Claude "Fiddler" Williams

[John L]

Thanks for the information, LAL and EKE.

I sure don't remember an obituary for Emmett Berry. RIP

[bertrand]

I had the pleasure of seeing Claude 'Fiddler' Williams at Clinton's first inauguration, of all places.

Weizy was also there in a Groucho Marx disguise.

Bertrand.

[Spontooneous]

Went to Fiddler's wake on Sunday afternoon.

I have NEVER had such a wonderful time in a funeral home!

Local players turned it into a jam session, and a pretty good one at that.

Violinists Matt Glaser (from Berklee) and John Blake flew in and played. Claude's wife put his fiddle in Glaser's hands, and Glaser brought tears of joy to her eyes by playing "You've Got to See Mama Every Night (Or You Can't See Mama At All)." This was the first song Fiddler learned on the instrument, and he loved to teach it to other fiddlers. That's where Glaser learned it.

The funeral tomorrow will probably be a very different affair. (I won't be able to go.) But the wake was full of the same joy that Fiddler created all over the world.

(P.S.: Conspicuous in his absence: Jay McShann.)

[Spontooneous]

Up because yesterday would have been Fiddler's 100th birthday.

In Kansas City, we celebrated with an all-night jam at the Mutual Musicians Foundation. (I admit to leaving about 3:30, but Everette DeVan still had the session going strong.)

Blanche was there until about 2:30, looking healthy and happy and enjoying it all. Attendance was remakably good for a frigid and icy night. Good vibes all around.

[Swinging Swede]

Was he the last survivor from Old Testament Basie band?

Clark Terry is still alive.

Illinois Jacquet was at the time of the question, although not anymore, alas.

Also, is Snooky Young still live?

[Ted O'Reilly]

Was he the last survivor from Old Testament Basie band?

Clark Terry is still alive.

Illinois Jacquet was at the time of the question, although not anymore, alas.

Also, is Snooky Young still live?

Depending on what you call the Old Testament Band (does it continue through to 1949 and the RCA Victor recordings? I've heard some claim OT didn't really survive WW2) Clark Terry was in the OT band. He joined in the latter half of 1948, and stayed with Basie in the Octet after the big band was folded. Was with him still when the band reformed, then went to Ellington in late '51. (He once told me that Duke offered him the job, but Clark didn't want Basie to think he wanted to jump, so he left Basie for "family reasons", spent a while off the road, then went to Ellington). CT is 87 now.

Snooky had his 89th birthday on Feb. 3, and I think is still playing (with Clayton/Hamilton?). He was in-and-out of Basie's band (the first stint from early 1943) for a total of about 8 years service.

[Guest Bill Barton]

Back to Claude Williams...

Years ago I was in the audience for one of the concerts on the Smithsonian's "Masters of the Folk Violin" tour. Claude Williams was one of the fiddlers taking part and he sounded great. There was a segment at the end of the show where all of the fiddlers (from different traditions) jammed on "Sweet Georgia Brown." A very young Alison Krauss and Williams stole the show in my opinion - their trades were for the ages. Great stuff!

[Hot Ptah]

I was fortunate enough to see Claude Williams many times live in Kansas City. His performances were always special. I recall a concert in a theater in 1998, led by Jay McShann. Jay had Harry "Sweets" Edison, Harold Ashby, and Claude in the front line. Sweets and Ashby soloed well on the first song, then Claude took his turn and the crowd literally went wild, with a scream of delight. His solo was on another level of intensity. He overshadowed everyone else on the stage.