Cootie Williams

Presented in DIGIPACK
For the First Time on CD
Original Stereophonic Recordings
Newly Remastered in 24-Bit HQ Sound


The idea of this album was one often found in jazz: the pairing of outstanding soloists on the same horn, with an eye on the competitive atmosphere thus created. In this case the chosen musicians were brassmen Cootie Williams and Rex Stewart, who had been partners in the bands of Fletcher Henderson and Duke Ellington.

Although co-leaders, they had paired alongside them some of the greatest swingers in the history of jazz, including tenor saxists Coleman Hawkins, a particular idol of Cootie’s, and Bud Freeman, and trombonists Lawrence Brown and J.C. Higginbotham.

Hawk’s art, in particular, went beyond schools, eras, and style; his elegant simplicity and his stark, monolithic, dominating sound are among the high points of the entire album. For the record, Cootie’s plea to “don’t just put us in the studio and tell everybody to blow, please,” was met by assigning the arranging chores to Ernie Wilkins and Joe Thomas.

The results were brilliant, simultaneously redolent of an era of mainstream jazz, yet also sounding as freshly minted as the day they were made.


Tracklisting:

01. I'M BEGINNING TO SEE THE LIGHT (Ellington) 6:06
02. DO NOTHIN' TILL YA HEAR FROM ME (Ellington) 4:07
03. ALPHONSE AND GASTON (Wilkins) 8:29
04. I GOT A RIGHT TO SING THE BLUES (Arlen) 4:09
05. WALKIN' MY BABY BACK HOME (Ahlert) 4:42
06. WHEN YOUR LOVER HAS GONE (Swan) 5:08
07. I KNEW YOU WHEN (Stewart) 4:42 (*) Alternate


Original sources:

Tracks #1-6 were originally issued on Jazztone as
"Cootie and Rex In The Big Challenge" (J 1268).

Later reissued on Urania Records as
"Jazz at Stereoville" (USD 2004).



Personnel on all tracks:

Cootie Williams (tp), Rex Stewart (cnt), Lawrence Brown, J.C. Higginbotham (tb), Coleman Hawkins, Bud Freeman (ts), Billy Bauer (g), Hank Jones (p), Milton Hinton (b), and Gus Johnson (d).

Recorded in New York City, April 30 (#1, 2 & 3),
and May 6 (#4, 5, 6 & 7), 1957.



"The Big Challenge" was produced especially
for Jazztone Society by George T. Simon.

Recording engineer: Ernie Oelrich

Photos by Kal Weyner.

Produced for CD release: Jordi Pujol


Stereo 24-Bit Digitally Remastered

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Additional note:

Under the supervision of jazz writer and producer George T. Simon, this album was recorded and originally issued on LP in highfidelity mono on the Jazztone label as Cootie and Rex in the Big Challenge, and later in stereo on Urania Records under the title Jazz at Stereoville.

This date was conceived for stereo by noted jazz producer George T. Simon. The idea was to have three top soloists on one channel fighting three other soloists on the other channel—locking horns, as it were. Underneath, the indispensable keystone of all jazz great—a solid, swinging rhythm section.