Search - Andy Kirk & Clouds of Joy :: Andy Kirk 1929 1931

Top-Notch Jazz by Andy Kirk AND Blanche Calloway!

Brenna Lorenz (mpulte@netpci.com) | Guam | 01/05/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Most of this CD consists of recordings made by Andy Kirk and his Clouds of Joy, including Mary Lou Williams on the piano. Instrumentals include Lotta Sax Appeal, Mess-a-Stomp, Blue Clarinet Stomp, Cloudy, Somepin' Slow and Low, Snag It, Sweet and Hot, Mary's Idea, Corky Stomp, Gettin' Off a Mess, and best of all, Froggy Bottom. Mary Lou Williams also does Margie as a piano solo. We also get some really fine songs, the best of which have Billy Massey doing the vocals: I Lost My Gal From Memphis, Loose Ankles, Honey Just For You, Once or Twice, and You Rascal You. Once or Twice is a fun song, written in response to the song, Four or Five Times, performed by Earl Hines. Later, Cab Calloway recorded an answer to both songs, called Six or Seven Times. The rendition on this album of You Rascal You is in the hokum style and makes an interesting contrast to the way it's done by Louis Armstrong and Cab Calloway. Toward the end of the album, we are treated to the dynamic Blanche Calloway and her Joy Boys. Blanche, Cab's big sister, was the first woman to lead an all-male band. She sings I Need Lovin' and There's Rhythm in the River. Both bands perform Casey Jones Special. This is a treasure of a CD!"