Interracial Jazz Recording (#45): Mound City Blue Blowers w. Hawkins and Foster

Red McKenzie and Eddie Condon were two of the great organizers of combinations for recording in the late 20-'s-early 30's. Often putting together interracial sessions.  

Pops Foster

Red Mackenzie

This Victor session features great playing by several players. McKenzie is always convincingly hot playing his comb-and-paper, a comb with a piece of paper, often newspaper, placed over it. Russell and Hawkins are great as usual and even Glenn Miller takes a convincing turn. Apart from Hawkins, the other black performer was New Orleans stalwart Pops Foster on bass.

Mound City Blue Blowers: Glenn Miller (tb) Pee Wee Russell (cl) Coleman Hawkins (ts) Eddie Condon (bj) Jack Bland (g) Pops Foster (b) Gene Krupa (d) Red McKenzie (comb,vcl) New York, November 14, 1929.

• Hello, Lola- Vic V38100, RCA (F)FXM1-73245, 741103;
• If I could be with you one hour tonight- Vic V38100, LPV501, (G)LPM501, RCA (F)FXM1-7325, 741103

All entries are from my book “As Long as They Can Blow. Interracial Jazz Recording and Other Jive Before 1935.”

Interracial Jazz Recording (#43) Bud Freeman and Sid Catlett

This group, organized by Eddie Condon, is white except for drummer Sid Catlett, who leads a rhythm section that cooks. Black arranger Alex Hill provided the arrangement for the tune I'm featuring here, "The Eel." 

Bud Freeman

Sid Catlett

                                              

"The Eel," written by Bud Freeman, is an interesting tune. Although the solos are over blues changes, the actual tune is very different harmonically. The changes are stepwise or static and the modal implications are obvious. There's good trombone work by Floyd O'Brien, a typically idiosyncratic Pee Wee Russell solo and a nice muted Kaminsky solo. But the recording is known as a showcase for the fine tenor work of Bud Freeman.

Eddie Condon and his Orchestra: Max Kaminsky, t / Floyd O’Brien, tb / Pee Wee Russell, cl / Bud Freeman, ts / Joe Sullivan, p, a / Eddie Condon, bj / Artie Bernstein, sb / Sid Catlett, d. New York, October 21, 1933.

• The Eel: Br 02006, Col 35680, Dec M-30368;
• The Eel: Br (E)02006, Philips (Eu)436008A-JE, Family (It)DP697;
• Tennessee Twilight– aAH: Br 01690, A-500406, Col 36009, DS-1574;
• Tennessee Twilight– aAH: Col 36000;
• Madame Dynamite: Br 01690, A-500406, Col DS-1574, UHCA 64, Par R-2938;
• Madame Dynamite- Col 36009; Home Cooking- Col 35680, JZ1, Family (It)DP697, Tax (Swd)m-8019

All entries are from my book “As Long as They Can Blow. Interracial Jazz Recording and Other Jive Before 1935.”

One of the Archetypal Interracial Sessions-Waller and Condon (#11)

For chronology's sake, I wanted to post one of these Feburary sessions: Frank Melrose recording with the Dodds Brothers--but all takes went unissued. Or, a collaboration between singer Ethel Waters and future songwriter Sammy Fain, but I couldn't find any audio online from the sessions.

So, we'll go to March and one of the archetypal late 20's sessions-interracial or not: Fats Waller and His Buddies. 

The way this session came together is a great story. Eddie Condon was actually hired by Victor records to "babysit" Waller, Waller made up the tunes in a taxi on the way to the gig, etc. I tell the story in detail (in Condon's voice) in my book.

Fats Waller and His Buddies: Charlie Gaines (tp) Charlie Irvis (tb) Arville Harris (cl,as), Fats Waller (p) Eddie Condon (bj) New York, March 1, 1929.

• Handful Of Keys- Vic V-38508, 27768, HMV B-4347, B-4902;
• The Minor Drag- Vic V-38050, 20-1583, BB B-10185, HMV EA-3265;
• Harlem Fuss- Vic V-38050, BB B-10185, HMV EA-3713;
• Numb Fumblin’- Vic V-38508, 25338, HMV B-4347, B-4917;

Although labeled Minor Drag, this is really Harlem Fuss, as Victor mislabeled the sides.

All entries are from my book “As Long as They Can Blow. Interracial Jazz Recording and Other Jive Before 1935.”

An Interracial Tune A Day (#7) An Early Very Mixed Group

Guitar/Banjo player Eddie Condon was one of the key innovators in putting together interracial sessions. He was a big fan of the Charlie Johnson Orchestra, one of the key groups in New York City in the late-20's-early 30's. He drew several members of that black group for this session and combined them with stellar white players.

Charlie Johnson's Paradise Orchestra

Eddie Condon

Trumpeter Leonard Davis is featured on "That’s a serious thing" and Jack Teagarden handles the vocal in his inimitable way. T. also solos on trombone and around 2'10" he plays a line that we will hear years later in "Stormy Weather." I wonder if Harold Arlen knew this track.

Eddie’s Hot Shots: Leonard Davis (tp) Jack Teagarden (tb,vcl) Mezz Mezzrow (c-mel) Happy Caldwell (ts) Joe Sullivan (p) Eddie Condon (bj) George Stafford (d) New York, February 8, 1929

•  I’m Gonna Stomp Mr. Henry Lee (jt vcl)- Vic V38046, Family (It)DP697, VJM (E)VLP55

•  I’m gonna stomp Mr. Henry Lee (jt vcl)- BB B10168, RCA LPV528;

•  That’s a Serious Thing (jt vcl)- BB B10168, Cam CAL383, RCA LPV528;

•  That’s a Serious Thing (jt vcl)- Vic V38046, “X” LX3005, HMV (E)B4987, (Aus)EA2970

On this video we get to hear both takes.

All entries are from my book “As Long as They Can Blow. Interracial Jazz Recording and Other Jive Before 1935.”

St. Paddy's Jazz Show

Many Irish-Americans have been great jazz players. A partial list would include: Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey, Bunny Berigan, Larry Binyon, Dick McDonough, Chauncy Morehouse. Spike Hughes. Bill Harty. Jimmy McPartland. Muggsy Spanier. Eddie Condon. Joe Sullivan. Lou McGarity. Corky Corcoran. Joe Mooney. Zoot Sims. Anita O'Day. Gerry Mulligan, Dave McKenna, Jim Lanigan, Sam Donahue, Harry James, Brian Lynch, Kenny Davern, Snoozer Quinn, Joe "Red" Kelly, "Peck" Morrison, Joe Sullivan, Turk Murphy. Buzzy Drootin , Ed Shaughnessy...

The DuPlex Mystery Jazz Hour of 3.17.16 featured some of these folks.

LISTEN HERE

Red Nichols "Rose of Washington Square" from "Basin St Blues" 1929 on Fabulous

Husk O'Hare and His Footwarmers "My Daddy Rocks Me" from "The Austin High Gang" 1928 on MCA

Red Nichols 'n His Five Pennies "I'm Just WIld About Harry" from "Basin St Blues" 1930)

McKenzie and Condon's Boys "Jazz Me Blues" from "The Austin High Gang" 1928 on MCA

The Charleston Chasers "Beale St Blues" from "Basin St Blues" 1931

Eddie Condon's Friends "Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gave to Me" from "Condon's World of Jazz" 954 on CBS

The All Star Band "The Blues" from "Basin St Blues" 939 on Fabulous

Dorsey Brothers Orch. "Dr. Heckle and Mr. Jibe" from "Condon's World of Jazz" 1933) on Brunswick

Chris Connor "Everything I Love" from "Chris Connor" (Jazz, 1957) on Bethlehem

LP Billy Taylor "So In Love" from "Billy Taylor Introduces IRA Sullivan" 1956) on ABC-Paramount

Chris Connor "All About Ronnie" from "Chris Connor" 1957 on Bethlehem

Bobby Hackett "Swing That Music" from "Live at the Roosevelt Grill" 1969 Phontastic

Bob Haggart & Buzzy Drootin "Big Noise From Winnetka" from "Newport Jazz Fest" 1964

Gene Krupa w. Anita O'day "Let Me Off Uptown" from "Drummer Man"  1956 on Verve

Benny Goodman w. Harry James "Peckin'" from "Great Jazz Brass" 1937  on RCA Camden

Brian Lynch "Tribute To Blue (Mitchell)" from "Tribute to Trumpet Masters" (Jazz, 2005) on Sharp Nine Records

Tunes From Swing Street

Playing pre-war music from some of the denizens of 52nd St. on the Duplex Mystery Jazz Hour WZBC with Steve Provizer 08/27/2015.

LISTEN HERE.

 Eddie Condon and His Orchestra "The Eel" 1933 on Brunswick 

 Eddie Condon and His Orchestra "Home Cooking"  1933) on Brunswick 

 Eddie Condon and His Orchestra "Tennessee Twilight" 1933 on Columbia 

 Eddie Condon and His Orchestra "Madame Dynamite" 1933) on Columbia 

 Frank Froeba & His Swing Band "The music goes round and round" 1935 on Columbia 

 Louis Prima & His New Orleans Gang "Let's Have a Jubilee" 1934)on Brunswick 

 Louis Prima & His New Orleans Gang "House Rent Party Day" 1934 on Brunswick 

 Stuff Smith And His Onyx Club Boys "Old joe's hittin' the jug" 1936 on Vocalion 

 Stuff Smith And His Onyx Club Boys "Your'e a Viper"  1936 on Vocalion 

 Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings "What's the reason I'm Not Pleasin You" 1935 on Vocalion 

 Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings "You've Been Taking Lessons in Love" 1935 on Vocalion 

 Wingy Manone & His Orchestra "Isle of Capri" 1935 on Vocalion 

 Wingy Manone & His Orchestra "Nickel in the Slot" 1935 on Okeh 

 Henry Allen And His Orchestra "Every Minute of the Hour" 1936 on Vocalion 

 Henry Allen And His Orchestra "Lost" 1936 on Vocalion 

 Frank Newton & His Uptown Serenaders "You showed me the way 1937 on Variety 

 Frank Newton & His Uptown Serenaders "The Onyx Hop" 1937 on Variety 

 The Three Peppers "Swing Out, Uncle Wilson" 1937 on Variety 

 The Three Peppers "The Duck's Yas Yas Yas" 1937 on Variety 

 Joe Marsala & His Chicagoans "Jazz Me Blues" 1937)on Variety 

 Fats Waller and his Hot Piano "I'm Crazy About My Baby"1931 on Columbia 

 Art Tatum "Tea for Two" 1933 on Brunswick 

 Art Tatum "Sophisticated Lady" 933 on Brunswick 

 Teddy Wilson "Rosetta" 1935 on Brunswick 

 Teddy Wilson Between the devil and the deep blue sea" 1937 on Brunswick 

 Clarence Profit Trio "Don't Leave Me" 1939) on Previously Unissued 

 Maxine Sullivan and Her Orchestra "loch lomond" 1937 on Vocalion 

 Bunny Berigan and His Boys "A Little Bit Later On" 1936 on Vocalion 

 John Kirby and His Orchestra "Can't We Be Friends ?" 1940 on Columbia 

 John Kirby and His Orchestra "Coquette"1940)on Columbia 

 Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra "I Hear Music" 1940 on Okeh 

 Charlie Barnet & His Orchestra "Overheard in a Cocktail Lounge" 1937 on Variety 

 Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra "Practice Makes Perfect" 1940 on Okeh 

 Mildred Bailey and Her Orchestra "More Than You Know" 1936 on Vocalion 

Listening to Commodore Records

Commodore Records, which grew out of the Commodore Record Shop in Manhattan, was the brainchild of Milt Gabler. Gabler was the first to re-issue old jazz records, the first to list all personnel on records and the first to do mail order for jazz records. As you can see by the playlist, Gabler used a stable of great players in the mainstream/traditional/swing vein. The label recorded Billie Holliday singing "Strange Fruit" when her producer at Columbia Records, John Hammond, would not. 

This edition of the Duplex Mystery Jazz Hour with Steve Provizer ran on WZBC.ORG on 06/12/2014. Audio is available at http://wzbc.org/#archive; Thursday, 5-7 PM.

Playlist:

Eddie Condon "Carnegie Jump" (Jazz, 1938) 

Eddie Condon "Jada" (Jazz, 1938) 

Chu Berry "Sittin' In" (Jazz, 1938) 

Chu Berry "Forty Six West Fifty Two"  (Jazz, 1938) 

Wild Bill Davison "That's a Plenty" (Jazz, 1943) 

George Brunis "Tin Roof Blues"  (Jazz, 1943)

Jelly-Roll Morton "Panama" (Jazz, 1940) 

Eddie Edwards & His Original Dixieland Jazz Band "Tiger Rag" (Jazz, 1946)

Billie Holliday "Strange Fuit"  (Jazz, 1939)  

Johnny Wiggs & His New Orleans "Zulu's Parade" (Jazz, 1950) 

Muggsy Spanier And His Ragtimers (Jazz, 1944)

Coleman Hawkins "Boff Boff (Mop Mop)" (Jazz, 1943) 

Wild Bill Davison "At the Jazz Band Ball"  (Jazz, 1943)

Sidney Bechet and His Feetwamers "Jelly Roll Blues" (Jazz, 1950) 

Max Kaminsky & His Jazz Band "Eccentric" (Jazz, 1944) 

Eddie Edwards & His Original Dixieland Jazz Band "Shake It And Break It" (Jazz, 1946)

Eddie Condon "Ballin the Jack" (Jazz, 1939) 

Eddie Condon "Basin Sreet Blues" (Jazz, 1943) 

Eddie Edwards & His Band "Skeleton Jangle" (jazz, 1944)

Bobby Hackett and His Orchestra "At Sundown" (Jazz, 1944) 

Eddie Edwards & His Original Dixieland Jazz Band "Lazy Daddy" (Jazz, 1946) 

Wild Bill Davidson "I'm Coming Virginia" (Jazz, 1946) 

DeParis Brothers Orchestra "I've Found a New Baby" (Jazz, 1944) 

Muggsy Spanier and His Ragtime Band "Rosetta" (Jazz, 1944) 

Eddie Condon and His Windy City Seven "Meet Me Tonight In Dreamland" (Jazz, 1938) 

Wild Bill Davison And His Commodores "Baby, Won't You Please come Home" (Jazz, 1943)

Eddie Condon And His Band "Georgia Grind" (Jazz, 1940)

Jack Teagarden and his Swingin Gates "Chinatown. My Chinatown" (Jazz, 1944) 

Wild Bill Davison And His Commodores "Riverboat Shuffle" (Jazz, 1943) 

George Wettling & His Rhythm Kings "How Come You Do Me Like You Do Me" (Jazz, 1944)