At Birdland

Wild Bill Davis lived up to his name. This live recording from 1955 features guitarist Floyd Smith and drummer Chris Columbo. Both organist and drummer were members of jump blues king Louis Jordan’s band; Davis also worked with both Duke Ellington and Count Basie. The band swings in the raw, get ’em on their feet manner of Louis Prima and other hard-charging entertainers. Davis’s organ is so overdriven it sounds like it’s about to explode, and he’s playing like he’s at a baseball game, with none of the subtlety of Jimmy Smith or later players. Floyd Smith’s guitar has an almost rock ’n’ roll sting, and Columbo keeps the beat fast and relentless. The crowd screams at the climaxes, and Davis himself laughs and carries on as he plays, and on vocal numbers like “Chicken Gumbo” he’s even more entertaining.