Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif – CKCU – Tuesday February 22, 2022: A Tribute to Fats Waller

Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif finds connections and develops themes in various genres. The show is broadcast on CKCU in Ottawa on Tuesday afternoons from 3:30 until 5 pm (Eastern time) and is also available 24/7 for on-demand streaming.

CKCU can be heard live at 93.1 FM in Ottawa and https://www.ckcufm.com/ on the web.

This episode of Stranger Songs was prerecorded at home and can already be streamed on-demand by clicking on “Listen Now” at … https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/595/55286.html

Theme: A Tribute to Fats Waller

Thomas Wright Waller, better known as Fats Waller, died in 1943 at age 39 after an all-too-brief career as an influential pianist, singer, and composer and as one of the most popular performers of his era. Some of the songs and instrumentals I played on this show were written by Waller, some were not, but all of them were performed and recorded by him at some point or another.

Fats Waller- Ain’t Misbehavin’
Happy Birthday Fats (True North)

Jackie Washington & Mike Regenstreif (2008)

Jackie Washington- The Joint is Jumpin’
The World of Jackie Washington (Borealis)
Jeff Healey- I Wish I Were Twins
Among Friends (Stony Plain)
The Hot Sardines- Keepin’ Out of Mischief Now
Welcome Home, Bon Voyage (Eleven)
Fats Waller- The Minor Drag
The Joint is Jumpin’ (Bluebird)

Scarlett, Washington & Whiteley- Sweet Sue
Sitting on a Rainbow (Borealis)
Martin, Bogan & Armstrong- If You’se a Viper
That Old Gang of Mine/Martin, Bogan & Armstrong (Flying Fish)

Allen Toussaint- Viper’s Drag
American Tunes (Nonesuch)

Fats Waller- When You and I Were Young Maggie
Happy Birthday Fats (True North)
Roberta Donnay & The Prohibition Mob Band- I’ve Got A Feeling I’m Falling
A Little Sugar (Motema)
Michael 'Earnie' Taylor- You’re Not the Only Oyster in the Stew
Folk ‘n’ Western (Laughing Cactus Music)
Maria Muldaur- Squeeze Me
Waitress in a Donut Shop (Reprise)
Leon Redbone- I’m Crazy ‘Bout My Baby
Whistling in the Wind (Rounder)

Dinah Washington- (What Did I Do To Be So) Black and Blue
Dinah Washington Sings Fats Waller (EmArcy)
Louis Armstrong & Velma Middleton- All That Meat and No Potatoes
Satch Plays Fats (Columbia)
Susie Arioli Swing Band featuring Jordan Officer- Honeysuckle Rose
Pennies from Heaven (Justin Time)
Fats Waller- Blues
The Joint is Jumpin’ (Bluebird)

Catherine Russell & Mike Regenstreif (2007)

Mose Scarlett- Lulu’s Back in Town
Precious Seconds (Borealis)
Catherine Russell- Everybody Loves My Baby
Strictly Romancin’ (World Village)
Dave Van Ronk- Your Feet’s Too Big
Sweet & Lowdown (Justin Time)
Fats Waller- After You’ve Gone
Happy Birthday Fats (True North)
Time Sparks- The Alligator Crawl
Sidewalk Blues (ToneWood)

Jack Radcliffe & Al Oliveira- S’posin’
Two Hot to Handle (Wepecket Island)
Fats Waller- You’re Slightly Less Than Wonderful
Happy Birthday Fats (True North)
Loudon Wainwright III with Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks- Ain’t Misbehavin’
I’d Rather Lead a Band (Search Party)

Fats Waller- Yacht Club Swing
The Joint is Jumpin’ (Bluebird)

Next week: A musical visit to New Orleans on Mardi Gras Day, Volume 2.

Find me on Facebook. facebook.com/mikeregenstreif

--Mike Regenstreif

Carolina Chocolate Drops on their way to Montreal

The Carolina Chocolate Drops, one of the most exciting string bands to emerge in many years, will be performing their first Montreal concert Thursday, July 14, 8:00 pm, at Petit Campus (57 Prince Arthur East).

For info or tickets, call Hello Darlin' Productions at 514-524-9225.

Since forming six or seven years ago, the Carolina Chocolate Drops have been at the forefront of the revival and revitalization of African American stringband music, a rich form of traditional music that had been largely forgotten in recent decades.

I’ve seen the Carolina Chocolate Drops several times at folk festivals and have loved their unique blend of traditional music with contemporary sensibilities – both on stage and on their series of excellent CDs. Their latest full length CD, Genuine Negro Jig, won the Grammy this year for Best Traditional Folk Album.

The Carolina Chocolate Drops are coming to Montreal with a revised line-up from the version of the band that I know from CDs and folk festivals. That version was a trio featuring Rhiannon Giddens, Dom Flemons and Justin Robinson.

Justin recently left the band and original members Rhiannon and Dom have been joined by human beatboxer Adam Matta and multi-instrumentalist Hubby Jenkins. The buzz I’ve heard indicates version 2.0 of the Carolina Chocolate Drops is every bit as exciting as the original trio.

By the way, the band name, Carolina Chocolate Drops, is a nod to the Tennessee Chocolate Drops, an African American stringband that played and recorded in the 1930s. I had the opportunity to get to know three of the Tennessee Chocolate Drops – Carl Martin, Ted Bogan and Howard "Louie Bluie" Armstrong, all of whom have since passed away – when they reformed as Martin, Bogan and Armstrong in the 1970s.

Here’s my Montreal Gazette review of the first Carolina Chocolate Drops album from June 21, 2007.

CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS
Dona Got A Ramblin’ Mind
Music Maker

There’s been a strong revival of old-time music over the past several years and one of the most exciting groups to emerge is the Carolina Chocolate Drops. This trio of young African American musicians takes much of their inspiration from the almost-forgotten traditions of black fiddle and banjo-based music from the Piedmont region of the American Southeast. Their very impressive debut CD is highlighted by highly rhythmic instrumental work on string band tunes like “Rickett’s Hornpipe” and “Old Cat Died,” and by convincing singing on a couple of murder ballads: “Little Sadie” and “Tom Dula.” The finest vocal performances come in their vivid a cappella versions of the prison song “Another Man Done Gone,” and the ancient ballad “Little Margaret.”

--Mike Regenstreif