It was during this period while at the Lighthouse that Kenton brought Williamson into Capitol's Melrose Ave. studios in Hollywood for a series of recordings that would become Claude Williamson (June and July 1954) and Keys West (May 1955).
This is magnificent West Coast piano trio playing, when the sound still had a churning New York sound along with a heaping scoop of L.A. parfait. Claude Williamson (whose brother was the great trumpeter Stu Williamson) is still with us. With any luck he'll reach out to me by email (the link is on the upper right-hand corner of this page).
JazzWax tracks: You'll find these recordings as a download or
JazzWax clip: Here's the Claude Williamson Trio in 1954 on Bouncing with Bud and Bean and the Boys. Dig how easily Williamson whisks into songs. And catch the minimalist chord and line treatment, but with just the right level of sophistication and taste. Reminds me of one of those glass Richard Neutra homesairy but a knockout from every angle...
This story appears courtesy of JazzWax by Marc Myers.
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