Introduction: His Best Recordings 1929-1946

• Artist: Andy Kirk
• Rating:
• Release Date: April 07, 1998
• Total Time: 64:46
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Jazz

Review

Andy Kirk (1898-1992) and his Clouds of Joy played a major role in the development of the Kansas City big-band swing tradition, picking up where Bennie Moten left off and plowing a fertile furrow parallel to those of Count Basie, Jimmie Lunceford, and Erskine Hawkins. In 1998, the Best of Jazz label released a collection of 22 well-chosen examples of this band in its finest moments, recorded between 1929 and 1946, a period during which jazz evolved from hot to swing to bop. The heart of Kirk's operation was pianist, composer, and arranger Mary Lou Williams. Vocalists included honeyed crooner Pha Terrell, guitarist Floyd Smith, and Cab Calloway's big sister Blanche Calloway. Through the years the trumpet section was heated up by Edgar Battle, Harold "Shorty" Baker, Howard McGhee, and Fats Navarro. Tenor saxophonists included Don Byas, Jimmy Forrest, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, and Al Sears. Listen also for the violin of Claude "Fiddler" Williams and (on the later end of the timeline) a young Mississippi-born pianist who was raised in Pontiac, MI by the name of Hank Jones. With ingredients like these, it's not surprising that the music presented on this collection is solid and satisfying. ~ arwulf arwulf, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Lotta Sax Appeal	Mary Lou Williams	Andy Kirk, John Williams	(2:31)
Froggy Bottom	Mary Lou Williams	Andy Kirk	(3:13)
I Need Lovin'	Mueller Johnson	Blanche Calloway, Andy Kirk	(2:51)
Walkin' and Swingin'	Mary Lou Williams, John Williams	Andy Kirk	(2:58)
Moten Swing	Bennie Moten	Andy Kirk	(3:08)
Steppin' Pretty	Mary Lou Williams	Andy Kirk	(2:50)
Until the Real Thing Comes Along	L.E. Freeman, Saul Chaplin, Mann Holiner, Alberta Nichols, Sammy Cahn	Andy Kirk	(3:03)
In the Groove	D. Wilson, Mary Lou Williams	Andy Kirk	(3:06)
Twinklin'	Mary Lou Williams	Andy Kirk	(3:12)
Little Joe from Chicago	Mary Lou Williams, Henry Wells	Andy Kirk	(2:52)
Mess-A Stomp	Wells, Mary Lou Williams	Andy Kirk	(3:12)
I Won't Tell a Soul (I Love You)	Ross Parker, Hughie Clark	Andy Kirk	(3:14)
Mary's Idea	Mary Lou Williams	Andy Kirk	(3:04)
Floyd's Guitar Blues	Floyd Smith	Andy Kirk	(3:10)
Wham (Wham, Re, Bop, Boom, Bam)	Eddie Durham, Taps Miller	Andy Kirk	(3:05)
Scratching in the Gravel	D. Wilson, Mary Lou Williams	Andy Kirk	(3:10)
The Count	Tom Gordon	Andy Kirk & His Clouds of Joy	(3:11)
Boogie Woogie Cocktail	Ken Kersey	Andy Kirk & His Clouds of Joy	(2:47)
McGhee Special	Howard McGhee	Andy Kirk & His Clouds of Joy	(2:54)
Worried Life Blues (Someday, Baby)		Andy Kirk	(2:28)
He's My Baby	Andy Kirk	Andy Kirk	(3:24)
Doggin' Man Blues	Brew Moore	Andy Kirk	(3:06)

Credits

Clarence Trice (Trumpet), John Porter (Baritone), Andy Kirk & His Clouds of Joy (Performer), Beatrice Booze (Vocals), Andy Kirk (Director), Mary Lou Williams (Arranger), Lawrence Freeman (Sax (Tenor)), Earl Miller (Sax (Alto)), Bob Murray (Trombone), Rudy Powell (Sax (Alto)), Al Hall (Bass), Ben Smith (Sax (Alto)), John Williams (Baritone), John Williams (Sax (Alto)), Howard McGhee (Arranger), Fats Navarro (Trumpet), William Dirvin (Guitar), Edward Inge (Clarinet), Andy Kirk (Tuba), Howard McGhee (Trumpet), Reuben Phillips (Sax (Alto)), Blanche Calloway (Performer), William Dirvin (Banjo), Eddie McNeil (Drums), Floyd Smith (Vocals), Mary Lou Williams (Piano), Ben Thigpen (Drums), Andy Kirk (Trombone), John Harrington (Baritone), John Williams (Sax (Alto)), Allen Durham (Trombone), Pinetop Smith (Trumpet), Edward Inge (Sax (Tenor)), Jimmy Forrest (Sax (Tenor)), Dick Wilson (Sax (Tenor)), Floyd Smith (Guitar), Andy Kirk (Sax (Baritone)), Hank Jones (Piano), Floyd Smith (Guitar (Electric)), Fred Robinson (Trombone), Floyd Smith (Guitar (Steel)), Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (Sax (Tenor)), Floyd Smith (Pedal Steel), Blanche Calloway (Director), John Burris (Trumpet), Beverly White (Vocals), Ken Kersey (Piano), Joe Evans & Arthur McClain (Sax (Alto)), John Williams (Baritone), Ted Donnelly (Trombone), Henry Wells (Trombone), Claude "Fiddler" Williams (Violin), John Harrington (Clarinet), Harold Baker (Trumpet), Paul King (Trumpet), June Richmond (Vocals), Gene Prince (Trumpet), Billy Kirk (Banjo), Earl Thomson (Trumpet), Ken Kersey (Arranger), Ted Robinson (Guitar), Al Sears (Sax (Tenor)), John Lynch (Trumpet), Rudy Powell (Clarinet), Edgar Battle (Trumpet), Claude Dunson (Trumpet), Graham Colombe (Liner Notes), Pha Terrell (Vocals), Dick Wilson (Clarinet), Harry Lawson (Trumpet), Booker Collins (Bass), Blanche Calloway (Vocals), Milt Robinson (Trombone), John Harrington (Sax (Alto)), Wayman Richardson (Trombone), Don Byas (Sax (Tenor))