Representative Albums: "1927-1931", "Gin Mill Jazz
Biography
William Ezell, also sometimes billed as Will Ezell, was a popular blues pianist and recording artist, and a ubiquitous figure in the Paramount Records operation of the 1920s and early '30s. A technically brilliant pianist, showing the strong influence of jazz as well as blues in his work -- and with some similarities to the playing of Jimmy Blythe -- his roots were originally thought to be in Texas. More recently, however, would-be biographers have traced him to Louisiana, in the Shreveport area. He played venues in Detroit and Chicago, and was also known for his performances in the south -- Little Brother Montgomery apparently remembered his work, as did Walter Davis who, according to Bob Hall and Richard Noblett, recalled him working as an accompanist to Bessie Smith. He was a busy figure at Paramount, not only cutting a significant number of sides of his own, but also serving as the pianist-in-residence for a large number of other artists, and a general handyman and go-fer -- among his other functions, according to Hall and Noblett, he was given the task of accompanying the body of the label's best-selling artist, Blind Lemon Jefferson, for burial in Dallas. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide
