Alternate Takes Radio Performances in Bloomington, MN

One of the giants of
boogie-woogie
piano,
Albert Ammons
' career was cut short by his untimely death in 1949 at the age of just 42. This
Document
CD compilation is a welcome addition to his legacy, as it collects rare and mostly previously unissued alternate takes, broadcasts and private home recordings. The first two tracks,
"Nagasaki"
and
"Early Morning' Blues,"
feature
Albert Ammons & His Rhythm Kings
, with trumpeter
Guy Kelly
and alto saxophonist
Dalbert Bright
(who switches to clarinet for the latter song). A later of edition of the group features trumpeter
Hot Lips Page
, trombonist
Vic Dickenson
, tenor saxophonist
Don Byas
, drummer
Sidney Cattlet
and bassist
Israel Crosby
(the latter who took part in the earlier recordings),
Dickenson
takes solo honors on
"Bottom Blues No. 2."
Ammons
guests with
Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
(with vocals by
Johnny Mercer
) for an upbeat (if watered down) take of
"Pinetop's Boogie Woogie"
;
Meade "Lux" Lewis
is announced as a second pianist, but is not audible. Of most interest to collectors will be the numerous solo tracks by
, particularly
"Whistlin' Blues,"
where he shows off his whistling ability. While the sound quality varies widely, as some of the privately recorded transcription discs show signs of wear, the rarity of this music and the detailed liner notes will make it an essential purchase for
fans. ~ Ken Dryden