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Claude Williams: Swinging The Blues
ByRecorded seventy years after his debut, Williams has polished his sound into a precious metal. This ninety-something, like the late Doc Cheatham, has a quiet swing that appeals to a jazz fan whose tastes have mellowed or should I say matured. I always wondered why my father got an adrenilin rush from hearing “Satin Doll.” Thanks to Claude Williams, now I know. His gentle blues spur the heart and his swing, written with a small “s,” stirs the soul. It also didn’t hurt that he was recorded with some stellar musicians like Joe Cohn, the son of saxophonist Al Cohn, and pianist Henry Butler. Butler was a major star for Impulse! Records in the eighties, injecting his New Orleans sound with post-bop and Gospel. Also heard on two tracks is Kansas City’s own Bobby Watson on alto saxophone. Like Williams, Watson's sound has mellowed a bit from his days with Art Blakey and his own band Horizon. A gentle blues, such as this, bears repeated application.
Track List:The Preacher; Things Ain’t What They Used To Be; Somewhere Over The Rainbow; A Smooth One; Gee Baby, Ain’t I Good To You; I’m Just A Lucky So And So; Moten Swing; These Foolish Things; One For The Count; There Is No Greater Love.
Personnel
Claude Williams
Album information
Title: Swinging The Blues | Year Released: 2000 | Record Label: Bullseye Records
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