Wille "The Lion Smith" and His Jazz Cubs [Jazzology]

by Willie "The Lion" Smith, Willie Smith

Overview

The 17 recordings reissued by Jazzology under the heading of Willie "The Lion" Smith & His Jazz Cubs are uncommon and well worth experiencing. This compilation could conceivably be confused with the Timeless label's 24-track reissue of jazz from the mid-'30s played by a small swing band billed as Willie "The Lion" Smith & His Cubs. Both collections are excellent and the two sets have no tracks in common. Jazzology's "Jazz Cubs" edition combines piano solos performed at New York's Ritz Theatre in July 1944, and selections recorded live at Town Hall in February 1971 with a small unit designated as Willie "The Lion" Smith's Washington Cubs. Drawn from an LP on the small time Fat Cat Jazz label, these tracks feature the Lion with Wild Bill Davison's bassist Van Perry, Max Kaminsky's drummer Skip Tomlinson, Virginian clarinetist Tom Gwaltney, and Australian trumpeter Tony Newstead. Vocals are attributed to Johnson "Fat Cat" McRee, a producer, promoter, and record label owner based in Manassas, Virginia. Formerly difficult to obtain, these historic tidbits of Harlem stride piano and traditional ensemble jazz are a welcome addition to the ever-so-slowly-increasing number of digitally reissued works by Willie "The Lion" Smith. ~ arwulf arwulf

Product Details

Release Date:	10/21/2008
Label:	Jazzology
UPC:	0762247636724
Rank:	115845

Tracks

1. Ain't She Sweet?
2. Am I Blue?
3. Echoes of Spring
4. Keeping out of Mischief Now
5. Ida Sweet as Apple Cider
6. Polonaise
7. When My Baby Walks Down the Street
8. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
9. The Sneakaway
10. Louisiana
11. Darktown Strutters Ball
12. I'll Follow You
13. Here Comes the Band
14. Love Is Just Around the Corner
15. Oh! Baby
16. Concentratin'
17. [Untitled]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Willie "The Lion" Smith   Primary Artist,Piano
Willie Smith   Primary Artist
Van Perry   Bass
Tommy Gwaltney   Clarinet
Skip Tomlinson   Drums

Technical Credits

Roy Turk   Composer
Hank O'Neal   Engineer
Gene Krupa   Composer
Rudolf Friml   Composer
Jack Towers   Mastering
Frederic Chopin   Composer
Johnson McRee, Jr.   Producer
Sharon Wendel   Graphic Design
Harold Arlen   Composer
Ted Koehler   Composer
Fred E. Ahlert   Composer
Gary Wilkinson   Annotation,Liner Notes
George H. Buck, Jr.   Liner Notes,Executive Producer
Houcine Harrabi   Cover Design,Production Coordination
Parker Dinkins   Remastering