Alexander T. Seward
b. March 16th, 1902 in Charles City or Newport News (Virginia)
d. May 11th, 1972 in New York (New York)
CHAIN GANG SONGS vol.1 & 2
Stinson
Collectables
BLIND SONNY TERRY & WOODY GUTHRIE WITH ALEC STEWART
Ember
1944
Fils de Martha Johnson et d'Isaac Seward, il est élevé dans une famille nombreuse (ils sont 14 frères et soeurs). Vers 1923-24, il s'installe à New York dans le but de vivre de sa musique et se lie d'amitié avec Sonny Terry et Brownie Mac Ghee. Alec Seward grave ses premiers morceaux en 1944 à New York en compagnie de Sonny Terry et Woody Guthrie pour Stinson (un label fondé par Herbert Harris et Irving Prosky). A signaler : il utilisa le pseudonyme de Guitar Slim (comme de nombreux bluesmen) mais aussi Alex Seward et Alec Stewart parfois.
Son of Martha Johnson and Isaac Seward, he is raised in a large family (they are 14 brothers and sisters). Around 1923-24, he settled in New York in order to live of his music and became friends with Sonny Terry and Brownie Mac Ghee. Alec Seward recorded his first tracks in 1944 in New York with Sonny Terry and Woody Guthrie for Stinson (a label founded by Herbert Harris and Irving Prosky). Note : he used the pseudonym of Guitar Slim (as many bluesmen) but also Alex Seward and Alec Stewart sometimes.
CAROLINA BLUES
Arhoolie
1947
Il s'associe durablement avec le bluesman Louis Hayes (parfois surnommé "Fat Boy" ou "Jelly Belly") formant un superbe duo. Les deux hommes se produiront sous le nom de Guitar Slim & Jelly Belly puis The Back Porch Boys. Ils se complètent parfaitement dans le pur style Piedmont. Pour sa part, Alec Seward est un excellent guitariste au jeu vigoureux et un chanteur expressif. Les morceaux repris dans cette sélection furent, pour certains, publiés par les labels Tru-Blue et MGM. Plusieurs d'entre eux méritent une écoute attentive comme "Ups and downs blues", "She's evil and mean", "Crying won't let me stay", "Right and wrong woman", "Jail buddy blues", "Railroad blues", "Yellow brown blues", "Why oh why". Malgré ce qui est indiqué sur la pochette, ces séances ont été enregistrées en 1947 (selon la Blues Discography).
He has long been associated with the bluesman Louis Hayes (sometimes called "Fat Boy" or "Jelly Belly") forming a superb duo. The two men will perform under the name of Guitar Slim & Jelly Belly and then The Back Porch Boys. They complement each other perfectly in a pure Piedmont style. For his part, Alec Seward is an excellent guitarist with a vigorous playing and an expressive singer. The tracks included in this selection were, for some, issued by labels Tru-Blue and MGM. Several of them deserve careful listening, such as "Ups and downs blues", "She's evil and mean", "Crying won't let me stay", "Right and wrong woman", "Jail buddy blues", "Railroad blues", "Yellow brown blues", "Why oh why". Despite what is stated on the sleeve, these sessions were recorded in 1947 (according to the Blues Discography).
BLUES 'N TROUBLE vol.2
Arhoolie
1947
PLAY MY JUKE BOX
Flyright
1947
Issus des mêmes séances que "Carolina blues", deux morceaux d'Alec Seward et Louis Hayes figurent sur cette anthologie : "Humming bird blues" et "I've been dreaming".
Taken on same sessions as "Carolina blues", two songs by Alec Seward and Louis Hayes are featured in this anthology : "Humming bird blues" and "I've been dreaming".
THE BACK PORCH BOYS
Delmark
1948 - 1949
Sélection reprenant les séances du duo Alec Seward / Louis Hayes gravées en 1948-49 pour Apollo et rééditées par Delmark. Sur certaines pistes, les deux hommes sont rejoints par Champion Jack Dupree et Brownie Mac Ghee. Moins intense que "Carolina blues", il s'agit néanmoins d'un bel album : "Big hip mamma", "Good boy long way from home", "Sweet woman blues".
Selection compiling the duet Alec Seward / Louis Hayes sessions engraved in 1948-49 for Apollo and reissued by Delmark. On some tracks, the two men are joined by Champion Jack Dupree and Brownie Mac Ghee. Less intense than "Carolina blues", it is nevertheless a good album : "Big hip mamma", "Good boy long way from home", "Sweet woman blues".
CITY BLUES
Elektra
Jazz Selection
Vogue
December 1954
Lors de cette séance de Sonny Terry pour Elektra, Alec Seward chante quatre morceaux : "Little Annie", "Down in the bottom blues", "Late one saturday evening" et "Hard luck blues".
In this session of Sonny Terry for Elektra, Alec Seward sings four songs : "Little Annie", "Down in the bottom blues", "Late one saturday evening" and "Hard luck blues".
CREEPIN' BLUES
Bluesville
1965
Après une dizaine d'années passées dans l'ombre, Alec Seward grave un LP complet produit par Pete Welding et Kenneth Goldstein pour Prestige-Bluesville. A cette occasion, il est accompagné par le jeune bluesman Larry Johnson (parfait à l'harmonica). Alec, qui n'a rien perdu de son talent, délivre un superbe opus de blues campagnard parfaitement rendu. "Big hip mama", "Evil woman blues", "Sweet woman", "Creepin' blues", "Late one saturday evening" figurent parmi les meilleurs moments du programme. Aujourd'hui, ce LP est une pièce de collection difficile à trouver (jamais repris en CD).
After a dozen years spent in the shadows, Alec Seward recorded a complete LP produced by Pete Welding and Kenneth Goldstein for Prestige-Bluesville. On this occasion, he is accompanied by the young bluesman Larry Johnson (perfect on harmonica). Alec, who has lost nothing of his talent, delivers a superb country blues opus perfectly rendered. "Big hip mama", "Evil woman blues", "Sweet woman", "Creepin' blues", "Late one saturday evening" are among the highlights of the program. Today, this LP is a difficult to find collector's item (never reissued on CD).
LATE ONE SATURDAY EVENING
Blue Labor
Fat Possum
Blues Alliance
Fall 1966
Séance informelle rassemblant Alec Seward, Sonny Terry (remarquable à l'harmonica), Brownie Mac Ghee, Julia Carr et Washboard Doc. Ambiance relachée, feeling des musiciens, qualité sonore satisfaisante tout concourt pour faire de cet album une véritable réussite. Plusieurs beaux moments : "Risin' sun shine on", "Late one saturday evening", "Blues all around my head", "Creepin' blues".
Informal session with Alec Seward, Sonny Terry (remarkable on harmonica), Brownie Mac Ghee, Julia Carr and Washboard Doc. Relaxed atmosphere, feeling of the musicians, satisfying sound quality, all combine to make this album a real success. Lots of nice moments : "Risin' sun shine on", "Late one saturday evening", "Blues all around my head", "Creepin' blues".