Jazz guitarist Al Casey: Who's tap dancing on his record?

[kaylasdad99]

In 1973, Jazz guitarist Al Casey (who had worked extensively with Fats Waller up until Waller’s death) released an album entitled Jumpin’ with Al: the Definitive Black and Blue Sessions.

This past June, a couple of blind guys (one in Missouri, one in Honolulu) made a podcast of their weekly jazz show for ACB Radio, which I published for them a couple of days ago. Here it is. At time 17:27, they played track 6 from the Al Casey album, “Just You, Just Me.” It’s a peppy little number, performed with style, panache, and excellent musicianship.

It’s also performed with a frickin’ TAP DANCER in the studio! Seeking to figure out what the hell was going on, I found the album on allmusic. While there was no mention of a tap dancer, each track did have a 30-second sample, and sure enough, several of those samples have the tap dancer tippy-tip-tappin’ away.

Does ANYONE have the slightest clue what was happening during that recording session? TIA.

[WordMan]

I would love to know. Thanks for sharing but I have no clue.

Here’s a thread I started about an Al Casey track I love: Guitarists - A Lesson on How it's Done - Al Casey edition - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board

[WordMan]

Dude - your own link answers it!

AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow
Best known as Fats Waller’s guitarist in the 1930s, Al Casey has played for many decades since that time. On this reissue CD, Casey had his first opportunity to lead his own record date in 13 years. Seven performances (including a previously unreleased number and two new alternate takes) match Casey in a quartet with pianist Jay McShann, bassist Roland Lobligeois, and drummer Paul Gunther; “Rosetta” and two versions of “I’m Beginning to See the Light” are most memorable. The other three numbers (which include “Just You, Just Me” and “I Wish I Knew”) have Casey, tenor saxophonist Arnett Cobb, pianist Milt Buckner, Lobligeois, and drummer Michael Silva joined by the tap dancing of Jimmy Slide. All in all, this set does jump a lot and is a fine example of 1940s-style small group swing that looks toward early R&B.

Bolding mine.

[kaylasdad99]

Thanks so much; I don’t know how I missed that on the first read. :o