Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Clarence Williams was born on October 8, 1898 in Plaquemine, Louisiana to Dennis, a bassist, and Sally Williams. He ran away from home at age 12 to join Billy Kersands’ Traveling Minstrel Show, then moved to New Orleans, Louisiana. He first worked shining shoes and doing odd jobs, but soon became known as a singer and master of ceremonies.
By the early 1910s, he was a well-regarded local entertainer also playing piano, and was composing new tunes by 1913. Williams was a good businessman, working arranging and managing entertainment at the local Black vaudeville theater. He played at various saloons and dance halls around Rampart Street, and in the clubs and houses in Storyville.
He started a music publishing business with violinist/bandleader Armand J. Piron in 1915, which by the Twenties was the leading Black owned music publisher in the country. He toured briefly with W. C. Handy, and set up a publishing office in Chicago, Illinois before settling in New York City in the early 1920s. During the decade he and his blues singer/actress wife Eva Taylor moved to the borough of Queens with the intention of creating a community of black artists.
He was one of the primary pianists on scores of blues records recorded in New York during the 1920s. He supervised the 8000 race series recordings for the New York offices of Okeh phonograph company in the 1920s. He also recorded extensively, leading studio bands for OKeh, Columbia, Vocalion, Bluebird and occasionally other record labels.
As a producer he participated in early recordings by Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, Bessie Smith, Virginia Liston, Irene Scruggs, his niece Katherine Henderson, and others. Most of his recordings were songs from his publishing house.
In 1943, he sold his extensive back-catalogue of tunes to Decca Records for $50,000 and retired. He bought a bargain used-goods store, the Harlem Thrift Shop.
Pianist, composer, promoter, vocalist, theatrical producer, and publisher Clarence Williams, died on November 6, 1965 in Queens, New York.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Francisco “Chino” Pozo was born on October 4, 1915 in Havana, Cuba. An autodidact on piano and bass, he concentrated on bongos, congas, and drums before leaving his home for greener pastures. Moving to the United States in 1937, he played with Machito from 1941–43 and with the Jack Cole Dancers from 1943-1949.
In the Fifties he went on to play in numerous jazz ensembles, especially latin jazz and Afro-Cuban jazz. He performed and/or recorded with Jose Curbelo, Noro Morales, Tito Puente, Tito Rodríguez, Enric Madriguera, Perez Prado, Josephine Premice, Tadd Dameron, Charlie Parker, and Dizzy Gillespie.
He toured with Peggy Lee in 1954-55 and played with Stan Kenton in 1955, Herbie Mann in 1956, Xavier Cugat and René Touzet in 1959.
He also recorded with Illinois Jacquet, Phineas Newborn, Gábor Szabó, Paul Anka, Justo Betancourt, Harry Betts, Fats Navarro, Eddie Palmieri, Johnny Richards, A. K. Salim, Billy Taylor, Clark Terry, Chico O’Farrill, Julius Watkins and Charlie Rouse.
Drummer Chino Pozo, whose claim to be the cousin of Chano Pozo has been disputed, died on April 28, 1980 in New York City.
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WILLIAM GREEN
William Green is an extraordinary musical pianist that captures and expresses the sentiments of a generation. He is continuously expanding his horizons to make an impact on society by creating a union between music and life. Through his music, he has allowed different genres of contemporary jazz, rhythm and blues, pop and gospel to integrate into a new and unique form.
n 2018, in celebration of 40 years in the music industry and a ‘thank you’ to his fans and newcomers, the legendary jazz icon recently held a special 40th anniversary celebration at City Winery Atlanta and performed before a sold-out crowd.
The Sunday jazz Lounge evening is hosted by vocalist Lori Williams
Tickets: $32.00~$37.00
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The Jazz Voyager
Not too often do I get a chance to see a friend perform, so this week is a rare treat in the travels of this Jazz Voyager. From the Emerald City in the Pacific Northwest I’m off to the Midwest’s Queen City to take a seat in the audience at Caffè Vivace. Coffee house or alternate work space by day, this cool little venue is a cool little jazz lounge by night, Tuesday through Saturday. Located in the Walnut Hills neighborhood is where the music of young and old local and national acts emanates on evenings such as this.
This sojourn leads me to see a talented musician I met years ago in Atlanta who is known in the jazz world as Joe Alterman. Surrounded by seating positioned to take in every aspect of his performance, the pianist delivers good sound music while others struggle between tradition and progression. Hopefully I’ll get to hear a few, songs you kinda know, off his new album by the same name.
Caffè Vivace’s address is 975 E McMillan Street, Cincinnati, OH 45206. For more information visit www.caffevivace.com.
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GARY MOTLEY QUARTET
The quartet led by pianist Gary Motley, whose exceptional skills as a performer, composer, and arranger have made him an indispensable leader in the nation’s jazz community. His compositions have premiered at national and international festivals, and his achievements have been lauded by multiple organizations, including the National Endowment for the Arts. Well known to music audiences locally as both a headliner and an accompanist, Gary is also beloved on the Emory campus as a professor and the founding director of the University’s Jazz Studies program.
This is the first concert of the 2024~2025 series presented by Jazz at All Saints Episcopal Atlanta
Cover: $25 Adult | $15.00 Student
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