(bright piano notes) (hip hop blues music with record scratching sfx) (sampled voice says "Hey" periodically over music) (blues harmonica wails over hip hop blues music and sfx) (film projector sfx mixes with music) (intense drums beating) (drumbeat mixes with Lightning Bugs music in background) [Announcer] Recorded live, it's the Nebraska ETV Network's 33rd Street Sessions.

Presenting the vocal harmonies of Nebraska's own Lightning Bugs, with Kansas City violin virtuoso, Claude "Fiddler" Williams.

The Lightning Bugs feature Jim Pipher on bass, Reynold Peterson, drums, and Steve Hanson, guitar.

And now, here's the Lightning Bugs, and their special guest, Claude "Fiddler" Williams.

(audience cheering and whistling) [Jim] Thank you very much.

Thank you.

(audience clapping and whooping) (Steve picking guitar) (audience applauding) (guitar plays ascending chords) (Claude, fiddle playing "Satin Doll") Yeah!

(bass gently playing rhythm) (drum brushes keep time) (fiddle solo plays warmly) (fiddle playing melody of Duke Ellington's "Satin Doll") (fiddle plays riff on melody) (instruments harmonizing) (fiddle plays traditional "Satin Doll" melody) (band sings in harmony) ♪ A cigarette holder ♪ ♪ Which wigs me ♪ ♪ Over her shoulder ♪ ♪ She digs me ♪ ♪ Out cattin' ♪ ♪ That satin doll ♪ (guitar plays rhythmic interlude with fiddle) (band sings in harmony) ♪ Baby shall we go ♪ ♪ Out skippin' ♪ ♪ Careful amigo ♪ ♪ You're flippin' ♪ ♪ Speaks Latin ♪ ♪ That satin doll ♪ (Reynold) ♪ She's nobody's fool ♪ ♪ So I'm playing it cool as can be ♪ ♪ I'll give it a whirl ♪ ♪ But I ain't for no girl catchin' me ♪ (Steve and Jim harmonize) ♪ Switch-A-Rooney ♪ (trio harmonizes) ♪ Telephone numbers ♪ ♪ Well, you know ♪ ♪ Doin' my rhumbas ♪ ♪ With uno ♪ ♪ And that 'n ♪ My satin doll ♪ (Claude plays upbeat jazz fiddle solo) (improvising upbeat fiddle solo) (Reynold) ♪ Well, now, she's nobody's fool ♪ ♪ So I'm playin' it cool as can be ♪ ♪ I'll give it a whirl ♪ ♪ But I ain't for no girl catchin' me ♪ (trio sings harmony) ♪ Switch-A-Rooney ♪ (trio sings harmony) ♪ Telephone numbers ♪ ♪ Well, you know ♪ ♪ Doin' my rhumbas ♪ ♪ With uno ♪ ♪ And that'n my satin ♪ ♪ And that'n my satin ♪ ♪ And that'n my satin ♪ (trio sings slow harmony line) ♪ Doll ♪ (band harmonizing fiddle plays outro) (audience applauding and cheering) -[Steve] Thank you very much.

-Thank you!

[Jim] Claude Williams is one of the great jazz violin players of this century.

I mean, he's a real American musical treasure.

Um, he's played with all kinds of greats, Count Basie, Jay McShann, Nat King Cole, Charlie Parker, I mean-- [Steve] - Clouds of Joy.

-Yeah.

I mean, he's been there (laughs) where that really great jazz tradition was happenin', and right there along with it.

I mean, he's a wonderful violin player.

Was a great guitar player, he's just been there.

[Jim] I like the way Claude sings this, and I think you will as well.

A little thing called "I Can't Give You Anything But Love."

(guitar leads band playing jazzy, upbeat tune) [Claude] ♪ I can't give you anything but love ♪ ♪ Baby ♪ ♪ That's the only thing, 'plenty of ♪ ♪ Baby ♪ ♪ Dream awhile And scheme awhile ♪ ♪ You're sure to find ♪ ♪ Happiness...and, I guess, all those things ♪ ♪ You've always longed for ♪ ♪ Gee!

♪ ♪ I'd love to see you lookin' swell ♪ ♪ Baby ♪ ♪ Diamond bracelets Woolworth doesn't sell ♪ ♪ My little baby ♪ ♪ Till that lucky day, you know darn well ♪ ♪ Baby ♪ ♪ I can't give you anything but love ♪ (fast-paced jazz fiddle solo) -(guitar swinging notes) -(audience applauding) [Claude] - Yeah, yeah, yeah.

(guitar picking swing-style solo) (guitar solo, bass and drums gently swinging) (guitar solo) -(fiddle playing) -(audience clapping) (fiddle playing a fast twist on melody) (fiddle solo picks up more melody notes) ♪ Gee, I'd love to see you lookin' swell ♪ ♪ Baby ♪ ♪ Diamond bracelets Woolworth doesn't sell ♪ ♪ My little baby ♪ ♪ Till that lucky day, You know darn well ♪ ♪ Baby ♪ ♪ 'Cause I can't give you ♪ [Band in harmony] - ♪ I can't give you ♪ ♪ I can't give you ♪ [Band in harmony] ♪ I can't give you ♪ ♪ I can't give you ♪ ♪ Anything but love ♪ (guitar leads band in outro) (audience cheering) -[Claude] - Yeah!

-(band members laughing) (audience applauding and cheering) [Claude] - Thank you!

[Jim] Claude Williams, right there, yeah.

[Steve] - I like playing with him a lot, it's like- I mean, here, this guy is- And I don't think I'm telling any secrets, but he's in his 80's, and it just feels like energy to me.

You know, to stand next to him, and play music with him, it just-- I feel-- -Not to get too cosmic.

-(band members laughing) But I do, I just feel energy, you know?

And it makes me, you know, want to play better, and probably makes me play better, playin' with him.

[Jim] - When you're playin' with him, you can always look forward to a surprise, I mean, 'cause every time he plays somethin', there's gonna be some little twist to it that, you know, you haven't quite heard before, and it's sort of, "That was cool!"

"Boy, I gotta play harder to keep up with that."

I mean, it's just, you never quite know what to expect, but it's always- You know, it's like being on a treasure hunt, you always can kind of hope that some little gem is gonna pop up that, uhm, is really fun.

(fiddle playing slow-tempo ballad) (light guitar notes) (fiddle solos, slow tempo) (fiddle plays recognizable notes, playing "Autumn Leaves") (guitar notes complement fiddle) (fiddle and guitar, romantic duet continues) (fiddle and guitar, emotive duet) (tempo increases to a swing tempo) (bass and drums begin playing lightly) (audience members clapping) (fiddle solo improvises from melody) (fiddle playing rapidly) (fiddle solo, upbeat, swinging) (Claude ends fiddle solo) (acoustic guitar plays solo notes) (audience clapping) (guitar swings, solo notes over soft bass and guitar) (guitar solos, drum brushes gently shuffling) (guitar notes becoming more emotive) (fiddle picks up solo lead) (fiddle plays bright solo) (fiddle plays gypsy jazz style slower notes) (fiddle plays slow emotive note) (guitar strums gently, soft drum brushes) (audience clapping) (audience members whistling) [Claude] - You know, like the -- You know, I learned by- How to play by ear, you know, my brother-in-law taught me all this other stuff and when I actually went to a music teacher, I mean, I could play better than the teacher, but I didn't know what I was playin' -- (laughs) So he had to just start me back with the ♪ Do-Da-Da-Da-Da-Da-Da ♪ You know, all of that.

[Claude] I'd like to do this number, ladies and gentlemen.

The first number I learned how to play on the fiddle, "You've Got To See Your Mama Every Night -- Or You Can't See Your Mama At All."

(band member beats tempo on instrument) -(audience members laughing) -(guitar leads upbeat jazz) (guitar plays swinging intro chords) (fiddle plays upbeat emotive swing melody of song) ♪ You've got to see your mama every night ♪ ♪ Or you can't see your mama at all ♪ ♪ You've got to see your mama, Treat her right ♪ ♪ Or she won't be at home when you call ♪ ♪ Ashes to ashes ♪ ♪ Dust to dust ♪ ♪ Show me a woman that a man can trust ♪ -♪ You got to see your mama ♪ -(audience laughter, applause) ♪ Every night ♪ ♪ Or you can't see your mama at all ♪ (guitar plays upbeat solo) -(bass plays soft rhythm) -(light brushes on drums) (guitar solo improvises off melody) (guitar riffing) (swinging guitar solo) [Claude, softly] Ah -- play it again.

(guitar solo) -[Claude] Yeah!

-(violin note) (guitar solo riffs continue) (fiddle beginning to play fast notes) (audience clapping) (fiddle playing fast notes reflecting melody) (fast fiddle solo) ♪ You got to see your mama every night ♪ ♪ Or you can't see your mama at all ♪ ♪ You've got to see your mama, treat her right ♪ ♪ Or she won't be at home when you call ♪ ♪ Ashes to ashes ♪ ♪ Dust to dust ♪ ♪ Show me a woman that a man can trust ♪ ♪ You got to see 'er every night ♪ ♪ Or you can't see your mama at all ♪ ♪ No, you can't see -- your mama -- at all ♪ (band plays outro) (Claude plays final note on fiddle with band) (audience clapping and cheering) (Claude laughing) (Jim laughing) (applause) Thank you!

(applause) [Reynold] I was playing with Jim and Steve at the time, and so I talked them into doin' a Mills Brothers impression, you know, so to speak.

[Steve] They had some more jazz tonality in their harmonies, I mean, that's different-- What's different than barbershop, you know?

Mm-hmm.

[Steve] And I think they were one of the first groups to really start doing that.

And then they did that voice-trumpet thing too which was -- (Jim mimicking trumpet sound) -They had a lot of cartoon-- -[Interviewer] - Demonstrate.

[Interviewer] I mean, what do you mean by that?

-(Reynold laughing) -(Jim mimicking trumpet sounds) (Reynold using drum brushes while Jim mimicks trumpet) (Steve laughing) [Steve] - We call it buzzing.

[Jim laughing] 'Cause we're the Lightning BUGS, so- Yeah, so we call it buzzing.

[Jim] Let's get you tappin' your toes on a little number here.

Say "It's Only a Paper Moon."

(upbeat guitar intro) (band joins guitar) (musicians sing harmony) ♪ Say it's only a paper moon ♪ ♪ Sailin' over a cardboard sea ♪ ♪ But it wouldn't be make-believe ♪ ♪ If you believed in me ♪ ♪ Yes, it's only a canvas sky ♪ ♪ Hangin' over a muslin tree ♪ ♪ But it wouldn't be make-believe ♪ ♪ If you believed in me ♪ ♪ Without your love ♪ (fiddle plays accent notes) ♪ ♪ It's a honky-tonk parade ♪ ♪ Without your love ♪ ♪ It's a melody played in a penny arcade ♪ ♪ It's a Barnum and Bailey world ♪ ♪ Just as phony as it can be ♪ ♪ But it wouldn't be make-believe ♪ ♪ If you believed in me ♪ (Steve, Reynold and Jim scatting instrument sounds) (scatting melody with instrument sounds) (fiddle begins to play) -(audience clapping) -Yes!

(- indistinct comments) (fiddle solo, uptempo) ♪ You say it's only a paper moon ♪ ♪ Sailin' over a cardboard sea ♪ ♪ But it wouldn't be make-believe ♪ ♪ If you believed in me ♪ ♪ Yes, it's only a canvas sky ♪ ♪ Hangin' over a muslin tree ♪ ♪ But it wouldn't be make-believe ♪ ♪ If you believed in me ♪ [Band] - ♪ Without your love ♪ ♪ It's a honky-tonk parade ♪ [Band] - ♪ Without your love ♪ ♪ It's a melody played in a penny arcade ♪ [All] ♪ It's a Barnum and Bailey world ♪ ♪ Just as phony as it can be ♪ ♪ But it wouldn't be make-believe ♪ ♪ If you believed in me ♪ ♪ If you believed in me ♪ ♪ If you believed in me ♪ ♪ If you believed in me ♪ (guitar chords lead outro) (audience cheering) [Reynold] Thank you!

(audience clapping) Thank you very much, thank you!

(audience applauding) [Reynold] ♪ Now won't you come along with me ♪ (Steve and Jim "buzzing" instrument noises) ♪ Down to Mississippi ♪ -(Steve and Jim "buzzing") -(Reynold snapping fingers) ♪ We'll take a boat ♪ To the land of dreams ♪ -["Buzzing" as instruments] -♪ Steam down the river ♪ ♪ Down to New Orleans ♪ ♪ Oh, the band's there to meet us ♪ (Steve and Jim "buzzing" instrument sounds) ♪ Old friends will greet us ♪ (Steve and Jim "buzzing" instrument sounds) ♪ We'll see the place Where the folks all meet ♪ -(Jim and Steve "buzzing") ♪ Heaven on earth, ♪ (slowing) ♪ They call it Basin Street ♪ -(Steve and Jim laughing) -[Reynold] We could go on!

[Jim] If we asked real, real nice, do you suppose you might sing just one more song for tonight?

[Claude] Let's see... -(audience clapping) -Real, real nice?

(audience members whooping, applauding) [Claude] I have a-- Somethin' like where I came from, now, do you think about that.

[Jim] - Somethin' where you came from.

- Yeah, something like where you came from.

- Oh.

- Oh, yeah, I probably can make that.

-(band members laughing) -Okay.

- "Old Muskogee"?

Oh, no, you're gonna mess it up.

-(Steve and Reynold laughing) -(audience laughing) (Jim tapping out time) (instruments play uptempo intro) (audience clapping along) (upbeat instrumental, "Kansas City" melody) ♪ Well, I'm goin' to Kansas City ♪ ♪ Kansas City, here I come ♪ (guitar plays quick notes) ♪ Yes, I'm goin' to Kansas City ♪ ♪ Kansas City, here I come ♪ (guitar plays quick notes) ♪ They got some fine little girls there ♪ ♪ I'm gonna get me one ♪ (instruments playing upbeat swing) ♪ I'll be standin' on the corner ♪ ♪ On the corner of Twelve and Vine ♪ ♪ Full of wine ♪ - Woahp!

♪ I'll be standin' on the corner ♪ ♪ On the corner of Twelve and Vine ♪ (instruments play) ♪ With my Kansas City baby ♪ ♪ And a bottle of muscatel wine ♪ ♪ Oh, I might catch a train ♪ ♪ And then I might catch a plane ♪ ♪ But if I have to walk ♪ ♪ I'm gonna get there just the same ♪ ♪ Goin' to Kansas City ♪ ♪ Kansas City, here I come ♪ (instruments play) ♪ Boy, they got some fine little girls there ♪ ♪ I'm gonna get me one ♪ (fiddle playing rapidly) (fiddle solo) (guitar takes solo lead) (audience clapping) (guitar solo) (guitar solo, audience members calling out approval) [Claude] - Let him hear it!

(upbeat guitar solo continues, riffing on melody) (guitar solo) -(fiddle playing) -(audience applauding) (fiddle solo) (band plays) ♪ Well, I might catch a train ♪ ♪ And then I might catch a plane ♪ ♪ But if I have to walk, I'm gonna get there just the same ♪ ♪ I'm going to Kansas City ♪ ♪ Kansas City, here I come ♪ ♪ Yes, they got some fine little girls there ♪ ♪ I'm gonna get me one ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, Lord!

They got some good little girls there ♪ ♪ I'm gonna get me two ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ They got fiiiine little girls there ♪ ♪ I think I'll get me three ♪ ♪ Good little girl, I'm gonna get me four ♪ You see, one, two, three, four.

(audience laughing) Gotta get one for all of us, ladies and gentlemen.

Mm-hmm.

(audience cheering) (audience whistling) (applause) TOP [Jim] Thank you very much, everybody, good night!

(audience cheering) (audience clapping and whistling) (audience clapping and whistling)