Sonny Clay: West Coast Jazz - COMPACT DISCS

Title: West Coast Jazz
Artist: Sonny Clay
Label: Frog UK
Product Type: COMPACT DISCS
UPC: 641654765329
Genre: Jazz
Release Date: 2003-04-01
Number of Discs: 1

24 track CD contains 21 tracks by pianist Sonny Clay (all of his output from 1922-31), recorded in L.A. There are also 3 titles by Leon Rene's Orchestra, recorded in Hollywood in 1932 (the tracks were not issued at the time). Clay was a major player in the development of jazz on the West Coast in these early years. He had a brief spell with Reb Spikes and also with Kid Ory's Sunshine Orchestra. He formed his own band in 1923, the California Poppies, and later changed it to the Stompin' Six and then to Sonny Clay's Plantation Orch. All of these groups appear on this CD and there were very few changes in the personnel. His final four sides were made in 1931, after his return from a traumatic tour of Australia (the band was thrown out of the country!).

Tracks:
1.1 Mama Likes to Do It - Sonny Clay
1.2 What a Wonderful Time - California Poppies
1.3 Lou - California Poppies
1.4 Gang O' Blues - Sonny Clay
1.5 Punishing the Piano - Sonny Clay
1.6 Jimtown Blues - the Stompin' Six
1.7 Roamin' Around - the Stompin' Six
1.8 Down and Out Blues - the Stompin' Six
1.9 Creole Blues - the Stompin' Six
1.10 Jambled Blues - Sonny Clay's Plantation Orchestra
1.11 Bogaloosa Blues - Sonny Clay's Plantation Orchestra
1.12 Plantation Blues - Sonny Clay's Plantation Orchestra
1.13 Chicago Breakdown - Sonny Clay's Plantation Orchestra
1.14 Slow Motion - Sonny Clay's Plantation Orchestra
1.15 California Stomp - Sonny Clay's Plantation Orchestra
1.16 Devil's Serenade - Sonny Clay
1.17 In My Dreams - Sonny Clay
1.18 St. Louis Blues
1.19 Cho-King
1.20 When It's Sleepy Time Down South
1.21 River, Stay Way from My Door
1.22 I'm An African
1.23 I'm Gonna Pack My Grip, Pt. 1
1.24 I'm Gonna Pack My Grip, Pt. 2
1.25 [Untitled Track]