Jimmy Witherspoon

2 LP ON 1 CD

This CD includes two of the finest live albums of Witherspoon’s career: the mythical At the Renaissance (1960), and At the Monterey Jazz Festival (1959). Both LPs were originally released by the HiFi Jazz label. The former is a masterpiece with accompaniment by tenor saxophonist Ben Webster, baritonist Gerry Mulligan, and a rhythm section consisting of pianist Jimmy Rowles, bassist Leroy Vinnegar, and drummer Mel Lewis. The warmth of Spoon’s voice can be heard on material like the opener “Times Getting’ Tougher than Tough,” “How Long Blues,” and the traditional “C.C. Rider.” The latter album is filled with superb tracks which feature tremendous solos and great accompaniment by Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Roy Eldridge, Woody Herman and Earl Hines, among others. These two outstanding LPs have been remastered and packaged together in this very special collector’s edition, which also includes 5 bonus tracks from the same period.

PERSONNEL:

JIMMY WITHERSPOON, vocals, plus:

BEN WEBSTER, COLEMAN HAWKINS, tenor sax
GERRY MULLIGAN, baritone sax
ROY ELDRIDGE, trumpet
WOODY HERMAN, clarinet
JIMMY ROWLES, EARL HINES, piano
LEROY VINNEGAR, bass
MEL LEWIS, drums
Among others

Recorded in Hollywood and Monterey (California), October and December 1959.

INCLUDES 16-PAGE BOOKLET

TRACKS:

AT THE RENAISSANCE
1 TIME’S GETTIN’ TOUGHER THAN TOUGH
2 HOW LONG BLUES
3 CORRINE, CORRINA
4 C.C. RIDER
5 ROLL ’EM PETE
6 EVERYDAY I HAVE THE BLUES
7 OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN
8 KANSAS CITY
9 TROUBLE IN MIND
10 ST. LOUIS BLUES

AT THE MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL
11 NO ROLLIN’ BLUES
12 GOOD ROCKIN’ TONIGHT
13 BIG FINE GIRL
14 AIN’T NOBODY’S BUSINESS (IF I DO)
15 WHEN I’VE BEEN DRINKIN’

BONUS TRACKS
16 OO WEE, THEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT
17 FROGGY BOTTOM
18 UNTIL THE REAL THING COMES ALONG
19 WHEN I’VE BEEN DRINKIN’ – Studio version
20 AIN’T NOBODY’S BUSINESS (IF I DO)

TOTAL TIME: 76:03