HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Cootie Williams

Birth of Modern Jazz: Cootie Williams

Cootie Williams

Born in Mobile, Alabama, on 10 July 1911, swing trumpeter, Cootie Williams, began life as Charles. He acquired the nickname "Cootie" as a child when his father took him to see a band in concert. After the concert Charles' father asked him what he had heard, to which "Cootie, cootie, cootie" he replied. Williams is found on a huge number of recordings, prolifically attending above 560 sessions with 57 of them in his own name as leader [Lord]. Williams began his career at age fourteen with the Young Family Band, of which saxophonist, Lester Young, was also a member. Williams first recorded at age eighteen with pianist James Johnson in 1928 in New York City: 'Chicago Blues' and 'Mournful Tho'ts'. His next session on March 1, 1929, was with Duke Ellington's Jungle Band, putting down 'Rent Party Blues', 'Paducah' and 'Harlem Flat Blues'. It was Ellington's Cotton Club Orchestra on March 7, his Washingtonians on March 15 and his Memphis Men on April 4. Ellington's orchestras would be Williams' main hammer into 1940, those eleven or so years constituting his first of two long periods with Ellington. His last session with Ellington's orchestra in 1940 was on October 28 in Chicago for such as 'Across the Tracks Blues' and 'Chloe'. His last recordings with Ellington himself were per the latter contributing piano to titles by Johnny Hodges on November 2: 'Day Dream', 'Good Queen Bess', et al.

'Chicago Blues' Cootie Williams (trumpet) w the Jimmy Johnson Orchestra

Williams' first known recording to issue

Recorded 18 June 1928 in NYC Matrix W146539-3 Columbia 14334-D

Clarinet / sax: Charlie Holmes

Piano: James Price Johnson / Fats Waller

Upright bass: Joe Watts Voice: Perry Bradford

Composition: James Altiere / Paul Biese / Spencer Williams

'Mournful Tho'ts' Cootie Williams (trumpet) w the Jimmy Johnson Orchestra

Williams' second known recording to issue

Recorded 18 June 1928 in NYC Matrix W146540-1 Columbia 14334-D

Clarinet / sax: Charlie Holmes

Piano: James Price Johnson / Fats Waller

Upright bass: Joe Watts

Composition: James Price Johnson

'Ain't Misbehavin' Cootie Williams (trumpet) w Duke Ellington and His Orchestra

Trumpet solos unknown

Recorded 13 July 1933 at Chenil Galleries in London Matrix GB6040-1 Decca M439

Trumpet: Arthur Whetsel / Freddie Jenkins

Trombone: Lawrence Brown / Joe Nanton / Juan Tizol

Clarinet / sax: Barney Bigard / Johnny Hodges / Otto Hardwick / Harry Carney

Piano: Duke Ellington Guitar: Fred Guy

Upright bass: Wellman Braud Drums: Sonny Greer

Composition: Fats Waller / Harry Brooks / Andy Razaf 1929

'Echoes of Harlem' ('Cootie's Concerto')

Cootie Williams (trumpet) w Duke Ellington and His Orchestra

Recorded 27 Feb 1936 in NYC Matrix GB6040-1 Decca M439

Cornet: Rex Stewart Trumpet: Arthur Whetsel

Trombone: Joe Nanton / Lawrence Brown / Juan Tizol (valve)

Clarinet: Barney Bigard Clarinet / sax: Johnny Hodges / Harry Carney

Piano / arrangement: Duke Ellington Banjo /guitar: Fred Guy

Upright bass: Hayes Alvis Drums: Sonny Greer

Composition: Duke Ellington 1936

Among Williams' frequent longtime partners with Ellington was cornetist, Rex Stewart, who first joined Ellington's orchestra on January 9, 1935, in Chicago for such as 'Admiration' and 'Farewell Blues'. Stewart recorded with Ellington's orchestra to October 2 of 1940, just prior to William's last on the 28th per above. They would reunite, however, in 1957-58 to co-lead 'The Big Challenge', perform at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival and co-lead 'Porgy & Bess Revisited'.

William's first session as a leader was with his Rug Cutters including Ellington at piano on March 8, 1937, recording double takes of 'I Can't Believe That You're in Love With Me', 'Downtown Uproar', 'Diga Diga Doo', 'Blue Reverie' and 'Tiger Rag'.

'Mobile Blues' Cootie Williams (trumpet) w his Rug Cutters

Recorded 21 Dec 1938 in NYC 1 of 2 takes

M956-1 issued on Epic LN3237 in 1956 M956-1 issued on Voc 4636 in 1939

Clarinet / sax: Barney Bigard / Johnny Hodges / Otto Hardwick / Harry Carney

Piano: Duke Ellington

Upright bass: Billy Taylor Drums: Sonny Greer

Composition: Duke Ellington / Cootie Williams

'Morning Glory' Cootie Williams (trumpet) w Duke Ellington and His Orchestra

Recorded 6 March 1940 in Chicago Matrix 044890-1 Victor 26536

Cornet: Rex Stewart (solo) Trumpet: Wallace Jones

Trombone: Lawrence Brown / Tricky Sam Nanton / Juan Tizol (valve)

Clarinet / sax: Barney Bigard / Harry Carney / Johnny Hodges

Alto sax: Otto Hardwick Tenor sax: Ben Webster

Piano: Duke Ellington Guitar: Fred Guy

Upright bass: Jimmy Blanton Drums: Sonny Greer

Composition: Duke Ellington

'Concerto for Cootie' aka 'Do Nothing till You Hear from Me'

Cootie Williams (trumpet) w Duke Ellington and His Orchestra

NBC radio broadcast on 6 Sep 1940 at Hotel Sherman in Chicago Max MLP1001

Cornet: Rex Stewart Trumpet: Wallace Jones

Trombone: Lawrence Brown / Joe Nanton / Juan Tizol (valve)

Clarinet: Barney Bigard Clarinet / sax: Otto Hardwick / Harry Carney

Alto sax: Johnny Hodges Tenor sax: Ben Webster

Piano: Duke Ellington Guitar: Fred Guy

Upright bass: Jimmy Blanton Drums: Sonny Greer

Music: Duke Ellington 1940 Lyrics: Bob Russell

Williams had recorded with Benny Goodman as early as January 16, 1938, at Carnegie Hall, next to Hodges on 'Blue Reverie'. A week after William's last session with Ellington in October, 1940, he joined the Benny Goodman Sextet in NYC on November 7 for multiple takes of 'Wholly Cats' and 'Royal Garden Blues'. Williams hung with Goodman into 1942. They would reunite twenty years later on August 12, 1962, for a Goodman radio broadcast from WNEW in NYC: 'Love For Sale', 'I've Got a Lot of Living to Do', et al. On 6 January 1944 Williams and his orchestra backed Eddie Cleanhead Vinson on 'Cherry Red Blues' which ascended to #2 on Billboard's R&B chart. On 22 August 1944 Williams and Vinson recorded 'Is You Is, or Is You Ain't My Baby' which rose to #9 on Billboard. The next track of that session was 'Somebody's Gotta Go' which found Billboard's top tier in R&B at #1. Per 'Epistrophy' below, that began as 'Fly Rite' in 1941, Thelonious Monk's first composition to see copyright.

''Epistrophy' aka 'Fly Rite' Cootie Williams (trumpet) and His Orchestra

1 April 1942 in Chicago Columbia C3L33 / CL2162

Trumpet: Milton Fraser / Joe Guy (solo) / Louis Bacon

Trombone: Jonas Walker / Robert Horton / Sandy Williams

Alto sax: Charley Holmes / Eddie Cleanhead Vinson

Tenor sax: Bob Dorsey / Greely Walton Baritone sax: John Williams

Piano: Ken Kersey

Upright bass: Norman Keenan Drums: George Butch Ballard

Composition: Thelonious Monk / Kenny Clarke 1941

'Cootie Williams and His Orchestra' Cootie Williams (trumpet) and His Orchestra

Short film by Columbia Pictures Film Vodvil recorded June 1943

'Let’s Keep on Jumping' (theme)

'Get Hep'

'Things Ain’t What They Used to Be' Vocal: Eddie Cleanhead Vinson

Tap dancing by the Douglas Brothers: Al and Freddy Douglas

'Giddap Mule' Vocal: Laurel Watson

'Let’s Keep on Jumping' (theme)

Tap dancing by the Lindy Hoppers:

Russell Williams / Connie Hill / Leon James / Dottie Mae Johnson

Trumpet: Louis Bacon / Ermit V. Perry / Frank Humphries

Trombone: Ed Burke / Robert Horton / Jonas Walker

Alto sax: / Eddie Cleanhead Vinson / Charley Holmes

Tenor sax: Sam Taylor / Bob Dorsey Baritone sax: Greely Walton

Piano: Fletcher Smith

Upright bass: Norman Keenan Drums: George Butch Ballard

'You Talk a Little Trash' Cootie Williams (trumpet) and His Sextette

4 Jan 1944 in NYC Matrix CR345 Hit 8089

Trumpet: Charles Melvin

Alto sax: Eddie Cleanhead Vinson Tenor sax: Eddie Lockjaw Davis

Piano: Earl Rudolph / Bud Powell

Upright bass: Norman Keenan Drums: Sylvester Vess Payne

Composition: Cootie Williams

'Echoes of Harlem' ('Cootie's Concerto') Cootie Williams (trumpet)

Recorded 6 Jan 1944 in NYC Matrix CR351-3 Hit 8087

Alto sax: Eddie Cleanhead Vinson Tenor sax: Eddie Lockjaw Davis

Piano: Bud Powell

Upright bass: Norman Keenan Drums: Sylvester Vess Payne

Composition: Duke Ellington 1936

'Red Blues' aka 'Cherry Red Blues' Cootie Williams (trumpet) and His Orchestra

Recorded 6 Jan 1944 in NYC Matrix CR355 Hit 7084

Trumpet: Harold Money Johnson / Ermit V. Perry / George Treadwell

Trombone: Ed Burke / Bob Horton / George Stevenson

Alto sax: Charles Holmes / Eddie Cleanhead Vinson (vocal)

Tenor sax: Eddie Lockjaw Davis Baritone sax: Eddie DeVerteuil

Piano: Bud Powell

Upright bass: Norman Keenan Drums: Sylvester Vess Payne

Composition: Bob Haggart

'Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby' Cootie Williams (trumpet) and His Orchestra

Recorded 22 Aug 1944 in NYC Matrix T448-2 Hit 7108

Trumpet: Ermit V. Perry / Tommy Stevenson / George Treadwell / Lammar Wright

Trombone: Ed Burke / Ed Glover / Bob Horton

Alto sax: Frank Powell / Eddie Cleanhead Vinson (vocal)

Tenor sax: Lee Pope / Sam Taylor Baritone sax: Eddie DeVerteuil

Piano: Bud Powell Guitar: Leroy Kirkland

Upright bass: Carl Pruitt Drums: Sylvester Vess Payne

Composition: Louis Jordan / Billy Austin

'Somebody's Gotta Go' Cootie Williams (trumpet) and His Orchestra

Recorded 22 Aug 1944 in NYC Matrix T449 Hit 7119

Trumpet: Ermit V. Perry / Tommy Stevenson / George Treadwell / Lammar Wright

Trombone: Ed Burke / Ed Glover / Bob Horton

Alto sax: Frank Powell / Eddie Cleanhead Vinson (vocal)

Tenor sax: Lee Pope / Sam Taylor Baritone sax: Eddie DeVerteuil

Piano: Bud Powell Guitar: Leroy Kirkland

Upright bass: Carl Pruitt Drums: Sylvester Vess Payne

Composition: Bob Haggart

''Round Midnight' Cootie Williams (trumpet) and His Orchestra

Recorded 22 Aug 1944 in NYC Matrix T450 Hit 7119

Trumpet: Ermit V. Perry / Tommy Stevenson / George Treadwell / Lammar Wright

Trombone: Ed Burke / Ed Glover / Bob Horton

Alto sax: Frank Powell / Eddie Cleanhead Vinson (vocal)

Tenor sax: Lee Pope / Sam Taylor Baritone sax: Eddie DeVerteuil

Piano: Bud Powell Guitar: Leroy Kirkland

Upright bass: Carl Pruitt Drums: Sylvester Vess Payne

Composition: Thelonious Monk / Cootie Williams

'Everything But You' Cootie Williams (trumpet) and His Orchestra

Recorded 19 July 1945 in NYC 1 of 2 takes

681-1 issued on Capitol 215 (shellac) 681-5 issued on Capitol M11057 (compilation)

Trumpet: Ermit V. Perry / Tommy Stevenson / George Treadwell / Lammar Wright

Trombone: Ed Burke / Ed Glover / Bob Horton

Alto sax: Frank Powell / Eddie Cleanhead Vinson (vocal)

Tenor sax: Lee Pope / Sam Taylor Baritone sax: Eddie DeVerteuil

Piano: Bud Powell Guitar: Leroy Kirkland

Upright bass: Carl Pruitt Drums: Sylvester Vess Payne

Composition: Don George / Duke Ellington / Harry James

'Shotgun Boogie' / 'Divorce Me C.O.D.'

Cootie Williams (trumpet) and His Orchestra backing Eddie Mack

Recorded sometime 1950 in NYC Matrices 7221 / 7231 Derby 756

'Shotgun Boogie' composed by Tennessee Ernie Ford

'Divorce Me C.O.D.' composed by Merle Travis

'Just in Time' Cootie Williams (trumpet) and His Orchestra

Recorded 25 March 1958 in NYC Matrix J2JB2345

RCA Victor LPM1718 [Wikipedia]

Trombone: Billy Byers / Bobby Byrne / Lou McGarity Bass trombone: Dick Hixson

Sax: Phil Bodner / Elwyn Fraser / Nick Caiazza / Romeo Penque / Boomie Richman

Piano: Lou Stein Guitar: George Barnes

Upright bass: Eddie Safranski Drums: Don Lamond

Composition: Jule Styne / Betty Comden / Adolph Green

Marking the commencement of Williams' second period with Duke Ellington's orchestra was a session held on September 12 of 1962 for multiple takes of 'Tootie for Cootie', 'Broadstream' and 'To Know You Is to Love You'. A session the next day included multiple takes of 'Monk's Dream' and 'The Lonely Ones'. Williams would grace Ellington's operation for more than a decade, he last recording with Ellington a few months before the latter's death (May 1974) on February 10, 1974, at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.: 'C Jam Blues', 'Take the 'A' Train', et al. William's final recordings are thought to have been at Carnegie Hall on April 5, 1978, guesting for Teresa Brewer.