Wilton Crawley - Showman, Composer & Clarinetist 1927-1930 (2001)

In keeping with the Jazz Oracle label's profile as one of the 21st century's finest resources for early 20th century jazz and hot dance music, Wilton Crawley Showman Composer & Clarinetist is a well-researched and intelligently annotated salute to an artist whose comedic performance technique has posthumously pushed him into the margins of musical history. What generations of critics and historians have shied away from are Crawley's slaphappy vocals and his fondness for slap-tonguing and "laughing" effects on the clarinet, which bring to mind vaudeville gags and sideshow clowns. Given the fact that Crawley is also remembered as an accomplished contortionist, maybe the carnival connotation is right on the money. Most intriguing in his discography are the participation of early jazz heroes like pianists Eddie Heywood, Sr. and Jelly Roll Morton; guitarists Lonnie Johnson and Eddie Lang and various members of the Luis Russell Orchestra including trumpeter Henry "Red" Allen. Duke Ellington's trumpeter Freddy Jenkins makes an appearance, as do guitarist Teddy Bunn and washboard percussionist Bruce Johnson, two cardinal members of the Washboard Rhythm Kings. This is not a complete Crawley edition, but it is probably the most distinguished that will ever be assembled in his memory. Twenty-six Okeh and Victor recordings cut between late May 1927 and early June 1930 include three originally unissued titles ("Diamonds in the Rough," "Put a Flavor to Love," and "Snake Hip Dance") but not the issued "New Crawley Blues" nor "She Saves Her Sweetest Smiles for Me." Other missing titles are "Jewels of My Heart" (the intended flipside of "Diamonds in the Rough") and a rejected side from the earliest session called "Buffalo Strut." Some of these are included in Jazz Oracle's George McClennon edition, which is partly devoted to Crawley. Both albums are packed with old-fashioned funny bone music and are recommended for those who aren't too proud to enjoy a bit of silliness with their early jazz.

Tracklist:

01. Crawley Blues [3:10]
02. Geechie River Blues [3:20]
03. Irony Daddy Blues [3:16]
04. She's Forty With Me [3:06]
05. She's Nothing But Nice [2:53]
06. Crawley Clarinet Moan [3:07]
07. Love Will Drive Me Crazy [2:46]
08. Let's Pretend To Be Sweethearts [3:04]
09. Diamonds In The Rough [2:54]
10. Wishing [2:59]
11. Old Broke Up Shoes [2:59]
12. I'm Forever Changing Sweethearts [2:56]
13. Put A Flavor To Love [3:10]
14. Tall Tillie's Too Tight [3:14]
15. Snake Hip Dance [3:27]
16. My Perfect Thrill [2:47]
17. Shadow Of The Blues [3:13]
18. Snake Hip Dance [2:54]
19. She's Driving Me Wild [2:34]
20. You Oughta See My Gal [2:24]
21. Futuristic Blues [3:25]
22. Keep Your Business To Yourself [2:59]
23. She's Got What I Need [3:03]
24. Big Time Woman [3:15]
25. I'm Her Papa, She's My Mama -1 [2:55]
26. I'm Her Papa, She's My Mama -2 [3:11]