Pye Nixa NJE 1023
Pye-Nixa Jazz Today Series
7” EP
Recorded 9/7/56

TRACKS

Side 1
Beale Street Blues (Handy) (A)
Jailhouse Blues (Smith) (A)

Side 2
Shipwreck Blues (Smith) (B)
T’Aint No Sin (Donaldson) (A)

SLEEVE NOTES

Seldom has a jazz group been so well served for vocalists as the deservedly popular Chris Barber Jazz Band. Lonnie Donegan, now an international figure, made his first best selling record as a member of the Barber band. Bearded Dick Bishop remains Britain’s most devoted disciple of those twin “greats” of folksong – Cisco Houston and Woodie Guthrie. And then, of course, there’s that slight blond figure with the surprisingly big dark brown voice, Miss Ottilie Patterson, ex-art school teacher from Belfast whose debut in London with the Barber band evoked a chorus of praise from the critics. As Max Jones wrote: “In the opinion of many who should know, she succeeds in communicating the blues feeling to a greater degree than any British singer we have heard on records”.

On this, a worthy successor to “That Patterson Girl” Vol. 1 (Nixa NJE.1012) she fully justifies that high reputation, besides displaying a further facet of her talent – her ability at piano keyboard, in the self-accompanied Shipwreck Blues, ably supported by Chris Barber on bass and Dick Bishop, guitar. Jailhouse Blues, which was first recorded by the late Bessie Smith in September 1923, is a deep moaning blues in the best Bessie tradition and provides that Patterson girl with one of her most effective songs. T’Aint No Sin, in complete contrast, is at swinging up-tempo, whilst W. C. Handy’s classic Beale Street Blues is also given pushful treatment, with Pat Halcox’s cornet outstanding in the accompanying group.

Barber, as well as Patterson fans will, we feel sure, find much to please them in this powerful E.P.

PERSONNEL

(A)
Ottilie Patterson (vocal) acc. by:
Chris Barber (trom.); Pat Halcox (tpt.);
Monty Sunshine (clarinet); Dick Bishop (guitar);
Ron Bowden (drums); Dick Smith (bass)

(B)
Ottilie Patterson (vocal and piano),
acc. by Chris Barber (bass);
Dick Bishop (guitar)

Sleeve:
Ian Bradbery (design)
Walter Hanlon (photography)

Recording:
Joe Meek (balance)
Denis Preston (supervision)

MEDIA/MENTIONS

The Letters of Kingsley Amis (HarperCollins, 2000)
Letter to Philip Larkin 4/11/56
“You ought to hear That Patterson girl, vol 2: she sings much more like a man playing a trumpet, or perhaps a trombone, than any of yer bleedin Lady Days, &c.”

On The Record
Halifax Evening Courier 22/10/56
This month there are an excellent number of new jazz issues, among them a native product entitled “That Patterson Girl, Volume 2” (Nixa extended-play NJE 1012). The girl in question is Miss Ottilie Patterson an ex-art teacher from Belfast. On the cover photo her face is half-hidden by the mike, rather unkindly, but her tousled frown and roll-collar jersey make a welcome change after the procession of identical cheesecake smiles we are used to.
I missed Volume 1, and hadn’t heard her before but, from her showing on this disc, Ottilie has the makings of a fine jazz singer. In style she follows the great Bessie Smith. Her voice is large and round, with an emotional colouring well suited to the blues. Now and then she can be unsteady during sustained notes, but this will improve with time.
In one of the four tracks, Ottilie accompanies herself on piano – and remarkably well, too. The other three have the Chris Barber Jazz Band, who need no recommendation from me.
John Mitchell

The Spinning Disc by Max Jones
Daily Herald 11/10/56
That Patterson Girl (Vol. 2): Belfast jazz singer Ottilie Patterson interprets three blues and one show tune in her weird, old-time style.

Re-issue —- Short Review
Jazz Music Vol.10 No.1 1959
Ottilie Patterson With Chris Barber’s J. B. (Nixa NJ 2015) Beale St. Blues / Jail-House Blues
This single is taken from NJE 1023 – “That Patterson Girl, Vol. 2”. BEALE ST. is taken at medium tempo with Pat Halcox playing a steady lead to the ensemble and excellent obligati. Miss Patterson lacks fire but the side moves nicely and makes pleasant listening.
JAILHOUSE BLUES, first recorded by the great Bessie Smith in 1923, features Ottilie on top form giving a performance of which Bessie herself would not have been ashamed. This track ranks with “Shipwreck Blues” and “Weeping Willow Blues” as one of Ottilie Patterson’s finest recordings. Incidentally, although Dick Bishop is listed as playing guitar only, he picks up his banjo on both of these tracks.
J.F.S.