Andy Kirk was a tuba player who grew up in Denver, Colorado where he studied music with the father of Paul Whiteman. From 1925-29, he was a member of a group led by Terence Holder in Dallas, Texas. The group was known as “Clouds of Joy”. In the winter of 1928-29, Holder left the group stranded in Oklahoma City. Kirk become the new band leader, pulled the group together, finished the tour, and began a gig at a ballroom in Kansas City, where they attracted the notice of A&R scouts from Brunswick.
At their audition for Brunswick, their piano player was a no-show, so Saxophonist John Williams called his wife to come in, who was a pianist with perfect pitch and a good ear for jazz. She arrived and played through the band’s charts flawlessly. This was Mary Lou Williams’ big break, as when the band showed up to the recording session with their regular pianist, the A&R scouts insisted that Mary Lou be on the recording – securing her place in the band.
This first recording session resulted in four released tracks, including this tune, “Blue Clarinet Stomp”.
Recorded in Kansas City, Missouri circa November 7-8, 1929.
Originally released as Brunswick 4694. This Vocalion dubbed reissue was from the late 1930s.
Credits:
Andy Kirk – bass sax, tuba, director
Gene Prince, Harry Lawson – trumpet
Allen Durham – trombone
John Harrington – clarinet, alto sax
John Williams – alto sax, baritone sax
Lawrence Freeman – tenor sax
Claude Williams – violin
Mary Lou Williams – piano
William Dirvin – banjo, guitar
Edward “Crackshot” McNeil – drums
Sources:
“Jazz Style in Kansas City and the Southwest” by Ross Russell
University of California Press, 1971 pp 163-165
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