Charlie Fess Johnson

Charlie Fess Johnson

Source: Internet Archive

Charlie "Fess" Johnson, pianist and bandleader, was notable for his operation that was the Paradise Ten which played at Small's Paradise Club in Harlem from 1925 to 1935. Though far from a contender to any major audience, he led a competent band for some time in the heart of jazz in NYC and scratched some tracks along the way.

Born in Philadelphia on 21 November 1891, Johnson is thought to have begun recording with Mary Stafford and her Jazz Band, accompanying her on piano for two sessions of two tracks each in 1921 in New York City for Columbia. The January session yielded 'Royal Garden Blues' and 'Crazy Blues'. The March session wrought 'I'm Gonna Jazz My Way ' and 'Down Where They Play the Blues'.

'Royal Garden Blues'   Charlie Johnson at piano w Mary Stafford and Her Jazz Band

Recorded 5 Jan 1921 in NYC   Matrix 79628-3   Issued on Columbia A-3365

Trumpet: Addington Major or Charlie Gaines   Trombone: Earl Granstaff

Clarinet / alto sax: Nelson Kincaid / Ben Whitted

Composition: Spencer Willams / Clarence Williams

'Crazy Blues'   Charlie Johnson at piano w Mary Stafford and Her Jazz Band

Recorded 5 Jan 1921 in NYC   Matrix 79629-1   Issued on Columbia A-3365

Trumpet: Addington Major or Charlie Gaines   Trombone: Earl Granstaff

Clarinet / alto sax: Nelson Kincaid / Ben Whitted

Composition: Perry Bradford

Johnson first recorded with his Paradise Orchestra circa February 1925: 'Don't Forget You'll Regret Day By Day' (Emerson 10854) and 'Meddlin' with the Blues' (Emerson 10856). The next year found him laying tracks with Duke Ellington's Memphis Bell Hops. Johnson changed the name of his orchestra to the Paradise Ten for issues in 1927 and 1928. In September of 1928 he contributed to 'Dusky Stevedore' and 'Take Your Tomorrow' with the Southern Stompers led by pianist, Mike Jackson. Johnson also recorded tunes that month with his orchestra renamed to the Paradise Band. It was simply His Orchestra for releases in mid 1929, recordings to follow with Tiny Parham in November of 1930 in Chicago, and Louis Armstrong for radio broadcast at the Zoo Concert Hall, the Hague, Netherlands, in November of '33: 'You Rascal You' and 'Dinah'.

'Meddlin' with the Blues'   Charlie Johnson's Paradise Orchestra

Recorded c Feb 1925 in NYC    Issued on Emerson 10856

Trumpet: Gus Aiken / Leroy Rutledge   Trombone: Regis Hartman

Clarinet / tenor sax: Elmer Harrell

Clarinet / alto sax: Ben Whitted / Alec Alexander

Piano: Johnson   Banjo: Bobby Johnson

Tuba: Cyrus St. Clair   Drums: George Stafford

Composition: Edgar Dowell

'Paradise Wobble'   Stomp by Charlie Johnson's Original Paradise Ten

Recorded 25 Feb 1927 in NYC    Matrix 38115-1   Issued on Victor 20551 A

Vocal: Monette Moore

Cornet: Jabbo Smith / Leonard Davis / Tom Morris   Trombone: Charlie Irvis

Clarinet / tenor sax: Elmer Harrell

Clarinet / alto sax / soprano sax: Benny Carter

Piano: Johnson   Banjo: Bobby Johnson

Tuba: Cyrus St. Clair   Drums: George Stafford

Composition: Edgar Dowell

'Birmingham Black Bottom'   Stomp by Charlie Johnson's Original Paradise Ten

Recorded 25 Feb 1927 in NYC    Matrix 38116-1   Issued on Victor 20551 B

Take 2 on matrix 38116-2 issued on 'Charlie Johnson's Paradise Band' Victor X LVA-3026 in 1954

Vocal: Monette Moore

Cornet: Jabbo Smith / Leonard Davis / Tom Morris   Trombone: Charlie Irvis

Clarinet / tenor sax: Elmer Harrell

Clarinet / alto sax / soprano sax: Benny Carter

Piano: Johnson   Banjo: Bobby Johnson

Tuba: Cyrus St. Clair   Drums: George Stafford

Composition: Charlie Johnson / Thomas Morris

'Don't You Leave Me Here'   Charlie Johnson's Original Paradise Ten

Recorded 25 Feb 1927 in NYC    Matrix 38117-1   Issued on Victor 20653

Take 2 on matrix 38117-3 issued on 'Charlie Johnson's Paradise Band' Victor X LVA-3026 in 1954

Vocal: Monette Moore

Cornet: Jabbo Smith / Leonard Davis / Tom Morris   Trombone: Charlie Irvis

Clarinet / tenor sax: Elmer Harrell

Clarinet / alto sax / soprano sax: Benny Carter

Piano: Johnson   Banjo: Bobby Johnson

Tuba: Cyrus St. Clair   Drums: George Stafford

Composition: Jelly Roll Morton

'Boy in the Boat'   Charlie Johnson & His Paradise Band

Recorded 19 Sep 1928 in NYC    Matrix 47531-2   Issued on Victor 21712

Take 1 on matrix 47531-1 issued on Bluebird B10248

Trumpet: Leonard Davis / Sidney DeParis / Jimmy Harrison

Clarinet / tenor sax: Benny Waters

Clarinet / alto sax: Ben Whitted

Clarinet / alto sax / violin: Edgar Sampson

Piano: Johnson   Banjo: Bobby Johnson

Tuba: Cyrus St. Clair   Drums: George Stafford

Composition: Charlie Johnson

'Harlem Drag'   Charlie Johnson & His Orchestra

Recorded 8 May 1929 in NYC    Matrix 51298-2   Issued on Victor 38059

Take 1 on matrix 51298-1 issued on 'Charlie Johnson's Paradise Band' Victor X LVA-3026 in 1954

Trumpet: Leonard Davis /Sidney DeParis   Trombone: George Stevenson

Clarinet / tenor sax: Benny Waters

Clarinet / alto sax: Edgar Sampson / Ben Whitted

Piano: Johnson   Banjo: Bobby Johnson

Tuba: Billy Taylor   Drums: George Stafford

Composition: Benny Waters

'Hot Bones and Rice'   Charlie Johnson & His Orchestra

Recorded 8 May 1929 in NYC    Matrix 51299-1   Issued on Victor 38059

Take 2 on matrix 51299-2 issued on 'Charlie Johnson's Paradise Band' Victor X LVA-3026 in 1954

Trumpet: Leonard Davis /Sidney DeParis   Trombone: George Stevenson

Clarinet / tenor sax: Benny Waters

Clarinet / alto sax: Edgar Sampson / Ben Whitted

Piano: Johnson   Banjo: Bobby Johnson

Tuba: Billy Taylor   Drums: George Stafford

Composition: Charlie Johnson

Johnson's final name recording was 'Molasses', the fifth of five tracks on 8 May of 1929, never issued. He ran his organization until 1938, then freelanced for a couple years before retiring from the music business in 1940 [Rau]. Johnson died in NYC on December 13 of 1959.