Top 50 Jazz Blog

Top 50 Jazz Blog

Thursday, October 9, 2025

Interracial Jazz Recording (#48) Wilson, Holiday and Barbour

This Teddy Wilson-Billie Holiday session features white musicians Tom Mace on clarinet and Dave Barbour on guitar. Dave Barbour shows up on a lot of 1930's sessions then joins Benny Goodman's band in 1942, where he meets and marries singer Peggy Lee. The tunes they wrote together include "It's A Good Day" and “I Don’t Know Enough About You.” Tom Mace recorded often on sax, clarinet and, occasionally on oboe. 

Dave Barbour

Billie Holiday

Tom Mace


"Spreadin’ Rhythm Around" is the most interesting song from this set. The lyrics reference swing, but the song is a little bit retro, as the rhythm section is more a 2/4 than a 4/4 swing feeling. Barbour kicks on the intro and Mace, Clarke and the inimitable Hodges have nice solos. Lady, as always, does the job




Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra: Richard Clarke, t / Tom Mace, cl / Johnny Hodges, as/ Teddy Wilson, p / Dave Barbour, g / Grachan Moncur, sb / Billie Holiday, v. New York, December 3, 1935.

  • These ‘N’ That ‘N’ Those– vBH0- Br 7577, 02118, A-500627;
  • Sugar Plum- Br 7577, A-81076, A-500627, Voc S-23, Lucky 60124;
  • You Let Me Down– vBH- Br 7581, A-500628, Dec J-2;
  • Spreadin’ Rhythm Around – vBH: Br 7581, 02141, A-500628