Pat Flowers - The Chronological Classics '1999

Tracks list

Pat Flowers grew up under the influence of Thomas Fats Waller, and schooled
himself in the challenging art of Harlem stride piano, eventually developing a
dazzling technique. For a little while during the mid-40s, he even worked for
the Victor record company as a Fats Waller imitator in a belated maneuver by
Victor to compete with Vocalion, whose Waller emulator during the 30s was Putney
Dandridge, and with Decca, whose ebullient singing pianist Bob Howard was still
emitting Wallerisms in 1947. Each of these men was at his best when staying true
to his own talent and persona while honoring the influence of Fats Waller and
the rest of the Harlem stride piano school. Flowers was good friends with stride
piano legend Donald Lambert, and both men were stunningly gifted improvising
artists. Lambert, however, remained silent at the piano, while Flowers expended
a lot of energy trying to sing like Waller. The story of Flowers is an object
lesson in the delights and dangers of copying someone elses act with the best of
intentions.

Born in Detroit, MI on October 16, 1917, Ivelee Flowers received classical
training at a conservatory there while spending much of his youth listening to
Fats Waller records and seeing Waller perform live whenever possible. When he
was about 19 years old, Flowers befriended the famous pianist, who recognized
the young mans abilities and advised him to pursue a career as a professional
musician. In 1939 when Waller & His Rhythm settled into the Yacht Club on 52nd
Street in New York City, Flowers got a gig playing piano in the lobby, where he
was heard by producer John Hammond, who tried to secure bookings for the
aspiring entertainer. After gravitating back to Detroit for long enough to
establish what would become a protracted working relationship with the
management at Bakers Bar at Eight Mile and Livernois, Flowers returned to New
York where he performed at the Swing Club, the Famous Door, and various musical
bars in Greenwich Village. His first recordings, made in 1941, attracted little
attention.

After Waller passed away suddenly in December 1943, Flowers continued to play
and sing like his idol. Following in Wallers footsteps, he accepted an
invitation from Wallers last manager Ed Kirkeby to star in an all-star Tribute
to Fats Waller that was broadcast in February 1945 and made records for Hit,
Guild, and V-Disc. Flowers instrumental recordings of 1945 included delightfully
executed stride and swing adaptations of classical works by J.S. Bach, Johann
Strauss, and Frederic Chopin, as well as ballads and standards, and
eight-to-the-bar exercises like the Eight Mile Boogie, an inspired invocation of
his turf back home in the Motor City. During the summer of 1946, Flowers began
recording for Wallers label Victor with Herman Autrey, Gene Sedric, Cedric
Wallace, and Slick Jones, musicians who had spent years as the core of Wallers
little Rhythm band. The group was billed as Pat Flowers & His Rhythm.

Ed Kirkeby, who had made hot jazz and novelty records with the California
Ramblers in the 1920s, now acted as manager for Flowers and helped him concoct
clever titles like Bring Me Some Money Honey, Exhilarated, Exasperated,
Exhausted, and Aloysius Do the Dishes. Other material was borrowed from Louis
Jordan, the King Cole Trio and, of course, Fats Waller. During 1948, Flowers was
forced out of the studio by the AFM recording ban; his solution was to hasten
back to regular bookings at Bakers Bar, which was renamed Bakers Keyboard Lounge
during his extended residency. In November 1955, Flowers opened for Art Tatum,
and in February 1956 he played his last set at Bakers; he moved over to the
Danish Inn in Farmington. He also managed to do a little recording for the Dot
record label. Although he toured Europe in the mid-70s and recorded for Black
and Blue with a group that featured bassist Slam Stewart, much of the rest of
his life was spent in relative obscurity. Pat Flowers passed away in Detroit on
October 6, 2000. Most of his recordings have been reissued in the Classics
Chronological Series.


Tracks:



Pat Flowers - 1941-1945 {The Chronological Classics, 1060}  

 01. After The Sun Goes Down (2:54)
 02. Beg, Borrow And Steal (2:55)
 03. Youre Some Pretty Doll (2:19)
 04. Abdullah (1:51)
 05. Crazy Bout My Baby (1:27)
 06. Yacht Club Swing (2:48)
 07. Honeysuckle Rose (2:02)
 08. On The Sunny Side Of The Street (2:25)
 09. I Got Rhythm (1:49)
 10. The Joint Is Jumpin (2:02)
 11. Early To Bed Medley: Theres A Gal In My Life / The Lady Who Sings With A
Band / Slightly Less Than Wonderful (3:38)
 12. Honeysuckle Rose (5:09)
 13. Aint Misbehavin (2:06)
 14. Ive Got A Feeling Im Falling (1:11)
 15. Honeysuckle Rose (1:24)
 16. Keeping Out Of Mischief Now (1:36)
 17. Blue Turning Grey Over You (2:00)
 18. Medley: Ive Got My Fingers Crossed / Spreadin Rhythm Around / Living In A
Great Big Way (1:41)
 19. Handful Of Keys (1:13)
 20. Fractious Fingering (1:18)
 21. Chopin E Minor Waltz (2:59)
 22. Original Blues (3:37)
 23. Eight Mile Boogie (3:00)
 24. Canteen Honky Tonk Boogie (2:46)



Pat Flowers - 1945-1947 {The Chronological Classics, 1093} 

 01. But Not For Me (3:09)
 02. Aint Misbehavin (2:39)
 03. Blue Danube (3:03)
 04. Bach Prelude And Fugue (2:27)
 05. Googie Woogie (2:52)
 06. Aint That Just Like A Woman (3:01)
 07. Horizontal (3:05)
 08. Bring Me Some Money Honey (3:04)
 09. Texas And Pacific (2:42)
 10. Nevertheless (2:52)
 11. Aloysius Do The Dishes (2:34)
 12. Sha-Wa-Wa (2:34)
 13. Just You Just Me (2:31)
 14. How Many Kisses (2:54)
 15. A Chocolate Sundae On A Saturday Night (2:42)
 16. Goodbye, Good Luck, Get Lost (2:29)
 17. Carolina In The Morning (3:02)
 18. Im Yours (2:52)
 19. Find Out What They Like (2:55)
 20. How Im Doin (2:42)
 21. Love Me Or Leave Me (2:45)
 22. Save The Bones For Henry Jones (2:36)
 23. Shoe Shine Shuffle (2:33)
 24. Exhilarated, Exasperated, Exhausted (2:39)

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