Top 50 Jazz Blog

Top 50 Jazz Blog

Friday, February 28, 2025

Interracial Tune #15. Jack Purvis w. Higgie and Hawk

Jack Purvis was sine qua non; one of the most larger-than-life personalities in a music with its fair share of unique characters. He was a fine trumpet player, in the mold of Louis Armstrong (Purvis wrote and recorded a song called "Copyin' Louis"). He was also a pilot, smuggler, burglar, con artist and may have either faked his own death or committed suicide.

Jack Purvis

Purvis loved played with black musicians, including sitting in whenever possible with Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra-even "blacking up" to do so.

Poor Richard is a "burial" song. Purvis, Higgy and Hawkins all sound great.

Jack Purvis And His Orchestra: Jack Purvis (tp,vcl) J.C. Higginbotham (tb,vclColeman Hawkins (ts) Adrian Rollini (bassax) Frank Froeba (p) Will Johnson (g,vcl) Charles Kegley (d) New York, April 4, 1930  

  • Dismal Dan- Okeh 8808, Hist HLP6, Od (G)SMS11, Electrola (G)IC054-06317; 
  • Poor Richard (1)- Okeh 8782, Od (G)SMS8; 
  • Down Georgia way- (G)SMS3, Electrola (G)IC054-06309

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