Various Artists - Jazz & Blues Piano Vol. 2 (1924-47)

Artist:

Various Artists

UPC:

714298566222

Description:

Performers include: Walter Davis, Roosevelt Sykes, Fats Waller, Clarence Williams.
Recorded between 1924 & 1947. Includes liner notes by Chris Smith.
Digitally remastered by Gerhard Wessely.
Personnel: Clarence Williams, Everett Robbins, Bert M. Mays, Roosevelt Sykes, Charlie Spand (vocals, piano); Andy Pendleton, Ida Cox (vocals); Fats Waller, Willie Kelly, Fred Longshaw, Tut Soper, Jimmy Blythe, Knocky Parker, Mike Jackson , Porter Grainger (piano); Cozy Cole, Big Sid Catlett, Baby Dodds (drums).
Audio Remasterer: Gerhard Wessely.
Document`s second volume of Jazz & Blues Piano is typical of that label`s profile in that rare historic material is generously made available to a range of potential listeners much wider than a handful of select archivists whose lives revolve around 78 rpm platters. Document`s willingness to include records of almost unbelievable scratchiness is given free reign as track two, a "much abused Paramount" pressing of an alternate take of Jimmy Blythe`s "Chicago Stomp" demonstrates a strange effect whereby the surface noise completely dominates the music to the point where the dynamics of the hard-to-hear piano are weirdly mimicked by the scratches. Aside from this extreme example, almost everything else on this collection comes across more or less intact, and the stylistic variety demonstrated over two dozen tracks is quite impressive. The opening course includes a carefully executed blues sung by Everett Robbins; two invigorating, food-titled piano solos that constitute Fred Longshaw`s only recordings as a soloist (he is best remembered for his work with Bessie Smith); and a pair of blues sung by Maude Mills, one of which is a rare outtake of "I`ve Got the Joogie Blues" with young Fats Waller on the 88s. The staid piano of Clarence Williams is heard behind pop singer Andy Pendleton; Bert M. Mays performs an ancient version of "You Can`t Come In" and Grey Gull recording artist Glory Bernard is accompanied by Porter Grainger, who gently puffs away at a train whistle during the "South Bound Blues." The chronology advances into the 1930s with hokum and barrelhouse numbers by Georgia Tom, Charlie Spand, Roosevelt Sykes, Walter Davis, and Clarence Williams, now singing with almost too-rigid press rolls generated by drummer Cozy Cole. Two additional visitations from Sykes find him in excellent voice and supported by Big Sid Catlett, a drummer who usually recorded with swing bands. Five sure reasons to consider obtaining this collection are the duets recorded in 1944 by pianist Tut Soper with punchy New Orleans drummer Baby Dodds. Jesse Crump is heard accompanying his wife, legendary blues singer Ida Cox, on the soundtrack of a film shot in 1947 called A Woman`s a Fool. Finally, and this is one heck of a nice coda, James Scott`s "Grace and Beauty Rag" is brusquely performed over the radio by John "Knocky" Parker, one-time member of the Light Crust Doughboys. Altogether a fascinating collection, and it`s worth owning the disc just for the sake of Tut Soper and Baby Dodds. ~ arwulf arwulf

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. Triflin` Daddy`s Blues, A - Everett Robbins
2. Chicago Stomp - Jimmy Blythe
3. Chili Pepper - Fred Longshaw
4. Tomato Sauce - Fred Longshaw
5. I`ve Got the Joogie Blues - Maude Mills/Fats Waller/Mike Jackson
6. Black Snake Blues - Maude Mills/Fats Waller/Mike Jackson
7. Sweet Emmaline - Andy Pendleton
8. Dreaming the Hours Away - Andy Pendleton
9. You Can`t Come In - Bert M. Mays
10. South Bound Blues - Gloria Bernard
11. Then My Gal`s in Town - Georgia Tom
12. She`s Got Good Stuff - Charlie Spand
13. Railroad Man Blues - Walter Davis, Jr.
14. Hop on Me Blues - Clarence Williams
15. New Mistake in Life - Roosevelt Sykes
16. Ups and Downs Blues - Roosevelt Sykes
17. That`s a Plenty - Tut Soper
18. It`s a Ramble - Tut Soper
19. Thou Swell - Tut Soper
20. Stardust Stomp - Tut Soper
21. Oronics No. 3 - Tut Soper
22. Kentucky Man Blues - Ida Cox (Film Soundtrack)
23. `Fore Day Blues - Ida Cox (Film Soundtrack)
24. Grace and Beauty Rag, The - Knocky Parker

Album Information

Release Date:

01/09/2001

Type:

Collection

Genre:

Blues

Subgenre:

Piano

Label:

Document (USA)

Producer:

Johnny Parth (Compilation)

Catalog Number:

5662

Original Release Year:

2001

# of Discs:

1

Studio/Live:

Studio

Mono/Stereo:

Mono

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