Clay,Sonny West Coast Jazz CD

24 track CD contains 21 tracks by pianist Sonny Clay (all of his output from 1922-31), recorded in L.A. There are also 3 titles by Leon Rene's Orchestra, recorded in Hollywood in 1932 (the tracks were not issued at the time). Clay was a major player in the development of jazz on the West Coast in these early years. He had a brief spell with Reb Spikes and also with Kid Ory's Sunshine Orchestra. He formed his own band in 1923, the California Poppies, and later changed it to the Stompin' Six and then to Sonny Clay's Plantation Orch. All of these groups appear on this CD and there were very few changes in the personnel. His final four sides were made in 1931, after his return from a traumatic tour of Australia (the band was thrown out of the country!).

1. Mama Likes to Do It - Sonny Clay 2. What a Wonderful Time - California Poppies 3. Lou - California Poppies 4. Gang O' Blues - Sonny Clay 5. Punishing the Piano - Sonny Clay 6. Jimtown Blues - the Stompin' Six 7. Roamin' Around - the Stompin' Six 8. Down and Out Blues - the Stompin' Six 9. Creole Blues - the Stompin' Six 10. Jambled Blues - Sonny Clay's Plantation Orchestra 11. Bogaloosa Blues - Sonny Clay's Plantation Orchestra 12. Plantation Blues - Sonny Clay's Plantation Orchestra 13. Chicago Breakdown - Sonny Clay's Plantation Orchestra 14. Slow Motion - Sonny Clay's Plantation Orchestra 15. California Stomp - Sonny Clay's Plantation Orchestra 16. Devil's Serenade - Sonny Clay 17. In My Dreams - Sonny Clay 18. St. Louis Blues 19. Cho-King 20. When It's Sleepy Time Down South 21. River, Stay Way from My Door 22. I'm An African 23. I'm Gonna Pack My Grip, Pt. 1 24. I'm Gonna Pack My Grip, Pt. 2 25. [Untitled Track]