Big Boy Goudie On The West Coast Vol. 1 & 2

Big Boy Goudie’s life and career were fully explored in a definitive article by David Radlauer that appeared in three issues of the Syncopated Times in 2020. Goudie (1899-1964) grew up in New Orleans, developing into a skilled clarinetist, tenor-saxophonist and cornetist. After freelancing throughout the South and Mexico during 1921-25, he spent 1926-39 mostly in France where he recorded (including with Django Reinhardt and Bill Coleman) and worked regularly. With the outbreak of World War II, Goudie moved to South America where he spent the war years. In 1946 he moved back to Paris, working with Coleman, Arthur Briggs, and Sidney Bechet in addition to his own groups throughout the Continent. In 1957 Goudie moved to San Francisco where he was greatly in demand by local trad jazz musicians during his last six years. By then he was exclusively playing clarinet. Because Goudie spent much of his life in Europe and did not record at all in the United States other than two albums for GHB and American Music during 1960-61, he remains a little-known name. Fortunately David Radlauer has been doing what he can to change that situation. On the Grammercy label, he has been a major force in releasing live recordings from Goudie’s final period in the San Francisco Bay area. Among those CDs are Frankie “Big Boy” Goudie On The West Coast Vol. 1: Big Boy’s Blues 1958-60, and Vol. 2: Frank�