One of the greatest contributions to Western Civilization is undoubtedly the boogie blues groove. It is the marrow and pulse of most of the greatest jazz and rock albums. Without it, there would be no “swing,” as the “boogie woogie” craze of the 1930s and 1940s essentially re-invigorated the nascent Big Band Era. Just listen to the early band figurations of Fletcher Henderson or Benny Goodman before the shuffle beat, and compare that sound to how rejuvenated the music was afterwards.
What we’ve done here is jot down a “Beginner’s List” for the boogie woogie shufflin’ blues. It’s by no means complete, but it’s a good place to start in order to hear the absolute roots of this groove that must get into your mind in order to evaluate the blues and jazz. Sometimes we’ll post a song, other times an artist.
Pinetop Smith: “Pine Top’s Boogie Woogie”-Arguably the very first song to introduce the beat and pulse. It’s an absolute hoot to hear Smith shout out the dance steps.
Albert Ammons & Pete Johnson: “Boogie Woogie Dream” or “Boogie Woogie Stomp.” By himself, Ammons thunders like a locomotive on the “Stomp.” With Johnson, it’s a Bullet Train, and amazing to watch on youtube- .
“Roll ‘Em, Pete”. Either by Joe Williams and Count Basie’s Orchestra, or Joe Turner with a hip small combo with Pete Johnson and Basie side men. “Oh well, oh well oh well!”
Louis Jordan: “Caledonia” and “Choo Choo Ch’Boogie.” The alto saxist and vocalist Louis Jordan perfected the jumping blues, and these two big hits are the apotheosis of swinging R&B.
Benny Goodman: “Roll ‘Em” and “I Found A New Baby.” Yes, Goodman put out some amazing material. His big band version of “Roll ‘Em” is vastly different than “Roll ‘Em Pete” and is a double fisted hitter. The latter, with Charlie Christian at guitar and Basie at piano is a gorgeously blues swinger that never lets go.- Jimmy Yancey: “Yancey Stomp”-Eight fingers at eight to the bar perfection.
- Count Basie: “Boogie Woogie” His big band version from 1937 is perfection, but his small group outing from the year before with Jimmy Rushing, Lester
Young and Jo Jones is perfection plus. Lester Young’s tenor solo, Jimmy Rushing’s shouting “I May Be Wrong” and Basie’s concise digits make this a taste of heaven.
Professor Longhair: “Tipitina”-New Orleans put its own flavor on the boogie woogie scene, which eventually evolved into rock and roll. This agonizing blues oozes with sweat.
Earl Hines: “Boogie Woogie On St. Louis Blues.” The hand is quicker than even the ear on this double fisted powerhouse.- Lionel Hampton: “Flying Home.” Few people made living out of the big band boogie like
vibist Lionel Hampton. This song, with the world famous solo by Illinois Jacquet, truly set the standard.
The Dixie Hummingbirds: “Bedside of a Neighbor”-I could have included Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Wynona Carr, Dorothy Love Coates or a bunch of others, but the gist is that black gospel of the late 40s and to late 50s took the boogie beat, baptized it and made it “The Gospel Beat” that 
turned into rock and R&B.
BONUS: Big Joe Turner: I know I included Turner already above, but just about every R&B song he did from 1940 to 1960 set the jumping blues standard. From “Shake, Rattle and Roll,” to “Honey Hush” to “Corrina, Corrina” to ad infinitum. Take me to 12th and Vine!!!