AMG Review of Boogie Woogie Trio, Vol. 2

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

The 23 selections on this generous CD feature boogie-woogie pianists Albert Ammons, Pete Johnson, and Meade "Lux" Lewis broadcasting from Chcago's ~Sherman Hotel in September and October of 1939. There are eight piano solos by Ammons, six from Johnson, and six by Lewis, plus a version of "Saturday Night Struggle" by the duo of Ammons and Lewis and two cuts with all three pianists. It is very good to have this music available again (along with two previously unreleased Lewis tracks), although one wonders why the music was shuffled around instead of having separate parts of the CD featuring individual pianists. All three players were in their prime in 1939 and quite enthusiastic about having finally been discovered. Easily recommended to boogie-woogie fans.