[Dixielandjazz] JC Johnson (was Bixing)

[Bill Haesler]

Dear Ken and Bob,
My apology for not replying sooner. 
Busy, busy, busy. As usual.
If I had been a little earlier I may have saved Bob and Richard (Calder) some typing time.
The JC Johnson Five Hot Sparks sides, made in New York in February 1929, have been worrying discographers for years, ever since John RT Davies (Ristic 26) and Arnold S Caplin (Biograph LP 12005) reissued the two QRS sides back in the late 60s.
Jay Cee  'JC' Johnson (not to be confused with the great James P Johnson) was a Chicago-born [14 September 1896] pianist-bandleader-composer who lived and work in New York.
Never heard any of his songs?
Try "Black Mountain Blues", "Empty Bed Blues,", "Me and My Gin", "Dusky Stevedore,", "Believe It, Beloved,", "Guess Who's In Town", "That's How Rhythm Was Born", "Don't Let Your Love Go Wrong," and "The Joint Is Jumpin" among many others.
His piano playing can be heard backing Ethel Waters, Mamie Smith, Helen Humes, Lonnie Johnson, Clara Smith and with Blind Willie Dunn, Clarence Williams, Jasper Davis and Bennett's Swamplanders.
The suggested J.C. Johnson And His Five Hot Sparks personnel over the years has included:
Cornet. 		Jabbo Smith, Walter Bennett. 
Trombone. 	Roy Palmer, Jimmy Archey, JC Higginbotham.
Clarinet/alto. 	George James, Omer Simeon, Darnell Howard.
Piano. 		JC Johnson, Mabel Horsey (who did exist).
Banjo. 		Ikey Robinson.

Tunes: 	"Crying for you (Baby Mine) = "Coal Black Blues" by the Wabash Trio = "Jet Black Blues" by Bennett's Swamplanders and Blind Willie Dunn.
		"Red Hot Hottentot" = "Hoppin' 'round' by the Wabash Trio.
		"Texas Man". An unissued test pressing exists on CD
Composer credits for all tunes are (Johnson)
The tune link to the Wabash Trio (poss: Louis Metcalfe (c) J.C. Johnson (p) Bernard Addison (g)  opens up more choices.
So how did Mabel Horsey get involved?
Because of Horsey's Hot Five which recorded a session for Gennett on 28-29 September 1929 that included singers Alberta Jones and Ruby Gowdy, with a suggested personnel of Walter Bennett (cnt) J.C. Higginbotham (tb) Darnell Howard (cl/vn) Mabel Horsey (p) unknown (bj).
Others mentioned with regard to the Horsey sides are Jimmy Archey (tb) Ben Whittet and Ernest Elliott (cl/alto).
Walter 'Jock' Bennett's Swamplanders recorded three JC Johnson compositions for Columbia on 5 September 1930 (with Johnson on piano).
All of them being JC Johnson compositions and including "Jet Black Blues".
The suggested personnel includes Albert Socarras (cl/flute) and Bernard Addison (g). However, I have a reference to Addison saying he had never heard of Walter Bennett or Mabel Horsey!
We can now add Mr Calder's nomination, Russell Procope.
And dare I include in this group of recordings the Moonlight Revellers, a JC Johnson group that recorded for Grey Gull in August 1929?
Listmates who have made it this far may also be interested in the article 'The Other Take' by John RT Davies & Laurie Wright, Storyville magazine No.23, June-July 1969.
I have all the above items, except "Hoppin' 'round [Wabash Trio] and have been playing them while writing this.
Now to sit down and listen toeverything in chronological order. Including the Moonlight Revellers. 
Hopefully, without the usual interruptions.
Very kind regards,
Bill.