Al “Cake” Wichard Sextette - Cake Walkin’: The Modern Recordings 1947-48

A delicious slice of 60-year-old Cake unearthed

Ace’s compilations of disparate music from the last century rarely come without exhaustive sleevenotes, but intrepid researcher Tony Rounce hit a wall in 2006 while painstakingly assembling this collection of late 40s West Coast small group R&B headed by a drummer called Al “Cake” Wichard, whose recordings usually featured Jimmy Witherspoon singing. There was little record of the man’s life or the countless sessions he played for the fledgling Modern label, until fellow researcher Eric LeBlanc unearthed a few scant details. Now we know that Wichard was born in Wellbourne, Arkansas, in August 1919 and died of heart disease just 40 years later. He moved to LA in 1944, commencing sessions for Modern the following year, including hundreds with pianist Hadda Brooks and several with his own Sextette.

It’s the latter, many heard for the first time in 60 years, which make up this vibrantly atmospheric set, vividly capturing the era’s Central Avenue R&B hotbed on tracks ranging from sleazy blues vamps such as Daddy Pinocchio, to the rolling swing-jazz of Cake Jumps. Witherspoon and the unnamed brass section excel throughout, while “Cake” and bassist Bill Davis underpin with hip-grabbing understatement. Details are irrelevant in the face of such great, timeless music, but such a labour of love is still a major triumph for ace.

4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

Ace | CDCHD 1233

Reviewed by Kris Needs
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