Jimmy, Mama & Alonzo Yancey

James Edward Yancey

b. February 20th, 1898 in Chicago (Illinois)

d. September 17th, 1951 in Chicago (Illinois)

Estella "Mama" Harris

b. January 1st, 1896 in Cairo (Illinois)

d. May 4th, 1986 in Chicago (Illinois)

Alonzo Yancey

b. May 20th, 1897 in Chicago (Illinois)

d. May 11th, 1944 in Chicago (Illinois)

COMPLETE RECORDED WORKS

Document

Volume 1 (May 1939 - February 1940)

Volume 2 (February 1940 - December 1943)

Volume 3 (December 1943 - December 1950)

Chanteur, danseur dans diverses troupes itinérantes dès l'enfance, Jimmy tourne un peu partout aux Etats-Unis et même en Europe vers 1910. Il apprend finalement le piano avec l'aide de son frère Alonzo et joue dans le South Side de Chicago. Superbe pianiste à la technique subtile, il prend part à la mode du boogie-woogie et influence de nombreux pianistes. Pourtant, Jimmy devra attendre mai 1939 pour enregistrer ses premiers morceaux pour le label Solo Art de Dan Qualey. Un bel ensemble de piano blues où brille sa discrète virtuosité. On peut retenir, en particulier, "LaSalle Street breakdown", "Two o'clock blues", "Beezum blues", "Steady rock blues", "PLK special", "Yancey's getaway". Mais le label en grande difficulté financière ne sort que deux morceaux ("Jimmy's stuff", "The fives") sur la quinzaine gravés ce jour-là (ils seront finalement édités par Riverside en 1954 et 1956 sur les LPs "A lost recording date" et "Yancey's getaway"). Peu après, Jimmy enregistre pour le label Victor ses morceaux les plus aboutis et qui lui apportent une véritable notoriété : le superbe "Yancey stomp" ou "Tell 'em about me", "State Street special", "Old quaker blues", "Cryin' in my sleep", "Death letter blues", "Yancey's bugle call". En 1943, avec sa femme Mama (elle chante sur certains titres), Jimmy grave une poignée de morceaux intéressants ("White Sox stomp", "Midnight stomp") pour le label Session d'Eve & Phil Featheringill. Dans la seconde partie des années 40, sa musique passe au second plan et il n'enregistre plus guère. Il faut attendre décembre 1950 pour que Jimmy retourne en studio, cette fois pour le label Paramount de John Steiner. Pendant toute sa carrière musicale, Jimmy exercera le métier de gardien de stade des White Sox (une équipe de base-ball). Son grand-frère Alonzo, pour sa part, n'enregistrera, en tout et pour tout, que quatre titres en décembre 1943 dans un style plus proche du ragtime. Ils sont repris dans le troisième volume de cette collection (les dansants "Everybody's rag" et "Hobo rag"). Il décède peu après en mai 1944.

A singer and dancer in various touring troupes since childhood, Jimmy toured throughout the United States and even Europe around 1910. He finally learned to play the piano with the help of his brother Alonzo, and played on Chicago's South Side. A superb pianist with a subtle technique, he took part in the boogie-woogie craze and influenced numerous pianists. Yet Jimmy had to wait until may 1939 to record his first tracks for Dan Qualey's Solo Art label. A fine set of piano blues, in which his discreet virtuosity shines through. Highlights include "LaSalle Street breakdown", "Two o'clock blues", "Beezum blues", "Steady rock blues", "PLK special", "Yancey's getaway". But the label with financial difficulties released only two tracks ("Jimmy's stuff", "The fives") out of the fifteen or so recorded that day (they were eventually released by Riverside in 1954 and 1956 on LPs "A lost recording date" and "Yancey's getaway"). Shortly afterwards, Jimmy recorded for the Victor label his most accomplished tracks, which brought him real notoriety fame : the superb "Yancey stomp" or "Tell 'em about me", "State Street special", "Old quaker blues", "Cryin’ in my sleep", "Death letter blues", "Yancey's bugle call". In 1943, with his wife Mama (she sings on some tracks), Jimmy recorded a handful of interesting songs ("White Sox stomp", "Midnight stomp") for Eve & Phil Featheringill's Session label. In the second half of the 40's, his music faded into the background, and he hardly ever recorded again. It wasn't until december 1950 that Jimmy returned to the studio, this time for John Steiner's Paramount label. Throughout his musical career, Jimmy worked as a groundskeeper for the White Sox stadium (a baseball team). His older brother Alonzo, on the other hand, recorded just four tracks in december 1943, in a style closer to ragtime. They are included in the third volume of this collection (the danceable "Everybody's rag" and "Hobo rag"). He died shortly afterwards in may 1944.

PIANO DISCOVERIES

Document

1943

Ces obscurs enregistrements datant de 1943 proviennent probablement d'une fête privée (qualité sonore un peu juste). Jimmy y est associé à sa femme Mama et au pianiste "Cripple" Clarence Lofton (ils jouent tous les deux sur le même piano). Pour amateurs confirmés.

These obscure 1943 recordings probably come from a private party (sound quality a little poor). Jimmy is joined by his wife Mama and pianist "Cripple" Clarence Lofton (they both play the same piano). For confirmed fans.

THE UNISSUED 1951 YANCEY WIRE RECORDINGS

Document

June 1951

PIANO SOLOS

YANCEY SPECIAL

PURE BLUES

LOWDOWN DIRTY BLUES

CHICAGO PIANO vol.1

Atlantic

July 1951

Peu avant sa mort, Jimmy grave une intéressante séance pour Atlantic accompagné de sa femme au chant et du contrebassiste Israel Crosby. Il se montre en pleine forme reprenant ses meilleurs morceaux avec inspiration : "Yancey special", "Mournful blues", "Four o'clock blues", "Monkey woman blues" (ces deux derniers chantés par sa femme). Cette belle séance a été édité dans plusieurs LP Atlantic. On peut préférer cependant "Chicago piano vol.1" qui reprend la totalité des morceaux gravés ce jour là.

Shortly before his death, Jimmy recorded an interesting session for Atlantic, accompanied by his wife on vocals and bassist Israel Crosby. He showed himself to be in fine form covering his best songs with inspiration : "Yancey special", "Mournful blues", "Four o'clock blues", "Monkey woman blues" (the last two sung by his wife). This nice session was released on several Atlantic LPs. However, we prefer "Chicago piano vol.1" which includes all the tracks recorded that day.

MAMA YANCEY SINGER / DON EWELL PIANIST

Windin' Ball

August 1952

CHICAGO THE LIVING LEGENDS

Riverside

September 1961

"Mama" Yancey chante "The Santa Fe blues" avec le pianiste Little Brother Montgomery dans un club de Chicago.

“Mama” Yancey sings "The Santa Fe blues" with pianist Little Brother Montgomery in a Chicago club.

CHICAGO THE LIVING LEGENDS : SOUTHSIDE BLUES

Riverside

September 1961

On trouve ici quatre morceaux capturés sur la scène du club The Birdhouse à Chicago. "Mama" Yancey est accompagné notamment du pianiste Little Brother Montgomery.

Here are four tracks captured on stage at Chicago's The Birdhouse. “Mama” Yancey is accompanied by pianist Little Brother Montgomery.