Search - James P. Johnson :: James P. Johnson 1944-1945

Fine Piano

B. D. Tutt | London, UK. | 04/22/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The latest in the Classics series for James P. Johnson reaches 1944-45. The band sides are unmemorable, but the Kathleen Handy sides underline what a fine accompanist Johnson was. "Yellow Dog Blues" has wonderful piano, alive to every nuance of the song. Kathleen Handy's voice, however, is an acquired taste, and she sings the W.C. Handy lyrics as published, some very un-blueslike stanzas included. Johnson's "Blue Moods" solos are magnificent (although Blue Moods 2 is simply a cut version of "Blue Moods - Sex"). Unlike Fats Waller, whose blues playing was unconvincing, Johnson was a moving blues player, producing utterly disctinctive and very poignant piano perfomances, especially in the 1940s. "Yamecraw" is Johnson's only recording of his best known classical work, which combines concert technique with spirituals and swing. The final four tracks are a delight - Omer Simeon plays beautifully, and Johnson strides away exilheratingly in "Bandana Days".The piano solos are available in better sound quality on Smithsonian / Folkways, but this is a disc well worth getting nevertheless. There still isn't enough James P. Johnson on disc, and the Handy and Simeon sides should not be missed."