Name: John Handy's Louisiana Shakers (The Very First Recordings) *
Brand: American Music Rec.
SKU: 963229
Price: 18.55 USD
Availability: InStock

John Handy's Louisiana Shakers (The Very First Recordings) *

Rating

Album: John Handy's Louisiana Shakers (The Very First Recordings) *
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Victory Bounce
2)	All of Me
3)	Joe Sheep's Boogie Woogie
4)	Big Old Muskrat
5)	Old Rugged Cross
6)	Closer Walk With Three
7)	Pretty Baby
8)	Partial Blues
9)	Bye & Bye
10)	Panama
11)	Hindustan
12)	Don'tcha Leave Before You Go
13)	Broom Pusher's Blues
14)	Old Rugged Cross

Album: John Handy's Louisiana Shakers (The Very First Recordings) *
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Victory Bounce
2)	All of Me
3)	Joe Sheep's Boogie Woogie
4)	Big Old Muskrat
5)	Old Rugged Cross
6)	Closer Walk With Three
7)	Pretty Baby
8)	Partial Blues
9)	Bye & Bye
10)	Panama
11)	Hindustan
12)	Don'tcha Leave Before You Go
13)	Broom Pusher's Blues
14)	Old Rugged Cross

Performer Notes

Personnel: "Captain" John Handy (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); George Guesnon (vocals, guitar, banjo); Sylvester Handy (baritone saxophone); Jim Clayton (trumpet); Dave Williams (piano); Alfred Williams (drums).
Recording information: Associated Arts Studio, 736 St (07/13/1960).
Photographers: Bill Russell; John Bernard.
Barry Martyn in the liner notes to this 1993 CD says "My feeling is, that had these been the only recordings of Handy, they would have been testament enough to his greatness." That statement is debatable -- although altoist Captain John Handy plays fine on the two sessions -- because the recording quality is shaky and the other musicians are not up to his level. The first 11 selections (only "Hindustan" was previously released) find Handy doing his best with a group that includes very erratic trumpet playing by Jimmy Clayton, the out-of-place electric guitar of George Guesnon, pianist Dave Williams, bassist Sylvester Handy and drummer Alfred Williams. The final three numbers (all formerly unreleased) are better, with Handy (on clarinet and alto) backed by pianist Louis Gallaud, bassist McNeil Breux and drummer Josiah Frazier. Handy would not record again as a leader for another five years, but he would cut several much better dates from 1965-70, particularly the busy 1965-66 period; therefore, this particular CD is mostly of historic value. ~ Scott Yanow