Cleanhead Vinson Redux

[John L]

Jay McShann once remarked that he never understood the difference between blues and jazz. Nobody blurred that distinction more effectively than Eddie Cleanhead Vinson. Swing, bop, blues, jump, R&B, and good humor all came together as one in Mr. Cleanhead.

After getting the short shrift on CD for many years, suddenly there is a lot of great Cleanhead available. Classics and numerous other labels have reissued his classic 40s sides with Cootie Williams and his own orchestra that have now come into the public domain in Europe. Ace just released a disk of his King recordings from the early 50s. Not long ago, Bethlehem reissued a fine Cleanhead session from the late 1950s with Joe Newman and others. Fantasy has again made available the date with Cannonball Adderley.

Now there is a newly discovered live recording from the Keystone Korner in 1979:

This a a quartet with Eddie Marshall, Larry Vukovich, and James Leary. Cleanhead is in great form. This jazz-oriented quartet also gives us lots of Cleanhead's horn, which he typically used very economically in conjuction with his vocals when sharing the front line with other horns. This is a great new portrait of an artist that is guaranteed to leave a smile on your face every time you play it.

[Tom in RI]

Cleanhead did a date with Rhode Island's own Roomful of Blues which is well worth looking for, it was on Muse, I'm not sure what it's current status is although I'd imagine it wouldn't be too hard to find.

[John L]

Cleanhead did a date with Rhode Island's own Roomful of Blues which is well worth looking for, it was on Muse, I'm not sure what it's current status is although I'd imagine it wouldn't be too hard to find.

Joel Dorn reissued that album in 1997 on a double 32-Jazz disk that also including the Roomful of Blues/Big Joe Turner date. It is now out of print but, as you say, not too hard to find. Good stuff!