Wild Bill Davis At Birdland

Comments

1. Guest

   December 29, 2012 at 12:00 am

   As a teenager I had this recording in LP format. It contains the tune April in Paris. Bill Davis wrote the arrangement of April in Paris for the Basie Band, that became such a hit for the Count. If you remember, it contains the comment, \\”One more time\\” and \\”One more once\\”. Davis uses that in this recording.

   Sixty years or so later it sounds dated, but I have to realize that this was the style of jazz I grew up with. It took me many years to finally find this in CD format.

2. Guest

   September 9, 2010 at 12:00 am

   Wild Bill Davis is fondly remembered to day by people who made the Kentucky Avenue scene back in the ’60s, but not so well known outside that circle – – Ashame, because he was a major figure in the evolution of Jazz, having been not only the GODFATHER of Jazz organ Swing, but a pivotal member of Louis Jordan and the Tympani 5, as well as the arranger of COUNT BASIE’s classic version of APRIL IN PARIS and a touring member of DUKE ELLINGTON’s band (during which time he recorded numerous albums with Johnny Hodges.)

   By the late ’50s, Big Bands may have been going out and replaced by more economical small combos, Wild Bill Davis was rockin’ the heck out of BIRDLAND with a rather freaky unit: A three piece Jazz combo that had the same power, energy and volume as a large BIG BAND, and a unit that not only swung, but rocked out too…

   This recording, features the classic combo of CHRIS COLUMBO and FLOYD SMITH on guitar… (Chris, Sonny Payne’s dad, also pivotal Louis Jordan member, and amazingly powerful and swinging bandleader in his own right.) – – As for the organ/guitar combo, the sound of Wild Bill Davis’s group is way different than the \\”cooler\\” ensembles that came after… even though Grant Green was a frequent member of his group. – – Floyd Smith’s guitar is a mix of Wild Bill Jenkins and Mickey Baker… – – wailing just as much as it swings.

   The group is HOT, and can be heard vocalizing and in a state of near hysterical exuberance as they shout things to fire up the crowd… They also do some vocal numbers and seem to have just as much an act as a combo… – – Though every tune’s a winner, WILD BILL’s anthem APRIL IN PARIS (with its famous \\”ONE MO TIME!\\” ending) definitely steals the show.

   All in all, if you like music that jumps, swings, bops a bit – – and don’t mind over the top performing (in the Louis Prima/Sam Butera sense of the word) consider this album one of the greatest ever made… Sadly, though, at the time of this writing the DOPES who are the powers that be have let it go out of PRINT… – – If you find a used copy GRAB IT… otherwise you’re missing out on something great !me of this writing the DOPES who are the powers that be have let it go out of PRINT… – – If you find a used copy GRAB IT… otherwise you’re missing out on something great !