Master of Boogie

by Scott Yanow This is the type of CD that frustrates completists and veteran collectors; the 13 selections are taken from a variety of sessions and the recording dates that are given are often incorrect. The great boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons is heard on five of the nine piano solos he recorded at Blue Note's debut session in 1939 along with a solo number apiece that were cut for Columbia and Storyville. In addition Ammons plays "Two And Fews" in duet with Meade Lux Lewis (from the Blue Note date), leads a hot group on two of the four numbers from his relatively rare debut session (dating from 1936, not 1939 as it states on the back cover) and is heard at the famous Spirituals To Swing concert of 1938 backing blues singer-guitarist Big Bill Broonzy and jamming with Meade Lux Lewis and Pete Johnson on three pianos. Great music, inexcusably lousy packaging.