Jazz Articles about Clarence Williams

Clarence Williams: Washboard Bands: 1926-29, "Gimme Blues"

by Andrew J. Sammut
July 24, 2011

New Orleans native and musical jack-of-all-trades Clarence Williams enjoyed success on multiple levels of the music business, with washboard ensembles just one part of his extensive discography. Even without the timbral variety of a full drum set, the washboard crafts simple but effective rhythms. A chattering backbeat on “Wait 'Till You See My Baby Do The Charleston" opens the disc with driving clarinet and the leader's piano chimes never pining for cymbals or skins. “You For Me, Me For You" ...