Home > Music > Claude "Fiddler" Williams > Discography

Claude Williams
Swingtime in New York
Release Date: 1994 09 05
Running Time: 68:26
Label: Progressive

Violinist Claude Williams, at the age of 86, shows that he is still in his musical prime during this quintet date with Bill Easley (who switches between tenor, clarinet and flute), pianist Sir Roland Hanna, bassist Earl May and drummer Joe Ascione. Williams was with both Andy Kirk and Count Basie shortly before they made it big but has spent most of his long career in Kansas City in obscurity. Fortunately he has made several worthy recordings in his later years and this is one of his best, a well-rounded set ranging in repertoire from one of the first songs he ever learned ("You've Got to See Your Mama Ev'ry Night or You Can't See Mama at All") to Ellington, Monk ("Straight No Chaser") and even Stevie Wonder ("You Are the Sunshine of My Life"). The emphasis is on swing and Claude Williams is heard near the peak of his powers. Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Tracks:

	Title	Composer	Time
1	Limehouse Blues	Braham, Furber	5:18
2	Laura	Mercer, Raksin	6:03
3	You've Got to See Mamma Ev'ry Night (Or You Can't See Mamma at All)	Conrad, Rose	3:32
4	I've Got the World on a String	Arlen, Koehler	4:26
5	Mood Indigo	Mills, Bigard, Ellington	5:43
6	You Are the Sunshine of My Life	Wonder	5:23
7	Just You, Just Me	Greer, Klages	4:02
8	Mean to Me	Ahlert, Turk	6:01
9	Lester Leaps In	Young	5:41
10	My Buddy	Donaldson, Kahn	6:15
11	I Can't Give You Anything But Love	McHugh, Fields	3:47
12	Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me)	Ellington, Gaines	4:33
13	Straight, No Chaser	Monk	4:20
14	I Want You, I Need You	Brooks, DuBois, Ellison	3:22