The Joys
CD RST Records JPCD-1518-2
Jimmie O’Bryant (1896-1928), was a today obscure almost forgotten clarinet player. Though he was not at the very top he still was able to do performances on record that were mistaken for the great Johnny Dodds, while they worked within the same circle, for example with Love Austin’s Blues Serenaders. This group, that accompanied female blues singer on about 80 sides, had often Tommy Ladnier on cornet.
Born in Arkansas, he had been working in vaudeville before he came to record for Paramount from 1923 and at the time he also shortly played with both Jelly Roll Morton and King Oliver. As a clarinet solo performer he recorded 27 sides with his washboard band together with Jimmy Blythe or Clarence Jones on piano and Jasper Taylor or W.E. Burton on washboard.
On this it’s Blythe and Taylor and added to the trio is Bob Shoffner playing his hot and blue cornet with a “light” sound. Jimmie O’Bryant is at best on blues numbers like this. The tune was under titled Slow Motion Special.