Tag: Andy Kirk and his Clouds of Joy

I am on a Mary Lou Williams kick this week – and have a few great sides to share.

This first one is Twinklin’ – a delightful self-penned number with Andy Kirk and his Clouds of Joy that showcases Williams’ piano. She’s got this great unhurried tone – always quite elegant.

Recorded in New York City on February 8, 1938.
Originally released in the U.S. as Decca 2483.
Released in the U.K. as Brunswick 02789.

Credits:
Andy Kirk – bass sax, director
Mary Lou Williams – piano, arranger
Harry Lawson, Clarence Trice, Earl Thomson – trumpet
Ted Donnelly, Henry Wells – trombone
John Harrington – clarinet, alto sax, baritone sax
Earl Miller – alto sax
John Williams – alto sax, baritone sax
Dick Wilson – tenor sax
Ted Robinson – guitar
Booker Collins – string bass
Ben Thigpen – drums

Recorded in New York on March 16, 1939.
Master pressing released in the UK as Brunswick 02789.

Andy Kirk – director, bass sax
Floyd Smith – electric guitar
Earl Thomson, Harry Lawson, Clarence Trice – trumpet
Ted Donnelly, Henry Wells – trombone
John Harrington – clarinet, alto sax, baritone sax
Don Byas – alto sax, baritone sax
Earl Miller – alto sax
Dick Wilson – tenor sax
Claude Williams – violin
Mary Lou Williams – piano
Booker Collins – string bass
Ben Thigpen – drums

Equipment used in the transfer:
• Lenco L75 turntable with Shure M91ED cartridge
• Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
• Audacity (for digitization, de-clicking, and De-RIAA/Re-EQing)
• Logic (for additional EQ tweaks, light compression, and stereo mixdown to mono)
• Adobe Premiere (for adding label image and final export to MP4)