Chicago Breakdown – 2011
Carl “Sonny” Layland
A hot boogie-woogie performance
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One of the top boogie-woogie, blues and swing jazz pianists of the past 30 years, Carl “Sonny” Layland was born in England, began playing boogie-woogie when he was 15, moved to the U.S. in 1988 (spending nine years in New Orleans before moving to Southern California), and has been a regular at many traditional jazz festivals ever since.
This performance was filmed at a house party, featuring Leyland playing some impressive boogie-woogie on “Chicago Breakdown,” recalling Albert Ammons a bit but in his own style.
-Scott Yanow