Williams, Clarence Orch. - ca. 1935 (Joker SM 3116) - Kostenloses Hörbuch

In my student years the Italian cheap record labels like Joker and Everest introduced me to early jazz.

On this LP we hear a number of religious traditionals, but with a spicy swing, played by the orchestra of Clarence Williams (08.10.1893 or 06.10.1898 - 06.11.1965): American jazz pianist, composer, singer, theater producer and publisher.

He was a powerful and shrewd businessman who supervised the Afro-American Okeh plates (the 8000 Race Series) from 1923-1928. He also contracted artists for the recordings and often played the piano himself. He played on records by Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, Sidney Bechet and his wife Eva Taylor, whom he had married in 1921. He recorded for Okeh, Columbia and some other labels.

Williams often recorded under various band names, sometimes pseudonyms in order to record with a competing label. On The Red Onion Jazz Babies and Clarence Williams' Blue Five (1924), both Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet played together - special since there was a lot of rivalry between the two.

1933: Williams signed to the Vocalion label, for which he recorded in 1935 and 1938.

1943: He sold his entire catalog of black music (over 2,000 songs) to Decca for $50,000. Then he bought a second-hand goods store.

Clarence Williams Orchestra , Joker SM 3116

line-up:

Ed Allen: trumpet

Buster Bailey, Russell Procope: clarinet, alto sax

Cecil Scott: tenor sax, clarinet

Cyrus St. Clair: bass

Clarence Williams: piano (probably), vocals

Bill Cooley: vocals

Drums unknown.

Recorded in New York City, ca. 1935

01  Everytime I feel the spirit

02  Old time religion

03  Lord delivered Daniel

04  Sweet kisses

05  Go down Moses

06  Do you call that religion

07  Joshua fit the battle of Jericho

08  Lazy swing

09  Roll Jordan

10  Heaven, heaven

11  It's me o Lord

12  Git on board

13  Step on it

14  Swing low sweet chariot