Fess Williams

Everything about the swinging music we love to DJ

Moderators: Mr Awesomer, JesseMiner, CafeSavoy

Locked
Message
Author
User avatar
SpuzBal
Posts: 155
Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2003 5:38 pm

Fess Williams

#1 Post by SpuzBal » Thu Jan 15, 2004 11:48 am

I remember a long time ago on Jive Junction, Aleksey (I totally forgot your username, dude) asked something about Fess Williams and his Royal Flush Orchestra. I just thought you (and others) might be interested to know that Jazz Oracle just released a 2-disc set of Fess Williams recordings, remastered by R. T. Davies. As far as I know, it's the only disc or set that has FW recordings, aside from the odd compilation. I heard it at Down Home Music in El Cerrito (East Bay Area) last night. It sounded pretty sweet. It covers 1926-30.

The disc itself

Jazz Oracle
"In my opinion, out of the ten great guitarists in the world, Django is five of them!" - Rex Stewart

User avatar
Yakov
Posts: 614
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2003 8:02 pm
Location: Miami
Contact:

#2 Post by Yakov » Thu Jan 15, 2004 12:22 pm

can you describe this music at all? any "names" in the group? how does it swing? super lindy hop music or just good music?

User avatar
SpuzBal
Posts: 155
Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2003 5:38 pm

#3 Post by SpuzBal » Thu Jan 15, 2004 1:46 pm

I only heard parts of a couple songs, unfortunately. I was trying to figure out who it was that was playing, and I was almost going to guess that it was a recording of Andy Kirk in the late 20s, or maybe Bennie Moten. It reminded me a lot of his "Mess-A-Stomp." So it's definitely got that late 20s feel to it. I guess, if you like that feel, you'd probably dig the Fess Williams stuff (judging from what I heard, at least). :)
"In my opinion, out of the ten great guitarists in the world, Django is five of them!" - Rex Stewart

User avatar
main_stem
Posts: 349
Joined: Thu Nov 21, 2002 9:01 am
Location: Seattle, WA

#4 Post by main_stem » Thu Jan 15, 2004 2:00 pm

I have this. Sound qaulity is excelent on all but a few tracks, the very early ones. I platyed one track from 1930 and some people couln't believe it was that old, it sounded "too good".

It's definitely hot jazz with some realy fun arangements and outstanding trumpet and trombone solos.

-Kevin
"We called it music."
— Eddie Condon

User avatar
Bob the Builder
Posts: 525
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2003 6:53 pm
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Contact:

#5 Post by Bob the Builder » Thu Jan 15, 2004 2:50 pm

I'm waiting for it.
Fess Williams was the first band ever to play at the Savoy Ballroom, and were the house band there in 1926 for a while.
If you want to know what they sound like, check out www.redhotjazz.com.
Because it is very early, it doesn’t have that Lindyhop big band sound to it that we would be more familiar with in the late 1930's band recordings.
On a listening factor, they are very interesting.
Image

User avatar
AlekseyKosygin
Posts: 204
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2003 6:59 am
Location: Jersey, Home of the Lion, the Lamb and the Brute...

Re: Fess Williams

#6 Post by AlekseyKosygin » Fri Jan 16, 2004 5:06 pm

SpuzBal wrote:I remember a long time ago on Jive Junction, Aleksey (I totally forgot your username, dude) asked something about Fess Williams and his Royal Flush Orchestra. I just thought you (and others) might be interested to know that Jazz Oracle just released a 2-disc set of Fess Williams recordings, remastered by R. T. Davies. As far as I know, it's the only disc or set that has FW recordings, aside from the odd compilation. I heard it at Down Home Music in El Cerrito (East Bay Area) last night. It sounded pretty sweet. It covers 1926-30.

The disc itself

Jazz Oracle
Hey man,

Yea that's me...thanks for thinking about my post...I actually found a great Fess Williams CD called "Pre Victors The Complete Set 1925-1927" it is also restored by John R.T. Davies...it is really great and has amazing sound quality...I really wish this guy would hit up some Fletcher Henderson because he really did great treatment on this...Gambler's Blues is just like St. James Infirmary but even better...I have to say I used to not like the real heavy upbeated jazz but so far alot of the New York bands are winning me over and in alot of ways their arrangements were alot more original then the later downbeated rhythm swing bands...

Some other great NYC late 20's bands are the Savoy Bearcats and Charlie Johnson...definetly at the same calibur as Fess...

By the way if you like Rex Stewart get his 1934-1946 on Classics, it's really good stuff...

User avatar
SpuzBal
Posts: 155
Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2003 5:38 pm

#7 Post by SpuzBal » Fri Jan 16, 2004 6:11 pm

Savoy Bearcats...I'll have to check them out. They have a cool name, haha.
"In my opinion, out of the ten great guitarists in the world, Django is five of them!" - Rex Stewart

Locked