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Walk That Thing

Charlie Johnson's Paradise Band

 

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Feat. Benny Waters

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This side was produced in New York City on September 19th 1928 featuring Leonard Davis and Sidney De Paris trumpets, Jimmy Harrison trombone, Ben Whittet clarinet & alto sax, Edgar Sampson clarinet, alto sax, & violin, Benny Waters clarinet, tenor sax, & arranger, Charlie Johnson piano & leader, Bobby Johnson banjo, Cyrus St Clair tuba, and George Stafford drums.

*"Walk That Thing" was composed by Charlie Johnson.

Kicking off with a boogie piano walk down intro from Charlie Johnson this record containing the second take recorded at the September 19th session has a edgier more spontaneous feel than the band's first attempt. Once again Benny Waters is gone on his tenor saxophone right out'a the starting gate. The other players take over for a bit leading up to a short horn solo from Sidney De Paris and a more substantial trombone "break" from Jimmy Harrison. Then the clarinets have it, before resolving back to the assembly. -Matt Chauvin

This side would be a great way to introduce current trombonists to Jimmy Harrison's artistry if they've never heard him. Though old time musicians referred to entire solos as "breaks", we nowadays use the term "break" to mean a short solo played while the band stops. Thus, Jimmy's first break here, starting on the 25th bar of his solo, begins with an "against the grain" descending run that is rather difficult to play. Though this same kind of "lick" was used by "Daddy Edwards" and George Brunis in earlier recordings of "Tiger Rag", its use by Jimmy here is stunning. His whole solo swings and is put together in a most modern way (and it was improvised; his solos on the other two takes are different). In addition, Jimmy rips to a high Eb in the final ensemble ( on another take he makes the rip up to high E; no other trombonist recorded that high a note in jazz up to that time.) Also, please note that Leonard "Ham" Davis takes a muted trumpet solo after Harrison's solo, and that there are tuba and banjo breaks in the final ensemble. -Dan Weinstein



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