This 14-track entry from
Delmark
's
Apollo
series provides a useful roundup of tenor saxophonist
Willis Jackson
's earliest recordings as a leader. The set of
jump blues
and stomping
R&B
instrumentals showcases the young leader's hard-honking, leering style. Still a teenager at the time,
Jackson
recorded the performances for the New York-based
label in 1949 and 1950, shortly after he came to prominence as a member of trumpeter
Cootie Williams
' band. While he seems made to measure for the role of "blowin' motherf*cker,"
ballad
playing reveals a more sophisticated player with a smoky
Ben Webster
style. This side of
-- which became more evident later in his career -- comes across most notably on the
"Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man"
and in the unhurried lope of
"More Blues at Midnight."
The players with
are likeminded practitioners of good-time, bluesy backbeats, including pianist
Bill Doggett
and drummer
Panama Francis
. Two tracks feature
with
the Bobby Smith Orchestra
and vocalist
Eddie Mack
, who reflects unrepentantly on the timeless themes of money, women, and drink. An unidentified guitarist (possibly
Leroy Kirkland
) on one of the
Smith
tracks contributes a brief swinging solo in the style of
Tiny Grimes
that proves to be one of the disc's high points. The medium-paced title track is another highlight. ~ Jim Todd