – Lonnie Johnson 
Vocals, Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
2.    Sugar Mama 3:06
Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar – Lonnie Johnson
Vocals, Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
3.    Me No Lika You 3:04
Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar – Lonnie Johnson 
Vocals, Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
4.    Possum Den Blues (take A) 2:50
Drums – O'Neil Spencer
Piano – Sam Price
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
5.    Possum Den Blues (take B) 2:54
Drums – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar [Uncredited] – Teddy Bunn
Piano – Sam Price
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
6.    Little Low Mellow Mama 2:56
Drums – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar – Teddy Bunn
Piano – Sam Price
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
7.    A Working Man's Blues 2:54
Drums – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar – Teddy Bunn
Piano – Sam Price
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
8.    One To Twelve (Just As Show) 3:06
Drums – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar – Teddy Bunn
Piano – Sam Price
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
9.    Let's Talk Things Over 2:48
Drums – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar – Teddy Bunn
Piano – Sam Price
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
10.    Sinking Sun Blues 2:52
Drums – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar – Teddy Bunn
Piano – Sam Price
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
11.    Easy Way Blues 2:48
Drums – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar – Teddy Bunn
Piano – Sam Price
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
12.    Machine Gun Blues 2:46
Drums – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar – Teddy Bunn
Piano – Sam Price
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
13.    Beer Tavern 2:30
Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar [Prob.] – Lonnie Johnson 
Piano [Poss.] – Lee Brown
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
14.    You Can't Stop Me From Drinking 2:31
Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar [Prob.] – Lonnie Johnson 
Harmonica [Prob.] – Rhythm Willie
Piano [Poss.] – Lee Brown
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
15.    I Want Some Sea Food 2:32
Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar [Prob.] – Lonnie Johnson 
Harmonica [Prob.] – Rhythm Willie
Piano [Poss.] – Lee Brown
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
16.    Rolling Chair 2:30
Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar [Prob.] – Lonnie Johnson 
Harmonica [Prob.] – Rhythm Willie
Piano [Poss.] – Lee Brown
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
17.    Love Bug Blues 2:37
Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar [Prob.] – Lonnie Johnson
Harmonica [Prob.] – Rhythm Willie
Piano [Poss.] – Lee Brown
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
18.    Confidence Man 2:23
Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar [Prob.] – Lonnie Johnson 
Harmonica [Prob.] – Rhythm Willie
Piano [Poss.] – Lee Brown
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
19.    Big Apple Blues 2:55
Drums – Sid Catlett
Piano – Lil Armstrong
Trumpet – Jonah Jones
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
20.    Big Money Blues 2:52
Drums – Sid Catlett
Piano – Lil Armstrong
Trumpet – Jonah Jones
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
21.    Chicago Mill Blues 2:45
Drums – Sid Catlett
Piano – Lil Armstrong
Trumpet – Jonah Jones
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
22.    Five Minutes Blues 2:49
Drums – Sid Catlett
Piano – Lil Armstrong
Trumpet – Jonah Jones
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw
23.    Two Time Mama 3:02
Drums – Sid Catlett
Piano – Lil Armstrong
Trumpet – Jonah Jones
Vocals – Peetie Wheatstraw 

GEORGIA WHITE — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order Volume 3 · 1937-1939 (1994) DOCD-5303 | RM | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Throughout the late 1930s Georgia White made a whole lot of swinging blues records for the Decca label with instrumental accompaniments by pianists Richard M. Jones and Sammy Price, guitarists Lonnie Johnson, and Teddy Bunn and bassist John Lindsay. Volume three in her complete recorded works on Document provides access to 22 titles cut between October 1937 and May 1939. White was keenly aware of the tradition within which she was operating, and chose her material wisely, reviving old favorites like W.C. Handy's "Careless Love," Porter Grainger's "'Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do," and Perry Bradford's "Crazy Blues" and "Fare Thee Honey Fare Thee Well" which were both premiered in 1920 by Mamie Smith. What you get on this disc constitutes some of White's very best performances on record. Her backup musicians swing hard with a boogie-woogie beat whenever necessary, and she expresses herself powerfully on "Strewin' Your Mess," "Holding My Own," "The Blues Ain't Nothin' But...???," and "The Stuff Is Here," a lively tea pad tune that has been reissued on a brimming handful of party blues collections ever since its rediscovery during the '70s by the producers of the Stash record label. The relaxed and very sensual "Rock Me Daddy" has a beautiful solo by an unidentified alto saxophonist, while "Alley Boogie" (attributed to both White and her contemporary, Lucille Bogan) cooks to a jelly like there's no tomorrow. arwulf arwulf
Tracklist :
1.    Georgia Man 2:41
Bass [String Bass] – John Lindsay
Guitar [Prob.] – Ikey Robinson
Piano – Richard M. Jones
Vocals – Georgia White
2.    All Night Blues 3:03
Bass [String Bass] – John Lindsay
Guitar [Prob.] – Ikey Robinson
Piano – Richard M. Jones
Vocals – Georgia White
3.    Away All The Time 2:42
Bass [String Bass] – John Lindsay
Guitar [Prob.] – Ikey Robinson
Piano – Richard M. Jones
Vocals – Georgia White
4.    The Stuff Is Here 2:51
Bass [String Bass] – John Lindsay
Guitar [Prob.] – Ikey Robinson
Piano – Richard M. Jones
Vocals – Georgia White
5.    Strewin' Your Mess 2:35
Bass [String Bass] – John Lindsay
Guitar [Prob.] – Ikey Robinson
Piano – Richard M. Jones
Vocals – Georgia White
6.    Fare Thee Honey Fare Thee Well 2:43
Bass [String Bass] – John Lindsay
Guitar [Prob.] – Ikey Robinson
Piano – Richard M. Jones
Vocals – Georgia White
7.    Careless Love 3:07
Alto Saxophone [Prob.] – Edgar Saucier
Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar [Prob.] – Lonnie Johnson 
Piano – Richard M. Jones
Vocals – Georgia White
8.    Rock Me Daddy 3:06
Alto Saxophone [Prob.] – Edgar Saucier
Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar [Prob.] – Lonnie Johnson 
Piano – Richard M. Jones
Vocals – Georgia White
9.    Red Cap Porter 2:38
Alto Saxophone [Prob.] – Edgar Saucier
Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar [Prob.] – Lonnie Johnson 
Piano – Richard M. Jones
Vocals – Georgia White
10.    Alley Boogie 2:31
Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar [Prob.] – Lonnie Johnson 
Piano – Richard M. Jones
Vocals – Georgia White
11.    I'm Blue And Lonesome 2:36
Bass [String Bass] – Unknown Artist
Guitar – Lonnie Johnson 
Vocals, Piano – Georgia White
12.    Almost Afraid To Love 2:59
Bass [String Bass] – Unknown Artist
Guitar – Lonnie Johnson 
Vocals, Piano – Georgia White
13.    Too Much Trouble 2:29
Bass [String Bass] – Unknown Artist
Guitar – Lonnie Johnson 
Vocals, Piano – Georgia White
14.    Crazy Blues 2:38
Bass [String Bass], Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar – Lonnie Johnson
Vocals, Piano – Georgia White
15.    'Tain't Nobody's Business If I Do 2:41
Bass [String Bass], Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar – Lonnie Johnson 
Vocals, Piano – Georgia White
16.    Holding My Own 2:57
Bass [String Bass], Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar – Lonnie Johnson 
Vocals, Piano – Georgia White
17.    The Blues Ain't Nothin' But...??? 2:35
Bass [String Bass] – John Lindsay
Electric Guitar – Lonnie Johnson 
Vocals – Georgia White
18.    Dead Man's Blues 2:43
Bass [String Bass] – John Lindsay
Electric Guitar – Lonnie Johnson 
Vocals – Georgia White
19.    Love Sick Blues 2:58
Bass [String Bass] – John Lindsay
Electric Guitar – Lonnie Johnson 
Vocals – Georgia White
20.    My Worried Mind Blues 2:42
Bass [String Bass] – John Lindsay
Electric Guitar – Lonnie Johnson 
Vocals – Georgia White
21.    The Way I'm Feelin' 3:11
Bass [String Bass] – John Lindsay
Guitar – Teddy Bunn
Piano – Sammy Price
Vocals – Georgia White
22.    Married Woman Blues 3:14
Bass [String Bass] – John Lindsay
Guitar – Teddy Bunn
Piano – Sammy Price
Vocals – Georgia White 

GEORGIA WHITE — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order Volume 4 · 1939-1941 (1994) DOCD-5304 | RM | FLAC (tracks), lossless

The fourth and final volume of Georgia White's complete recorded works as compiled and reissued by Document during the 1990s is packed with 24 titles recorded for the Decca label in Chicago and New York between May 1939 and March 1941. During this period she collaborated with pianist Blind John Davis, bassist John Lindsay, and guitarist Teddy Bunn, often singing at a relaxed and perhaps more traditionally staid pace than was customary for this often spunky vocalist, although "Hydrant Love" and "Do It Again" do have a bit of a kick to them. Wesley Wilson's "Take Me for a Buggy Ride" was solidly identified with Bessie Smith when White recorded it just a couple of years after the death of the Empress, and "'Tain't Nobody's Fault But Yours" is one of several Porter Grainger compositions linking White with her predecessors in the grand tradition of female blues. On "Panama Limited" she sounds more than a little like Victoria Spivey. The bands backing her on the second half of this collection included trumpeter Jonah Jones, clarinetist Fess Williams, pianist Lil Hardin Armstrong, bassist Milt Hinton, and drummer Walter Martin -- real swing musicians, whose participation successfully undermines the artificially imposed boundaries between blues and jazz. This remarkable vocalist deserves much more recognition than has ever come her way, and one can only hope that careful remastering, judicious marketing, and growing interest among youthful listeners will serve her memory with the respect that she deserves. arwulf arwulf
Tracklist :
1.        How Do You Think I Feel    2:56
2.        Fire In The Mountain    3:04
3.        When The Red Sun Turns To Gray    3:01
4.        Hydrant Love    2:35
5.        Do It Again    2:54
6.        Beggin' My Daddy    2:28
7.        What Have You Done To Me?    2:41
8.        Take Me For A Buggy Ride    2:36
9.        Furniture Man    3:06
10.        I'm Doing What My Heart Says Do    2:30
11.        You Got To Drop The Sack    2:21
12.        'Tain't Nobody's Fault But Yours    2:25
13.        Worried Head Blues    2:26
14.        Jazzin' Babies Blues    2:55
15.        Papa Pleaser    2:45
16.        Sensation Blues    2:44
17.        Late Hour Blues    2:37
18.        Panama Limited Blues    2:41
19.        You Ought To Be Ashamed Of Yourself    2:48
20.        Mail Plane Blues    2:32
21.        Mama Knows What Papa Wants When Papa's Feeling Blue    2:25
22.        Come Around To My House    2:37
23.        Territory Blues    2:21
24.        When You're Away    2:49
Credits : 
Alto Saxophone – Unknown Artist (tracks: 9 to 13)
Clarinet – Fess Williams (tracks: 14 to 19)
Compiled By, Producer – Johnny Parth
Double Bass – John Lindsay (tracks: 1 to 3), Unknown Artist (tracks: 20 to 24)
Double Bass [Prob.] – Milt Hinton (tracks: 4 to 8)
Drums – Unknown Artist (tracks: 9 to 13), Walter Martin (tracks: 14 to 19)
Guitar – Teddy Bunn (tracks: 1 to 8), Unknown Artist (tracks: 20 to 24)
Liner Notes – Colin J. Bray
Music Librarian [Original Recordings From The Collections Of] – Bob Graf, Daniel Gugolz, Johnny Parth, Roger Misiewicz, Tom Tsotsi, Werner Benecke 
Piano – Georgia White (tracks: 14 to 24), Sammy Price (tracks: 1 to 8)
Piano [Prob.] – Georgia White (tracks: 9 to 13)
Remastered By – Gerhard Wessely
Trumpet – Jonah Jones (tracks: 14 to 19)
Vocals – Georgia White 

LIZZIE MILES — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order • 3 (1928-1939) DOCD-5460 (1996) FLAC (tracks), lossless

The third of three Document Lizzie Miles CDs has some of the finest recordings of the singer's career, particularly on the first half of this disc. After three numbers with a trio not helped by the presence of clarinetist Bob Fuller, Miles performs two superior songs ("You're Such a Cruel Papa to Me" and "My Dif'rent Kind of Man") while joined by cornetist King Oliver, Albert Socarras (doubling on flute and alto) and pianist Clarence Williams. Miles fits right in with a hot combo led by the unknown Jasper Davis (probably a pseudonym) that includes cornetist Louis Metcalf, altoist Charlie Holmes and pianist Cliff Jackson. She is also featured on two songs in duet with the great pianist Jelly Roll Morton, three tunes with pianist Harvey Brooks (including "My Man O' War" and "Electrician Blues") and joined by the trio of pianist Porter Grainger, guitarist Teddy Bunn and bassist Pops Foster (highlighted by "Yellow Dog Gal Blues") in 1930. Nine years passed before Lizzie Miles had an opportunity to record again. At the age of 44 she sounds fine on seven numbers with the Melrose Stompers (a Chicago swing septet whose personnel is long lost) from 1939; the band is also heard taking "Mellow Rhythm" as an instrumental. Highly recommended, particularly for the 1928-30 recordings, this CD has Lizzie Miles' last recordings before she began her comeback in 1952. Scott Yanow  

Tracklist :

1 –Lizzie Miles

         Shake It Down 2:40

Banjo – Unknown Artist

Clarinet – Bob Fuller

Piano – Louis Hooper

Written-By – Spencer Williams  

2 –Lizzie Miles

          Banjo Papa (Stop Pickin' On Me) 2:48

Banjo – Unknown Artist

Clarinet – Bob Fuller

Piano – Louis Hooper

Written-By – Andy Razaf

3 –Lizzie Miles

 Your Worries Ain't Like Mine 2:49

Banjo – Unknown Artist

Clarinet – Bob Fuller

Piano – Louis Hooper

Written-By – Andy Razaf

4 –Lizzie Miles

         You're Such A Cruel Papa To Me 3:10

Cornet – King Oliver

Flute, Alto Saxophone – Albert Socarras

Piano – Clarence Williams

5 –Lizzie Miles

          My Dif'rent Kind O' Man 3:03

Cornet – King Oliver

Flute, Alto Saxophone – Albert Socarras 

Piano – Clarence Williams

Written-By – Jack Palmer 

6 –Lizzie Miles

Georgia Gigolo 2:54

Alto Saxophone – Charlie Grimes

Banjo – Elmer Snowden

Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Charlie Holmes

Cornet – Louis Metcalf, Unknown Artist

Leader – Jasper Davis

Orchestra – Jasper Davis And His Orchestra

Piano [Poss.] – Cliff Jackson

Sousaphone [Bb] – Bass Moore

Trombone – Henry Hicks

Written-By – Spencer Williams 

7 –Lizzie Miles

          It Feels So Good 3:01

Alto Saxophone – Charlie Grimes 

Banjo – Elmer Snowden

Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Charlie Holmes

Cornet – Louis Metcalf, Unknown Artist

Leader – Jasper Davis

Orchestra – Jasper Davis And His Orchestra

Piano [Poss.] – Cliff Jackson

Sousaphone [Bb] – Bass Moore

Trombone – Henry Hicks

Written-By – Spencer Williams 

8 –Lizzie Miles

I Hate A Man Like You 3:22

Piano, Written-By – Jelly Roll Morton

9 –Lizzie Miles

Don't Tell Me Nothin' 'Bout My Man 2:57

Piano, Written-By – Jelly Roll Morton

10 –Lizzie Miles My Man O' War 3:28

Piano – Harvey Brooks  

Written-By – Andy Razaf, Spencer Williams  

11 –Lizzie Miles

Electrician Blues 3:12

Piano – Harvey Brooks 

12 –Lizzie Miles

Good Time Papa 3:36

Piano – Harvey Brooks 

Written-By – Lizzie Miles

13 –Lizzie Miles

The Man I Got Ain't The Man I Want 2:54

Bass – Pops Foster

Guitar – Teddy Bunn

Piano – Porter Grainger

14 –Lizzie Miles

Yellow Dog Gal Blues 2:55

Bass – Pops Foster

Guitar – Teddy Bunn

Piano – Porter Grainger

15 –Lizzie Miles And The Melrose Stompers

Mellow Rhythm 2:34

Alto Saxophone – Unknown Artist

Bass – Unknown Artist

Clarinet – Unknown Artist

Drums – Unknown Artist

Piano – Unknown Artist

Tenor Saxophone – Unknown Artist

Trumpet – Unknown Artist

16 –Lizzie Miles And The Melrose Stompers

He's My Man  2:49

Alto Saxophone – Unknown Artist

Bass – Unknown Artist

Clarinet – Unknown Artist

Drums – Unknown Artist

Piano – Unknown Artist

Tenor Saxophone – Unknown Artist

Trumpet – Unknown Artist

17 –Lizzie Miles And The Melrose Stompers

That's All Right Daddy 2:56

Alto Saxophone – Unknown Artist

Bass – Unknown Artist

Clarinet – Unknown Artist

Drums – Unknown Artist

Piano – Unknown Artist

Tenor Saxophone – Unknown Artist

Trumpet – Unknown Artist

18 –Lizzie Miles And The Melrose Stompers

Hold Me, Parson 2:46

Alto Saxophone – Unknown Artist

Bass – Unknown Artist

Clarinet – Unknown Artist

Drums – Unknown Artist

Piano – Unknown Artist

Tenor Saxophone – Unknown Artist

Trumpet – Unknown Artist

19 –Lizzie Miles And The Melrose Stompers

         Keep Knockin' No. 2 (But You Can't Come On) 2:50

Alto Saxophone – Unknown Artist

Bass – Unknown Artist

Clarinet – Unknown Artist

Drums – Unknown Artist

Piano – Unknown Artist

Tenor Saxophone – Unknown Artist

Trumpet – Unknown Artist

20 –Lizzie Miles And The Melrose Stompers

          Stranger Blues 3:00

Alto Saxophone – Unknown Artist

Bass – Unknown Artist

Clarinet – Unknown Artist

Drums – Unknown Artist

Piano – Unknown Artist

Tenor Saxophone – Unknown Artist

Trumpet – Unknown Artist

21 –Lizzie Miles And The Melrose Stompers

Twenty Grand Blues 2:49

Alto Saxophone – Unknown Artist

Bass – Unknown Artist

Clarinet – Unknown Artist

Drums – Unknown Artist

Piano – Unknown Artist

Tenor Saxophone – Unknown Artist

Trumpet – Unknown Artist

22 –Lizzie Miles And The Melrose Stompers

          He's Red Hot To Me 2:49

Alto Saxophone – Unknown Artist

Bass – Unknown Artist

Clarinet – Unknown Artist

Drums – Unknown Artist

Piano – Unknown Artist

Tenor Saxophone – Unknown Artist

Trumpet – Unknown Artist

Credits :

Teddy Bunn - Guitar

Pops Foster - Sax (Baritone)

Bob Fuller - Clarinet

Porter Grainger, Louis Hooper - Piano

Charlie Grimes - Sax (Alto)

Henry Hicks - Trombone

Charlie Holmes - Clarinet, Sax (Alto)

King Oliver - Conductor

Lizzie Miles - Composer, Vocals (tracks: 1 to 14, 16 to 22) 

Jelly Roll Morton - Composer, Piano

Albert Socarras - Flute, Sax (Alto)

Clarence Williams - Composer, Piano

DUKE ELLINGTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1929-1930 | The Classics Chronological Series – 577 (1991) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Trying to make sense of Duke Ellington's massive catalog is one of the more daunting tasks facing jazz lovers. His early output alone includes scores of songs, often with several different versions and a variety of record labels to consider. For completists, the Classics label offers a chronological route covering the mid-'20s through the mid-'40s (without a lot in the way of alternate takes). And while not as strong in content as roundups on Bluebird or Columbia, these discs offer one the thrilling opportunity of witnessing Ellington go from novelty jungle material to sophisticated early swing and on into the annals of jazz legend with those stellar early-'40s sides. This Classics title takes in Duke's 1929-1930 period, and is squarely one for die-hard fans: It mostly includes minor cuts, many bearing the residue of the band's Cotton Club set pieces (hence the presence of washboard player Bruce Johnson and the Whoopee Makers). On the more serious side, there are a good number of cuts showing off Ellington's burgeoning writing talents, like "Flaming Youth," "Saturday Night Function," and "Jazz Lips," and loads of fine playing by Joe Nanton, Johnny Hodges, Barney Bigard, and the newly arrived Cootie Williams. All in all, a fairly solid collection, but one that's best heard after checking out a few early Ellington retrospectives first. Stephen Cook       Tracklist :

THE SPIRITS OF RHYTHM – 1933-1945 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1028 (1998) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The Spirits of Rhythm were to the 1930s what the Cats & the Fiddle were to the 1940s. Both groups relied upon well-organized, carefully harmonized scat singing and a flurry of adroitly picked tiples and guitar. What the Spirits had going for them was the great Leo "Scat" Watson (1898-1950), drummer, tiple tickler, and one of the most interesting scat singers of all time. Teddy Bunn was their guitarist, and may be heard playing and singing throughout the entire CD. The recordings made in 1933 are exceptionally fine. Two delightful versions of "I Got Rhythm" are matched with "Rhythm," an original by Wilbur Daniels. "I've Got the World on a String" cuts off abruptly during a reprise of the vocal chorus, as they ran out of room on the recording platter. The session of December 6, 1933, introduces bassist Wilson Myers. "I'll Be Ready When the Great Day Comes" is something like a spiritual with humorous overtones: "Didn't the good book say that Cain slew Abel? Hit him in the head with the leg of a table!" Johnny Mercer's "My Old Man" belongs in a special category of cruel songs poking fun at fathers. This picturesque ditty predicts that the parent in question will end up in a garbage can: "Put a bottle of gin there and he'll get in there." The first seven tracks are so satisfying that it's a bit of a jolt when Red McKenzie is featured as lead vocalist on the session of September 11, 1934. Whose idea was it to foist this character onto the Spirits? His wobbly chortling sounds a bit incongruous with such hip backing. The expert picking and scatting come as a relief, after which McKenzie's reprise sounds foolish. He should have confined himself to his famous paper and comb, which would have sounded wonderfully weird with this band. As it is, he sounds about as hip as, say, Nelson Eddy. Three days later, the Spirits were back without McKenzie but with the addition of percussionist and vocalist Virgil Scroggins. "Junk Man" is good fun, and Watson sings a snatch of the old vaudeville number "Horses, Horses," a riff he'd quoted on tiple during a solo on "I Got Rhythm" the previous year. Mercer's lightweight Sherlock Holmes routine is peculiar enough for entertainment purposes, but "That's What I Hate About You" is too closely modeled after a record made several years earlier by Jack Teagarden and Fats Waller. Waller fans who are aware of the original might actually resent the close cover. Now the chronology leaps ahead seven years. Ella Logan's piping vocal with the Spirits on "Tipperary" and "From Monday On" are cute enough, but the two instrumentals from the same session allow us to concentrate on the presence of bassist Wellman Braud and the fine drumming of Watson. "We've Got the Blues" contains a premonition of "Caldonia," and we learn that cement is the reason her head is so hard. The final six sides to appear under this band's name involved only Watson and Bunn from the original group. This 1945 ensemble contains no tiples whatsoever. Leonard Feather is sitting in on piano, Ulysses Livingstone operates a second guitar, and Red Callender is the bassist, while Georgie Vann sings the blues and plays the drums. Here we get a fine dose of Watson's fully developed singing style. No doubt Waller would have approved of "Honey-Sock-Me-on-the-Nose." Watson's throaty interjections on "She Ain't No Saint" sound slightly deranged. Irving Berlin's "Coquette" becomes a smorgasbord centering on "Chicken Croquette." Watson was working with Slim Gaillard during these years, and this last number sounds a lot like something Slim would have dished up. arwulf arwulf  
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HOT LIPS PAGE – 1940-1944 | The Chronogical Classics – 809 (1995) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

For fans of small-combo jazz from the '40s (pre-bebop, that is), Hot Lips Page's many sides offer that perfect marriage of jazz licks and blues atmospherics. And although Page wasn't necessarily a trumpet ace in the league of Armstrong or Cootie Williams, his irrepressible style and raspy-to-bright tone usually enlivened most every date he graced (just check out his early work on Bennie Moten's epochal 1932 recordings). Page also could have made a handsome living just as a blues singer; his was a gruff and driving voice equally at home on both the serious and novelty end of the form. This Classics release brings together a fetching mix from Page's 1940-1944 freelancing prime, with a large dose of his vocal work getting nicely framed by the day's top jazz players. Two highlights from the first part here include "Evil Man Blues" and "Just Another Woman," two of Page's best vocals featuring Leonard Feather on piano and Teddy Bunn on guitar. The majority of the remaining tracks are ones Page and his band cut in 1944. Amidst the prevailing after-hours mood, there's a wealth of fine soloing by the likes of Don Byas, Chu Berry, Lucky Thompson, and Vic Dickenson. This disc might not make it into any jazz polls, but it's a solid collection for those who love Page's infectious style and sophisticated jump grooves. Stephen Cook
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JELLY-ROLL MORTON – 1929-1930 | The Chronogical Classics – 642 (1992) FLAC (tracks), lossless

With the exception of two dates as a leader and the remainder of the Wilton Crawley set that closes this album, this disc has the final Jelly Roll Morton recordings before the Great Depression temporarily halted his recording career. The pianist-composer is heard backing singers Lizzie Miles and Billie Young on two songs apiece and interacting with the wild vaudevillian clarinetist Wilton Crawley on "Big Time Woman" and "I'm Her Papa, She's My Mama." The best all-round session has four numbers performed by the trio of Morton, clarinetist Barney Bigard, and drummer Zutty Singleton. Of the band sides (some of which are a bit undisciplined), highlights include "Little Lawrence," "Load of Coal" (with Cozy Cole on drums), and "Fussy Mabel," which has a classic solo from trumpeter Bubber Miley. Whether acquired in this series or on a five-CD Bluebird set, this music is highly enjoyable and often quite essential in appreciating 1920s jazz and the musical genius Jelly Roll Morton Scott Yanow  
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JELLY-ROLL MORTON – 1930-1939 | The Chronogical Classics – 654 (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

There are a lot of Jelly Roll Morton reissues kicking around, but few of them span the 1930s the way this one does. Mr. Jelly's chronology generally gets lopped off after the last Red Hot Peppers session, often entirely omitting the rest of his remarkable story. This, then, is a valuable bundle of ensemble stomps and slow drags garnished with a few piano solos. The first session is a whopper. Wilton Crawley was a peculiar vaudevillian who played laughing hyena clarinet. During the opening track he removes the mouthpiece from the instrument and cups his hands around it, generating a series of wah-wah-wah whinnies. This makes perfect sense in a twisted sort of way. Bruce Johnson plays the washboard with great precision, adding lots of little "dings" wherever he pleases. Most of the guys in the band knew each other from having worked in the Luis Russell Orchestra. There are fine solos from Red Allen, Charlie Holmes, and that marvelous guitarist Teddy Bunn. Contrary to what the discography says, Crawley does not vocalize on this date, and Pops Foster sternly puffs away at a tuba rather than using the string bass as listed. Jelly's Red Hot Peppers were on their last couple of go-rounds during the second half of 1930, but this was still a hot band, notable for Ward Pinkett's punchy trumpet, Morton's fabulous piano, and the agility of guitarists Howard Hill and Bernard Addison. "Strokin' Away" contains a wonderful tuba solo by the mighty Pete Briggs. "Blue Blood Blues" begins and finishes with glorious tones in both registers from clarinetist Albert Nicholas.
Years passed before Jelly was able to record again. When he sat down to record piano solos in 1938, his overdeveloped showmanship was bottled up and ready to come pouring out. According to Morton, the lightning-quick "Finger Buster" was supposed to be one of the most difficult pieces ever written for the piano. What it amounts to is a flashy display of technical dexterity. "Creepy Feeling" is a beautiful example of the Caribbean influence that Jelly was fond of demonstrating. "Honky Tonk Music" also breathes with a bit of the "Spanish tinge," along with a deliberate walking bassline, soon to be known as boogie-woogie. The first "New Orleans Jazzmen" session bristles with Sidney Bechet, Albert Nicholas, and Sidney DeParis. "High Society" sounds like they're taking it right down the middle of the street, which is where "Oh, Didn't He Ramble?" would also have taken place. Jelly then sings cleaned-up lyrics to a couple of slow drags, giving listeners a chance to savor the tenor saxophone of Happy Caldwell. While "Buddy Bolden" was originally a song about farting, the notorious "Winin' Boy" dates from Morton's tenure as a Storyville cathouse piano player. Jelly's Library of Congress recording of his erstwhile theme song contains some of the most sexually explicit lyrics ever sung into a recording microphone. "Winding Boy" was a term used to describe a "tireless stud." While we're on the subject, James Scott's "Climax Rag" is pleasantly stimulating, as are all eight selections from September of 1939. This wonderful disc ends with two delightful solos including "Original Rags," Scott Joplin's masterpiece of 1899. arwulf arwulf  
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MEZZ MEZZROW – 1936-1939 | The Chronogical Classics – 694 (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Considering the collective personnel and an unusually close communication between these players, this disc is a serious contender for the "Best of Mezz" award. By 1936, Mezz Mezzrow had developed into an able clarinetist and an expert at putting together strong traditional jazz ensembles. There are five sessions' worth of material gathered together to form this segment of the Mezzrow chronology. Each date produced top-notch small band swing, played by some of the best jazz musicians in the world at that time. None of this is exaggeration. On the opening session, for example, the clarinetist is flanked by trumpeter Frankie Newton and tenor sax man Bud Freeman, backed by a rhythm section including Al Casey, Wellman Braud, and Willie "The Lion" Smith! This group's two-part rendition of Stuff Smith's "I'se a-Muggin'" is a very close cover of the somewhat smoother version cut two days earlier by Jack Teagarden with the Three T's, a leisure service of Paul Whiteman. While Teagarden's timing and tone was impeccable, part one of Mezz's take has a rather gruff vocal by the Lion, who sounded like a friendly cigar-gnawing gangster whenever engaging in theatrical patter. In his liner notes, Anatol Schenker accuses these musicians of being stoned or at least under-rehearsed. According to that criterion, most of the records made by Fats Waller, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, and Lester Young would be in artistic jeopardy simply on account of cannabis and spontaneity. Criticism of this sort is inaccurate, unfair, and misleading. Mezzrow's only 1937 session as a leader used three fine jam tunes that he composed in collaboration with arranger Edgar Sampson, and a formulaic stomp based on a simple but effective idea by Larry Clinton. This band swung hard with a front line of Sy Oliver, J.C. Higginbotham, Mezzrow, and tenor saxophonist Happy Caldwell, who expresses himself marvelously on these recordings. Like all the rhythm sections on this collection, the combination of Sonny White, Bernard Addison, Pops Foster, and Jimmy Crawford is first rate. Mezzrow was lucky, savvy, and well connected in lining himself up with Tommy Ladnier, Sidney de Paris, James P. Johnson, Teddy Bunn, Elmer James, and Zutty Singleton. Anyone familiar with this kind of music should be somewhat awed by that lineup. These were to be some of Ladnier's last recording dates, and should be savored along with the Bluebird sides he made with Mezzrow and Sidney Bechet during this same time period. "Comin' on with the Come On" is laid out in the classic Mezzrow two-part configuration of slow blues/fast blues. Sidney de Paris growls through his horn, mingling wonderfully with Ladnier. A second Bluebird session about one month later scaled the band down to a quintet with Ladnier and Mezzrow backed by Pops Foster, Teddy Bunn, and the no-nonsense drumming of Manzie Johnson. Bunn played guitar exquisitely and his vocal on "If You See Me Comin'" is a gem. The last four titles feature vocalist Rosetta Crawford in front of a band chosen from several of the previous sessions. Rosetta resurrects three old-time blues masterpieces by Perry Bradford and "Stop It Joe," a little-known novelty by the great James P. Johnson -- who is sitting in at the piano. arwulf arwulf  
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LIONEL HAMPTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1940-1941 | The Chronogical Classics – 624 (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

In the period covered by this disc, Lionel Hampton led the last of his swing-era all-star sessions, left Benny Goodman's orchestra, and formed his own exciting big band. "Flying Home" was still in the near future, but there are a fair number of exciting selections on this transitional disc. Hampton's vibes are heard featured with the Nat King Cole Trio on four numbers (two of which also have the Hampton River Boys taking vocals) and the vibraphonist also jams with the 1941 version of the Spirits of Rhythm. After leaving Goodman, Hampton at first led a few small-group dates that included musicians drawn from his orchestra, including altoist/clarinetist Marshall Royal, pianist Sir Charles Thompson, and trumpeter Karl George. The big band's first, mostly uneventful session concludes this interesting disc. Scott Yanow
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WILLIE "THE LION" SMITH – 1937-1938 | The Chronogical Classics – 677 (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The second Classics CD in their Willie "The Lion" Smith series is surprisingly weak. Of the 25 selections, 21 actually feature the dated organ of Milt Herth. Smith's presence in the trio (with drummer-vocalist O'Neil Spencer) fails to uplift the music (Herth's wheezing organ mostly drowns him out) although guitarist Teddy Bunn helps a bit on the last seven numbers. Easily the best selections on the CD are two songs performed by Willie "The Lion" Smith and His Cubs (a septet with trumpeter Frankie Newton and clarinetist Buster Bailey) and a pair of duets with drummer Spencer on Smith's own "Passionette" and "Morning Air." But the preceding and following volumes in this program are much more valuable. Scott Yanow
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SIDNEY BECHET – 1938-1940 | The Classics Chronological Series – 608 (1991) FLAC (tracks), lossless

This entry in Classics' chronological reissue of the master takes of Bechet's early recordings finds the soprano great playing with trumpeter Tommy Ladnier and Mezz Mezzrow on the famous "Really the Blues" session, performing a hit version of "Summertime," overshadowing the other members of the all-star Port of Harlem Seven and recording "Indian Summer" and a hot version of "One O'Clock Jump" in a 1940 session for Victor. However, half of this CD is taken up by an odd and surprisingly restrained marathon date with pianist Willie The Lion Smith in which they perform Haitian folk songs. Scott Yanow
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SIDNEY BECHET – 1940 | The Classics Chronological Series – 619 (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Classics' chronological reissue of Bechet's recordings (at least the regular takes) continues with a pair of songs made with blues singer Josh White, eight very enjoyable performances cut with a quartet consisting of cornetist Muggsy Spanier, guitarist Carmen Mastren and bassist Wellman Braud, and a pair of Bechet's Victor sessions. This is one of the strongest entries in this valuable series. Scott Yanow
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EDGAR HAYES AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1938-1948 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1053 (1999) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The recordings of Edgar Hayes have long been scattered to the winds, tucked away in compilations and all but lost in obscure anthologies. The producers of the Classics Chronological Series have done the world a favor by gathering these rare sides together in two volumes for all to study and enjoy. The Edgar Hayes Orchestra sounds smooth and hot on the recordings made for Decca in February of 1938. On "Help Me," Eddie Gibbs contributes a "Hawaiian" guitar intro and Kenny Clarke plays the vibes but sounds like he's working over a xylophone. Clyde Bernhardt, sounding a bit like Jimmy Rushing, sings his own composition, "Without You." James Clay Anderson was a fluttery vocalist similar to Pha Terrell, and sounds silly coming after Bernhardt's soulful take. Hayes plays piano beautifully on this band's excellent instrumental renditions of Hoagy Carmichael's "Stardust" and Will Hudson's "Sophisticated Swing." Joe Garland's "In the Mood" really changed the face of popular music during the 1930s and early '40s. Based on a lick borrowed from Wingy Manone, the tune became an international hit after Glenn Miller came out with a close cover using the same arrangement about a year and a half after this version was recorded. It was Miller's big break. Meanwhile, Edgar Hayes took some of his band to Sweden, making four records in Stockholm on March 8, 1938, under the heading of Kenny Clarke's Kvintett. Clarke plays vibraphone wonderfully. There are hot solos from trumpeter Henry Goodwin and reedman Rudy Powell. Three of these records are awash with milky vocals by James Clay Anderson and the fourth is a stimulating jam version of "Sweet Sue." It's amazing how much stylistic ground can be covered by a chronological survey of one person's musical career. For a man who began by working with Fess Williams in 1924, led various bands under the names of the Blue Grass Buddies, the Eight Black Pirates, and the Symphonic Harmonists, who played piano and wrote arrangements for the Mills Blue Rhythm Band and led his own jazz orchestra in 1937 and 1938, it must have been frustrating for Hayes to have had to dissolve his band in 1941. According to this discography, eight years transpired before he was able to record again. Leading an intimate rhythm section billed as Edgar Hayes & His Stardusters, the pianist cut a version of "Stardust" for V-Disc in May of 1946 with a vocal by drummer Bryant Allen. The rest of the story took place in Los Angeles, where in 1948 Hayes laid down eight superb tracks with Allen, amplified guitarist Teddy Bunn, and legendary West Coast bassist Curtis Counce. Just as "In the Mood" had an enormous impact on popular music before and during the Second World War, "Fat Meat 'n Greens" would prove to be resoundingly influential throughout the 1950s. "Edgar's Boogie" and five additional groove tunes form a very hip finale to the Edgar Hayes story, with a strong shot of R&B and several unidentified horn players adding their sauce to the mix. arwulf arwulf  
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JAMES P. JOHNSON – 1928-1938 | The Classics Chronological Series – 671 (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Welcome to a dizzying tour of one man's adventures in the recording studios of New York over the span of ten very eventful years. This segment of the James P. Johnson chronology begins with the "Daylight Savin' Blues," a magnificent instrumental recorded in October of 1928. The Gulf Coast Seven were essentially an Ellington quintet with Perry Bradford and James P. Johnson. The most stunning component here is the soprano saxophone of Johnny Hodges, who had come up under the direct influence of Sidney Bechet. Perry Bradford does his share of singing, sounding particularly mellifluous in duet with Gus Horsley on "Put Your Mind Right on It." The key phrase in that song is the immortal refrain: "let's misbehave." There is something about these 1929 ensembles that tickles the brain. Two sides recorded for Victor on November 18 bear a strange resemblance to recordings made under the heading of Fats Waller & His Buddies nearly two months earlier, on September 24. For vocalists, Waller used three reed players and the banjoist from his band to form a sort of barbershop quartet, billed as the Four Wanderers. Johnson's orchestra featured King Oliver, had Waller sitting in with James P. at the piano, and crackled with frantic vocals by an unidentified group calling themselves the Keep Shufflin' Trio. Both singing groups are fairly outrageous and corny to almost bizarre extremes. The word "Modernistic" had exciting connotations in 1929, as culture and technology raced headlong into the unknown. Both the solo piano rendition and the almost ridiculous vocal version convey some measure of that excitement. This collection contains no less than six outstanding piano solos, including the first recording ever made by anyone of Cole Porter's "What Is This Thing Called Love?." Recycling a discarded melody from the Clarence Williams publishing catalog, "How Could I Be Blue?" is a priceless vaudevillian piano duet with comical cuckold dialogue between JPJ and Clarence Williams himself. While this precious recording has recently found its way on to various James P. Johnson reissues, seldom has the flip side been heard. "I've Found a New Baby" focuses upon Clarence's indigestion. James appears to have a half-pint of liquor in his hip pocket but after administering the "cure" he informs Clarence that he's been given a shot of foot medicine! This disc includes three vocals by Fats Waller's lyricist Andy Razaf, and then concludes with five smoky sides from 1938 under the banner of Pee Wee Russell's Rhythmakers. Convening on behalf of the Hot Record Society, this magnificent ensemble had elements of Eddie Condon, Duke Ellington and Count Basie, which is to say Chicago, New York and Kansas City. You'd also need to include New Orleans in the schematic, as Wellman Braud and Zutty Singleton represented everything that was strongest and best about the Crescent City. "Horn of Plenty Blues" is a majestic slow drag with vocal by the drummer. "There'll Be Some Changes Made" received such an in-depth treatment that it was recorded in two parts, allowing extra solo space for the more expressive members. Pee Wee's group swings like the dickens, finishing off this amazing retrospective with crowing vigor and collective enthusiasm. arwulf arwulf
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