Jimmy & Mama Yancey - The Unissued 1951 Yancey Wire Recordings

Artist:

Yancey, Jimmy

UPC:

714298100723

Description:

Personnel: Jimmy Yancey (vocals, piano); Mama Yancey (vocals); Dick Mushlitz (piano, banjo); Walter Joplin (piano).
Recorded on June 16, 1951.
Personnel: Jimmy Yancey (vocals, piano); Mama Yancey (vocals); Dick Mushlitz (banjo, piano); Phil Kiely, Walter Joplin (piano).
Audio Remasterer: John R.T. Davies.
Liner Note Author: Dick Mushlitz.
Recording information: Lafayette, IN (06/16/1951/06/17/1951); Yancey Apartment, Chicago, IL (06/16/1951/06/17/1951).
Photographers: Phil Kiely; Dick Mushlitz.
Boogie-woogie pianist Jimmy Yancey and his wife, Mama Yancey, used to have musical gatherings at their Chicago home. The performances heard on this CD were recorded by a wire recorder three months before Yancey`s death, and were released for the first time on this 1997 CD. The recording quality varies greatly, ranging from listenable to quite noisy, so this is not a release for general listeners. However, Jimmy Yancey collectors will definitely want it, because there are some unique moments heard along the way. First, an unknown pianist is featured on four numbers, playing very good boogie-woogie, accompanying Mama Yancey on "Make Me a Pallet on the Floor" and "Chicago in Mind." Jimmy Yancey, who was not feeling that well but still playing excellently, is featured on the next five numbers, although two of the three selections that also feature Mama Yancey and have Phil Kiely providing a third hand on the piano, playing the high notes, are a bit damaged. Walter Joplin (no relation) performs "Scott Joplin`s New Rag." A jam session takes place with both of the Yanceys (they share the vocals on "Royal Garden Blues"), with clarinetist Buzz Reynolds and banjoist Dick Mushlitz featured on six mostly listenable numbers. In addition, Mushlitz switches to piano for a solo "Blues" recorded a day later, and there are repeats of three of the performances from a clearer but scratchier source. The joy of the music generally shines through on this historic release. ~ Scott Yanow

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. Lux`s Boogie
2. Make Me a Pallet on the Floor
3. Chicago in Mind
4. Cow Cow Blues
5. Tomorrow Morning - (Damaged)
6. Four O`Clock Blues - (Damaged)
7. Shave `Em Dry - (Fragment)
8. Elephant Rag
9. Mellow Blues
10. Scott Joplin`s New Rag
11. Royal Garden Blues
12. Hurry Sundown
13. Don`t You Wanna Know?
14. How Long Blues
15. Yancey`s Bugle Call - (Damaged)
16. Fives
17. Blues
18. Chicago in Mind
19. Don`t You Wanna Know?
20. How Long Blues

Album Information

Release Date:

05/01/1997

Type:

Performer

Genre:

Blues

Subgenre:

Piano

Label:

Document (USA)

Producer:

Johnny Parth

Catalog Number:

DOCD 1007

Original Release Year:

1998

# of Discs:

1

Studio/Live:

Live

Mono/Stereo:

Stereo

Runtime:

75 : 21

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