Unlucky Woman Blues / Beal Street Blues / I've Found A New Baby

Released in 1957 on the Austrian Viennaphon label, this recording captures a collaboration between the British jazz singer Beryl Bryden and the Austrian clarinetist Fatty George. Bryden was a notable figure in the traditional jazz revival movement, frequently touring Europe during the 1950s and performing with various prominent continental jazz ensembles. The record serves as a testament to the international reach of the revivalist scene, which sought to preserve the sounds of early 20th-century New Orleans jazz.

Fatty George, born Franz Georg Pressler, was a pivotal figure in the post-war Austrian jazz scene and is remembered for his dedication to the clarinet and his influence on the European jazz landscape. His band provided a classic, hard-swinging backdrop for Bryden’s vocal interpretations of blues and jazz standards. The release reflects a period when regional European labels were actively documenting the vibrant, cross-cultural exchanges occurring in jazz clubs throughout cities like Vienna, where such artists would meet to trade musical sensibilities.