Customer Reviews

Best of Joe Williams

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Jazz is currently not served very well by today's crop of technically muscle-bound musicians. Many play "at" their audiences rather than tell us something we need to know. That's just one reason why the passing of Joe Williams at the end of March is a sad event. He was a master of ballads and a city-style blues shouter who ranked with the very, very best, such as Big Joe Turner. He was also a superb entertainer as anyone who saw him in a supper club will know. While the classic Verve CD "Count Basie Swings, Joe Williams Sings" is an essential part of any jazz collection (no-one did more than Williams to revive the fortunes of the Count Basie Orchestra in the 1950s) this Blue Note CD is probably the best selection you can have of all his styles. And Joe is in fine, young voice throughout. It opens with a less familiar but roaring version of "Everyday I Have The Blues," continues with a few ballads such as "When Did You Leave Heaven?" and contains the great verson of "Goin' To Chicago" with Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. There is also plenty of Basie material including "Roll 'Em Pete." Make this your first or second choice Joe Williams record. You will never regret it.

This compilation of hits represent virtually the full spectrum of the talent of Joe Williams. His silky smooth handling of such ballads as "I was telling her about you" and "Cherry" harken back to his early days singing with Dinah Washington in Lionel Hampton's band. Other tunes, such as "Everyday I have the blues" and "If I were a bell" chronicle his ultra successful stint with the Basie band during the 1950's and 60's. Whether shouting the blues, or interpreting a timeless ballad, Joe Williams's clarity and emotion shines through every track.

Do you know an untasteful fruit among all the tasteful dozens of fruits Mr.Williams has legate to America and the world? Difficult to find 2 because I have found only one among the extensive list of Mr. Williams albums as coperformer and as main performer. Particularly about his Blue Note, Solid State output it is a pity that fans do not have all the material available. Particularly, Williams collaboration with the Thad Jones & Mel Lewis band is fantastic (a Solid State album). If you just want a fully representative Joe Williams album, buy it. If you are a fan, also buy it because there are some few great gems here.