Slam Stewart - Fish Scales

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop 
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:05
Size: 142,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:27)  1. I Want To Be Happy
(5:34)  2. The One I Love Belongs To Somebody Else
(3:34)  3. Fish Scales
(5:12)  4. At Sundown
(5:35)  5. Memories Of You
(3:53)  6. Bye Bye Blackbird
(4:59)  7. Undecided
(4:49)  8. Sleep
(3:01)  9. Runnin' Wild
(4:47) 10. St.James Infirmary
(4:26) 11. I'm Just Wild About Harry
(3:36) 12. Fish Scales (Take 1)
(5:07) 13. Undecided (Take 1)
(3:57) 14. Bye Bye Blackbird (Take 1)

The late bassist Slam Stewart had relatively few opportunities to record as a leader, and most of them took place in the last 15 years of his life. Noted for playing bass while simultaneously scat singing an octave above it, he is, of course, the primary soloist on nearly every track of Fish Scales. This CD compiles portions of three studio dates which originally appeared on two Black & Blue LPs, adding a pair of previously unreleased tracks. Most the music comes from a quartet date with pianist Johnny Guarnieri, guitarist Jimmy Shirley, and drummer Jackie Williams, all of whom acquit themselves during their brief solos. Unfortunately, the tempos for many of the songs are rather turgid compared to other versions recorded elsewhere by Stewart, whether as a leader or sideman. A turbocharged duet with drummer Jo Jones, "Foolin' Around" eventually adds pianist Gene Rodgers to its swinging conclusion, while "Indiana" pales in comparison to Stewart's famous 1945 Town Hall performance with tenor saxophonist Don Byas. A rather subdued but extended "Willow Weep for Me" features Al Casey's bluesy guitar along with Wild Bill Davis (on piano rather than his customary organ) and drummer Joe Marshall; this track feels more like a warm-up to a session or something that would have normally been rejected by most producers. Overall, this is an enjoyable but hardly essential CD for fans of Slam Stewart. ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/fish-scales-mw0000267708

Personnel includes: Slam Stewart (bass), Jo Jones (drums) Johnny Guarnieri, Wild Bill Davis, Al Casey.

Fish Scales

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Al Casey - A Tribute To 'Fats'

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:11
Size: 113,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:26)  1. It Don't Mean A Thing
(3:43)  2. Squeeze Me
(4:13)  3. Holey Moley
(3:57)  4. Jit It
(6:00)  5. Like It Ji's
(3:53)  6. Cute
(2:34)  7. After You've Gone
(4:24)  8. Just The Blues
(4:38)  9. Honeysuckle Rose
(5:07) 10. How Long Is This Been Going On
(7:07) 11. Cheek To Cheek

Guitarist Al Casey is still best-known for playing with pianist/composer Fats Waller on and off during 1934-42. Over a half-century later he recorded this CD which mixes together standards and original riff tunes with a couple of Waller compositions ("Squeeze Me" and "Honeysuckle Rose"). The 79-year old guitarist is assisted by pianist Red Richards (himself 82), bassist Jan Jankeje and drummer Imre Koszegi for this 1994 CD put out by the German Jazzpoint label. In addition to the Waller songs, highlights include "It Don't Mean a Thing," "After You've Gone" and "Cheek to Cheek." ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-tribute-to-fats-mw0000527213

A Tribute To 'Fats'

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Al Casey - Jivin' Around

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:19
Size: 132,6 MB
Art: Front

(2:11)  1. Surfin' Hootenanny
(2:02)  2. El Aguila (The Eagle)
(2:42)  3. Thunder Beach
(2:18)  4. Baja
(2:42)  5. Surfin' the Blues, Pt. 1
(2:12)  6. The Lonely Surfer
(2:05)  7. Guitars, Guitars, Guitars
(2:03)  8. The Hearse
(2:01)  9. Ramrod
(1:51) 10. Caravan
(2:55) 11. Surfin' Blues, Pt. 2
(1:50) 12. Surfs You Right
(2:18) 13. Cookin'
(2:08) 14. Indian Love Call
(2:17) 15. Hot Foot
(2:28) 16. Jivin' Around
(1:36) 17. Doin' the Shotfish
(2:12) 18. Doin' It
(2:21) 19. The Hucklebuck
(2:28) 20. Full House
(2:24) 21. Laughin'
(2:00) 22. Monte Carlo
(1:51) 23. Theme from 'Huckleberry Hound'
(2:11) 24. Chicken Feathers
(2:01) 25. Easy Pickin'
(2:00) 26. What Are We Gonn Do in '64?

Casey made these 26 tracks most of which are instrumentals (the K-C-Ettes, actually the Blossoms, add vocals on three of the selections) for the Stacy label in the early '60s, a stint which represented his greatest success as a singles artist. Casey is a very good rock and surf guitarist, but the material is often average or boring period instrumental rock, and not so elevated by Casey's guitar licks and arrangements that they demand repeated listening. The most exciting cuts are the surf ones produced (and often written) by Lee Hazlewood, including "Surfin' Hootenanny," Casey's biggest hit. The more obscure "El Aguila (The Eagle)" and "The Hearse" show Casey's skill at dipping his axe in reverb to ride the surf wave, while "Thunder Beach" and "Baja" borrow, as a lot of surf did, from Latin melodies and rhythms. Casey also does his own version of "Ramrod," a Casey composition that colleague Duane Eddy had taken into the Top 30 a few years previously. Surf-heads should know, though, that much of this disc is not surf music, but bluesy early-'60s R&B-rock, on which the organ is sometimes as or more prominent than Casey's guitar. In fact, "Cookin'" and "Jivin' Around," which both lurched into the bottom of the Top 100, are a lot closer to Jimmy Smith than Dick Dale; those songs and "Doin' It" are actually pretty respectable as far as that genre goes. Two of the songs on the CD were previously unreleased. ~ Richie Unterberger https://www.allmusic.com/album/jivin-around-mw0000604331

Jivin' Around

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Al Casey - A Man For All Sessions

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:43
Size: 176,6 MB
Art: Front

(1:25)  1. Ramrod
(2:42)  2. Caravan
(1:54)  3. If I Told You (Wouldn't Know It All By...)
(2:29)  4. Juice
(1:54)  5. Guitar Man
(1:54)  6. Willa Mae
(2:00)  7. Tuff
(2:16)  8. No Title (#1)
(3:32)  9. Blues (#1)
(2:02) 10. Give'n Up
(2:24) 11. (Got The) Teen-Age Blues
(2:27) 12. Forty Miles Of Bad Road
(1:39) 13. The Stinger
(3:28) 14. Tenderly
(3:46) 15. Laura
(3:26) 16. Green Dolphin Street
(2:14) 17. Cookin'
(2:24) 18. Jivin' Around
(2:09) 19. Doin' It
(2:07) 20. Surfin' Hootenanny (Stereo)
(2:02) 21. Guitars, Guitars, Guitars (Stereo)
(2:22) 22. Nola
(2:41) 23. Waltz Mignon
(2:15) 24. Cat Daddy
(2:43) 25. The Fool
(2:15) 26. It's Nothing To Me
(1:37) 27. Doggonit
(2:15) 28. Snake Eyed Mama
(2:24) 29. Endless Sleep
(2:02) 30. Long Johns Flgpole Rock
(1:57) 31. The Big Tragedy
(2:43) 32. Swinging Sheperd Blues

After a career that spans almost fifty years, Bear Family compiles Al Casey's best known tracks under his own name, as well as the cream of his studio work in this jam-packed 32 track compilation. It features his famous guitar riffs on classic rock 'n roll staples like The Fool, Endless Sleep, plus his beach favorite, Surfin' Hootenanny. 

In addition, you'll hear Al's original versions of Ramrod & his unreleased demo of Forty Miles Of Bad Road, made famous by Duane Eddy. Package also contains a 28-page booklet. 

~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Man-All-Sessions-Al-Casey/dp/B00005BGY8  

Personnel: Corky Casey (vocals, guitar, bass guitar); Don Cole, Jody Reynolds, Sanford Clark (vocals, guitar); Jimmy Spellman, Lee Hazlewood, Loy Clingman (vocals); Richard Edward Wilson (guitar, piano); Connie Conway (guitar, drums); Donnie Owens, Duane Eddy, Eddie Cochran (guitar); Jim Horn (flute); Ronnie Luplow (saxophone, baritone saxophone); Brad Bauder (saxophone); Larry Knechtel (piano); Buddy Wheeler (bass guitar); Todd Chuba, Ray Martinez , James M Man for All Sessions songs. "Jimmy" Troxel, Dolph Dial Payer, Jimmy Troxell (drums).

A Man For All Sessions

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Teddy Wilson - Moments Like This

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 79:00
Size: 182,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:26)  1. Alone with You
(3:09)  2. Moments Like This
(3:01)  3. I Can't Face the Music
(3:06)  4. Don't Be That Way
(2:57)  5. If I Were You
(3:17)  6. You Go to My Head
(3:12)  7. I'll Dream Tonight
(2:53)  8. Jungle Love
(3:15)  9. Now It Can Be Told
(2:57) 10. Laugh and Call It Love
(2:46) 11. On the Bumpy Road to Love
(2:52) 12. A Tisket A Tasket
(3:06) 13. Everybody's Laughing
(2:48) 14. Here Is Tomorrow Again
(2:42) 15. Say It with a Kiss
(3:12) 16. April in My Heart
(3:03) 17. I'll Never Fail You
(3:11) 18. They Say
(2:56) 19. You're So Desirable
(3:03) 20. You're Gonna See a Lot of Me
(2:48) 21. Hello, My Darling
(2:56) 22. Let's Dream in the Moonlight
(3:09) 23. What Shall I Say
(3:03) 24. It's Easy to Blame the Weather
(3:10) 25. More Than You Know
(2:50) 26. Sugar (That Sugar Baby of Mine

Teddy Wilson had a wonderful gift for musical paraphrase and melodic symmetry. His light-fingered, mellifluous approach to the piano was unparalleled among his peers. Art Tatum was a virtuoso genius, and Earl Hines was a great practitioner of stride piano stylings, but Wilson's subtle and dynamic playing made his brand of swing especially popular among '30s jazz audiences. Moments Like This features classic performances from Chu Berry, Benny Carter, Roy Eldridge, and Ben Webster among others, and many fine vocal selections from Nan Wynn and the great Billie Holiday, including gorgeous renditions of "You Go to My Head," "On the Bumpy Road to Love," "Let's Dream in the Moonlight" and other romantic classics. The band swings with elegance, and Wilson supports each vocalist with the kind of charm and musical insight that few before or after have equaled. http://www.allmusic.com/album/moments-like-this-mw0000080097

Personnel: Teddy Wilson (piano); Billie Holiday (vocals, background vocals); Nan Wynn (vocals); Allan Reuss, Al Casey (guitar); Ernie Powell (clarinet, cornet); Pee Wee Russell (clarinet); Benny Carter (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Edgar Sampson, Johnny Hodges, Tab Smith, Nuncio "Toots" Mondello (alto saxophone); Chu Berry, Gene Sedric, Lester Young , Ben Webster, Bud Freeman (tenor saxophone); Harry James, Jonah Jones, Roy Eldridge (trumpet); Bobby Hackett (cornet); Benny Morton, Trummy Young (trombone); Cozy Cole, Jo Jones , Johnny Blowers (drums).

Moments Like This

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Al Casey - Buck Jumpin'

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1960
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:10
Size: 110,4 MB
Art: Front

(6:14)  1. Buck Jumpin'
(6:40)  2. Casey'S Blues
(5:49)  3. Don't Blame Me
(5:19)  4. Body And Soul
(5:45)  5. Rosetta
(4:43)  6. Ain't Misbehavin'
(5:32)  7. Honeysuckle Rose
(3:04)  8. Got Soul
(5:01)  9. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter

Al Casey, who will always be best known as Fats Waller's guitarist, makes one of his few appearances as a bandleader on the CD reissue of his Swingville album. Casey, in a quintet with Rudy Powell (who doubles on alto and clarinet) and pianist Herman Foster, sticks to blues and standards, with several of the latter taken from Waller's songbook. The music consistently swings and it is a rare pleasure to hear Casey getting the opportunity to stretch out on acoustic guitar. Two previously unreleased numbers ("Gut Soul" and "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter") augment the original program. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/buck-jumpin-mw0000677607

Personnel: Al Casey (guitar), Rudy Powell (alto saxophone, clarinet), Herman Foster (piano), Jimmy Lewis (bass) and Belton Evans (drums).

Buck Jumpin'

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The Satchmo Legacy Band - Salute To Pops Vol 2

Styles: Jazz, Hard Bop
Year: 1989
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:21
Size: 104,4 MB
Art: Front

( 4:59)  1. Muskrat Ramble
( 4:59)  2. Blueberry Hill
( 6:32)  3. 12th Street Rag
( 6:19)  4. West End Blues
(11:49)  5. Blues For Duane
( 6:50)  6. That Old Devil Called Love
( 3:51)  7. Potato Head Blues

Louis Armstrong is definitely in fashion. Not only has Wynton Marsalis shifted his affection Satchmo's way. Take a look at who's in the "Satchmo Legacy Band"-Kirk Lightsey, Freddie Hubbard and Curtis Fuller (those last two were part of one of Art Blakey's hardest bopping bands, for heaven's sake). The work of this group is not as interesting as Marsalis', because it has no pretensions to be. 

It is simply a group of mostly modern jazz men doing their impressions of what a great, late predecessor did. ~Jack Fuller http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1993-02-28/entertainment/9303185772_1_freddie-hubbard-curtis-fuller-art-blakey

Personnel:  Al Casey ( Vocal );  Alan Dawson ( Vocal );  Curtis Fuller ( Trombone );  Freddie Hubbard ( Flugelhorn );  Red Callender ( Vocal );  Satchmo Legacy Band ( Band );  Kirk Lightsey ( Piano ); Alvin Batiste ( Clarinet )

Salute To Pops Vol 2

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The Satchmo Legacy Band - Salute To Pops Vol 1

Styles: Jazz, Hard Bop
Year: 1989
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:29
Size: 116,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:51)  1. Struttin' With Some Barbecue
(6:42) 2. Ellingtonia Interlude: In a Sentimental Mood/Sophisticated Lady
(6:29)  3. Gut Bucket Blues
(8:13)  4. Blues for Pops
(3:01)  5. Ory's Creole Trombone
(6:30)  6. Stardust
(6:43)  7. Wild Man Blues
(7:55)  8. When the Saints Go Marching In

This is a hilariously rotten record. Trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, trombonist Curtis Fuller, clarinetist Alvin Batiste, guitarist Al Casey, pianist Kirk Lightsey, bassist Red Callender and drummer Alan Dawson attempt to pay tribute to Louis Armstrong but the results are quite embarrassing. It is true that Batiste is from New Orleans but that hardly makes him a Dixieland clarinetist, few trombonists sound less like a New Orleans player than Fuller, and to have Hubbard cast as Satch is bad casting to say the least. 

The programming of the music is illogical, particularly having the themeless "Gut Bucket Blues" followed by the pointless "Blues For Pops." The odd part is that the closer these modern players come to imitating the Louis Armstrong All-Stars, the sillier they sound. "Ory's Creole Trombone" is remarkably bad with Fuller making Kid Ory seem like a virtuoso and Hubbard fumbling all over the place; couldn't they have attempted it again? "Wild Man Blues" is such a fiasco (didn't any of these musicians care enough to learn the songs?) that this CD should only be purchased to amuse one's knowledgable friends. 

~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/salute-to-pops-vol-1-mw0000276138

Personnel: Al Casey (vocals, guitar); Alvin Batiste (vocals, clarinet); Freddie Hubbard (vocals, trumpet, flugelhorn); Curtis Fuller (vocals, trombone); Red Callender (vocals, tuba); Kirk Lightsey (vocals, piano); Alan Dawson (vocals, drums).

Salute To Pops  Vol 1

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Al Casey - Jumpin' With Al

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:40
Size: 132.0 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 1974/2007
Art: Front

[5:41] 1. Rosetta
[7:13] 2. Willow Weep For Me
[5:39] 3. One Woman's Man
[4:20] 4. I'm Beginning To See The Light
[3:47] 5. Pousse-Café
[6:52] 6. Just You, Just Me
[9:42] 7. If You Ain't K
[6:33] 8. I Wish I Knew
[4:13] 9. I'm Beginning To See The Light
[3:36] 10. Pousse-Café (Take 2)

Best known as Fats Waller's guitarist in the 1930s, Al Casey has played for many decades since that time. On this reissue CD, Casey had his first opportunity to lead his own record date in 13 years. Seven performances (including a previously unreleased number and two new alternate takes) match Casey in a quartet with pianist Jay McShann, bassist Roland Lobligeois, and drummer Paul Gunther; "Rosetta" and two versions of "I'm Beginning to See the Light" are most memorable. The other three numbers (which include "Just You, Just Me" and "I Wish I Knew") have Casey, tenor saxophonist Arnett Cobb, pianist Milt Buckner, Lobligeois, and drummer Michael Silva joined by the tap dancing of Jimmy Slide. All in all, this set does jump a lot and is a fine example of 1940s-style small group swing that looks toward early R&B. ~Scott Yanow

Jumpin' With Al

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