St. Louis 1927-1933

Performers include: Jelly Roll Anderson, Jesse Johnson, Jimmy Strange, Henry Johnson's Boys, Bert "Snake Root" Hatton, "Spider" Carter, Georgia Boyd.
Personnel: Jimmy Strange, Jelly Roll Anderson, Bert "Snake Root" Hatton, Red Mike Bailey, Georgia Boyd (vocals); Lonnie Johnson (guitar, violin); Clifford Gibson, J.D. Short, Charlie Jordan (guitar); Clifford Hayes, Henry Johnson (violin); Baby Jay (clarinet); Spider Carter, Ike Rogers (trombone); Peetie Wheatstraw, Roosevelt Sykes, James Johnson, Charles Avery (piano).
The complete recorded works of nine different artists are included on this well-produced CD. All of the St. Louis-based musicians are quite obscure, although some of the sidemen (most notably Lonnie Johnson, Roosevelt Sykes, Peetie Wheatstraw, and Clifford Hayes) were major names. The music ranges from good-time performances to lowdown blues. Vocalist Jelly Roll Anderson is backed by a small group on four numbers; violinist Henry Johnson jams on six instrumentals; and vocalists Bert "Snake Root" Hatton, Red Mike Bailey, Jimmy Strange, and Georgia Boyd are heard on their only two selections. Even more obscure is Ell-zee Floyd (who only recorded one song), Spider Carter (who had three numbers), and Jesse Johnson (heard on the two-part "I Wish I Had Died in Egyptland"). Intriguing and very rare music. ~ Scott Yanow