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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Red Richards - Echoes Of Spring

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:48
Size: 150.6 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 1998
Art: Front

[9:39] 1. There Will Never Be Another You
[6:11] 2. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
[4:52] 3. Them There Eyes
[6:28] 4. S'wonderful
[7:55] 5. Isn't It Romantic
[7:25] 6. Daydream
[4:59] 7. I'm In The Market For You
[4:43] 8. Echoes Of Spring
[6:48] 9. It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing
[6:43] 10. Things Ain't What They Used To Be

Red Richards (vocals, piano); Claude "Fiddler" Williams (vocals, violin); Norris Turney (alto saxophone); Joe Ascione (drums). Recorded live at Nick Vollebregts Jazzcafe, Laren, Holland in 1997.

Richards began playing classical piano at age ten, and concentrated on jazz from age 16 after hearing Fats Waller. His first major professional gig was with Tab Smith at New York's Savoy Ballroom from 1945 to 1949. following this he played with Bob Wilber (1950–51) and Sidney Bechet (1951). He toured Italy and France in 1953 with Mezz Mezzrow's band alongside Buck Clayton and Big Chief Moore, also accompanying Frank Sinatra during his time in Italy. He played with Muggsy Spanier on and off from 1953 through the end of the decade, and with Fletcher Henderson in 1957-58. In 1958 he did some time as a solo performer in Columbus, Ohio, then played with Wild Bill Davison in 1958-59 and again in 1962.

In 1960 he formed Saints & Sinners with Vic Dickenson, playing with this ensemble until 1970. He joined Jazz drummer Chuck Slate and his band in 1971 and stayed with him most of the year. He recorded an album with Chuck called "Bix 'N All That Jazz" Following this he did work with Eddie Condon (1975–77), then played with his own trio in 1977-78. He played with Panama Francis's group, the Savoy Sultans, worldwide from 1979 through the 1980s. He recorded with Bill Coleman in 1980. He continued to tour almost up until the time of his death.

Echoes Of Spring

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Red Richards Quartet - Swing Time

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:05
Size: 89.5 MB
Styles: Swing, Easy Listening
Year: 1993
Art: Front

[3:02] 1. Ounce To The Bounce
[6:27] 2. Once In A While
[6:31] 3. Black Butterfly
[5:21] 4. I Miss You
[4:07] 5. Them There Eyes
[4:02] 6. Soft Buns
[5:09] 7. There Will Never Be Another You
[4:21] 8. Go Red

Swing Time is a pleasant, if unspectacular, outing by a group of competent jazz veterans, all of whom have spent most of their jazz lives as sidemen, with only an occasional visit to the recording studio as leader. This is Richards' third trip for the German company Jazz Point, representing a significant portion of his recorded output as leader. In addition to his pianistic contributions, Richards sings on two cuts: "Once in a While" and "Them There Eyes." Again, pleasant interludes, but nothing out of the ordinary, as Richards warbles in his old-fashioned style, reminiscent of one of Jay McShann's soirees into vocalizing. Another veteran who gets a lot of work on the album is tenor sax man George Kelly, best known for his work with the Savoy Sultans — first with Al Cooper's original group, then 40 years later when they were led by Panama Francis. Kelly's laid-back, lightly swinging sax prevails throughout this session, and is best summed up on "There Will Never Be Another You." The highlight of the session is the Richards/Kelly collaboration on Duke Ellington's "Black Butterfly," in which Kelly's tenor sounds a lot like Benny Carter's alto. The outing ends with a musical cheer for Richards, "Go Red," composed by Kelly Owens, who worked with Big Maybelle and other jump blues artists. This album is a pleasing testimonial to the contributions of performers who have trod the lesser-lit lanes of jazz.

Swing Time

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