Fats Waller's Stride Swings Again

Chez Suzette, a French Bistro, 675 9th Avenue just above 46th Street's Restaurant Row presents AL CASEY SWINGS FATS featuring Fats Waller's guitarist, Al Casey, and Fats vocal stylist Peter Sokolow, stride piano, Kelly Friesen, String Bass and friends.

Schedule: 1/24/2002, 2/28/2002, 3/21/2002, 4/25/02

Al Casey, swing guitar with Peter Sokolow, stride piano, vocals; Peter Sokolow, a Harlem Stride pianist, will bring his brand of humor and hot stride to feed Al Casey that wonderful rhythm.
Expect to hear all those wonderful RCA Victor Vintage reissues of Fats Waller like, “Two Sleepy People", “It's A Sin To Tell A Lie", “You Meet The Nicest People (at Chez Suzette)" an update of a recording that included Al Casey in 1939!
AL CASEY is best remembered as stride pianist Fats Waller's rhythm guitarist (1934-1942), Esquire Gold Award Winner (1944 & 1945) with Louis Armstrong, Art Tatum, Lionel Hampton, Coleman Hawkins, Jack Teagarden and recording dates with Billie Holiday, Teddy Wilson, Jay McShann, Roy Eldridge and Al Grey.
During 1957-1961 he played R&B electric guitar with King Curtis and since 1981 he is a feature with Al Vollmer's HARLEM BLUES & JAZZ BAND touring Europe every year with his unique single note blues guitar sound.
Available recordings are his own BUCK JUMPIN' Fantasy (DJCCD6752) that cover his originals “Buck Jumpin'", “Casey's Blues" and “Gut Soul" (ASCAP).
On HOT NIGHTS, (Circle CCD-176) recorded in 1998, trombonist Al Grey and clarinetist Sammy Rimington join Mr. Casey for some wonderful swing at George and Nina Buck's Palm Court Restaurant in New Orleans.
The HARLEM BLUES & JAZZ BAND was founded by Dr. Al Vollmer in 1973 and has toured ever since as “the world's most authentic swing band". These “originals" actually “jumped" at the Woodside and “stomped" at the Savoy!
Their CD release “From Past To Present" -THE HARLEM BLUES & JAZZ BAND, (Barron CD VOCA408-Vol 2) is available from Cadence, NorthCountry distributors or JazzPhone Orderline (866) 411-JASS $15.00 postpaid, MC/Visa/Amex OK.

PHOTO AVAILABLE: Al Casey with Fats Waller from a 1941 Soundie, Credit: Duncan Schiedt Collection.

Chez Suzette, 675 9th Avenue between 46th & 47th Streets, New York City
Dinner Jazz 8:00pm and 10:00pm. Minimum $10.00
Delightful French Cuisine or Bar.
Reservations Suggested: [email protected], 212-974-9002 or (800) 371-9475

CONTACT to review, for photos, for comp wine but ya gotta show up and mention AllAboutJazz to collect!
Dan Kassell 40 Waterside Plaza New York, NY 10010
[email protected]