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Jimmy Witherspoon

A classic blues-shouter, Jimmy Witherspoon (1921-97), began with Kansas City swing, crossed over to rhythm and blues, but truly came into his own with such jazz giants as Gerry Mulligan and Ben Webster. Geoffrey Smith salutes a blues master at once earthy and modern.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 28 Apr 201900:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Jimmy Witherspoon

    Hard-Working Man's Blues

    Ensemble: Jay McShann’s Jazz Men.
    • Route 66.
    • KIX-31.
    • 6.

  • Jimmy Witherspoon

    I Want A Little Girl

    Ensemble: Jay McShann’s Sextette.
    • Route 66.
    • KIX-31.
    • 3.

  • Jimmy Witherspoon

    Six Foot Two

    • Fontana.
    • SFJL 917.
    • 5.

  • Jimmy Witherspoon

    Ain't Nobody's Business, Part 1

    Ensemble: Jay McShann & His Sextet.
    • Polydor.
    • 42-3241.
    • 2.

  • Jimmy Witherspoon

    Ain't Nobody's Business, Part 2

    Ensemble: Jay McShann & His Band.
    • Polydor.
    • 42-3241.
    • 3.

  • Jay McShann

    Froggy Bottom (feat. Jimmy Witherspoon)

    • Avid.
    • AMSC 1114.
    • 7.

  • Jimmy Witherspoon

    Good Rockin' Tonight

    • Avid.
    • AMSC 1114.
    • 2.

  • Jimmy Witherspoon

    How Long

    • Avid.
    • AMSC 1114.
    • 13.

  • Jimmy Witherspoon

    Corina-Corina

    • Avid.
    • AMSC 1114.
    • 14.

  • Jimmy Witherspoon

    Every Day

    • Avid.
    • AMSC 1114.
    • 17.

  • Jimmy Witherspoon

    Trouble in Mind

    • Avid.
    • AMSC 1114.
    • 20.

  • Jimmy Witherspoon

    I'll Always Be In Love With You

    Ensemble: Buck Clayton's Band.
    • Avid.
    • AMSC 1114.
    • 6.

  • Jimmy Witherspoon

    Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You

    Ensemble: Buck Clayton's Band.
    • Avid.
    • AMSC 1114.
    • 7.

  • Jimmy Witherspoon

    Roll 'Em Pete

    Ensemble: Buck Clayton's Band.
    • Avid.
    • AMSC 1114.
    • 16.

  • Jimmy Witherspoon

    Goin' To Chicago

    • Black and Blue.
    • - 33 177.
    • 1.

Jimmy Witherspoon

TITLE HARD WORKING MAN’S BLUES

Artists: Jimmy Witherspoon & Jay McShann’s Jazz Men

Composers: Trad.

Album Title: Jimmy Witherspoon ‎– Hey Mr Landlord

Label: Route 66 KIX 31

Performers: Jimmy Witherspoon (vocal); Jay McShann (piano); Cleophus Curtis (tenor sax)

TITLE I WANT A LITTLE GIRL

Artists: Jimmy Witherspoon & Jay McShann’s Sextette

Composers: Durham

Album Title: Jimmy Witherspoon ‎– Hey Mr Landlord

Label: Route 66 KIX 31

Performers: Jimmy Witherspoon (vocal); Jay McShann (piano);

TITLE SIX FOOT TWO

Artists: Jimmy Witherspoon & Pete Peterson Band

Composers: Boyd

Album Title: Kansas City Jump

Label: Fontana SFJL 917

Performers: Jimmy Witherspoon (vocal); Emmett Berry (trumpet); Buddy Tate (tenor); Bill Doggett (piano); Chico Hamilton (drums)

TITLE AIN’T NOBODY’S BUSINESS, TAKE 4

Artists: Jimmy Witherspoon With Jay McShann & His Band

Composers: Porter Grainger/ Everett Robbins

Album Title: Spoon Calls Hootie

Label: Polydor 423 241

Performers: Jimmy Witherspoon (vocal); Jay McShann (piano); Frank Sleet (alto sax); Charles Thomas (tenor sax); Forrest Powell (trumpet); Benny Booker (bass); Louis Speiginer (guitar); Pete McShann (drums)

TITLE AIN’T NOBODY’S BUSINESS, TAKE 2

Artists: Jimmy Witherspoon With Jay McShann & His Band

Composers: Porter Grainger/ Everett Robbins

Album Title: Spoon Calls Hootie

Label: Polydor 423 241

Performers: Jimmy Witherspoon (vocal); Jay McShann (piano); Frank Sleet (alto sax); Charles Thomas (tenor sax); Forrest Powell (trumpet); Benny Booker (bass); Louis Speiginer (guitar); Pete McShann (drums)

TITLE FROGGY BOTTOM

Artists: Jimmy Witherspoon & Jay McShann

Composers: Mary Lou Williams

Album Title: Jimmy Witherspoon ‎– Four Classic Albums Plus

Label: Avid AMSC 1114

Performers: Jimmy Witherspoon (vocal); Jay McShann (piano); Seldon Powell (tenor); J.C. Higginbotham (trombone)

TITLE GOOD ROCKIN’ TONIGHT

Artists: Jimmy Witherspoon

Composers: Roy Brown

Album Title: Jimmy Witherspoon ‎– Four Classic Albums Plus

Label: Avid AMSC 1114

Performers: Jimmy Witherspoon (vocal); Roy Eldridge (trumpet); Woody Herman (clarinet); Coleman Hawkins (tenor sax); Ben Webster (tenor sax); Earl Hines (piano); Vernon Alley (bass); Mel Lewis (drums)

TITLE HOW LONG

Artists: Jimmy Witherspoon

Composers: Leroy Carr

Album Title: Jimmy Witherspoon ‎– Four Classic Albums Plus

Label: Avid AMSC 1114

Performers: Jimmy Witherspoon (vocal); Gerry Mulligan (baritone sax); Ben Webster (tenor sax); Jimmy Rowles (piano); Leroy Vinnegar (bass); Mel Lewis (drums)

TITLE CORINA-CORINA

Artists: Jimmy Witherspoon

Composers: Mitchell Parish/ J Mayo Williams/ Bo Chatman

Album Title: Jimmy Witherspoon ‎– Four Classic Albums Plus

Label: Avid AMSC 1114

Performers: Jimmy Witherspoon (vocal); Gerry Mulligan (baritone sax); Ben Webster (tenor sax); Jimmy Rowles (piano); Leroy Vinnegar (bass); Mel Lewis (drums)

TITLE EVERY DAY

Artists: Jimmy Witherspoon

Composers: Bo Chatman

Album Title: Jimmy Witherspoon ‎– Four Classic Albums Plus

Label: Avid AMSC 1114

Performers: Jimmy Witherspoon (vocal); Gerry Mulligan (baritone sax); Ben Webster (tenor sax); Jimmy Rowles (piano); Leroy Vinnegar (bass); Mel Lewis (drums)

TITLE TROUBLE IN MIND

Artists: Jimmy Witherspoon

Composers: Richard M. Jones

Album Title: Jimmy Witherspoon ‎– Four Classic Albums Plus

Label: Avid AMSC 1114

Performers: Jimmy Witherspoon (vocal); Gerry Mulligan (baritone sax); Ben Webster (tenor sax); Jimmy Rowles (piano); Leroy Vinnegar (bass); Mel Lewis (drums)

TITLE I’LL ALWAYS BE IN LOVE WITH YOU

Artists: Jimmy Witherspoon

Composers: B. Green / H. Ruby / S.H. Stept

Album Title: Jimmy Witherspoon ‎– Four Classic Albums Plus

Label: Avid AMSC 1114

Performers: Jimmy Witherspoon (vocal); Buck Clayton (trumpet); Earle Warren (alto sax); Dickie Wells (trombone); Sir Charles Thompson (piano); Gene Ramey (bass); Oliver Jackson (drums)

TITLE GEE BABY, AIN’T I GOOD TO YOU

Artists: Jimmy Witherspoon

Composers: Andy Razaf / Don Redman

Album Title: Jimmy Witherspoon ‎– Four Classic Albums Plus

Label: Avid AMSC 1114

Performers: Jimmy Witherspoon (vocal); Buck Clayton (trumpet); Buddy Tate (tenor); Sir Charles Thompson (piano); Gene Ramey (bass); Oliver Jackson (drums)

TITLE ROLL ‘EM PETE

Artists: Jimmy Witherspoon

Composers: Peter Johnson / Joe Turner

Album Title: Jimmy Witherspoon ‎– Four Classic Albums Plus

Label: Avid AMSC 1114

Performers: Jimmy Witherspoon (vocal); Buck Clayton (trumpet); Buddy Tate (tenor); Oliver Jackson (drums)

TITLE GOIN’ TO CHICAGO

Artists: Jimmy Witherspoon

Composers: Count Basie / James A Rushing

Album Title: Jimmy Witherspoon & Panama Francis' Savoy

Label: Black and Blue - 33 177

Performers: Jimmy Witherspoon (vocal); Panama Francis (drums & leader); Francis Williams (trumpet); Irv Stokes (trumpet); Bill Easley (alto sax); Bobby Smith (alto sax); George Kelly (tenor sax); Red Richards (piano); John Smith (guitar); Bill Pemberton (bass)

Broadcast

  • Sun 28 Apr 201900:00
    BBC Radio 3

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    Geoffrey Smith's Jazz - a weekly sequence exploring what makes great jazz great music