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| Red Allen |
I have nothing listed in my recording chronology until Feb. 2, so today I'm going back a few days to January 23, 1934- Henry Allen with Pee Wee Erwin.
Red Allen, a fine cornettist from New Orleans, was initially a Louis Armstrong acolyte, but he staked out new territory. His improvisations were more unpredictable and quirky and have even been characterized as avant garde. He was also an excellent vocalist.
Pee Wee Erwin was a powerful trumpeter who made his mark primarily as a lead player. He came from Nebraska and played in territory bands before he moved to NYC and became an anchor in the big bands of Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey.
The band's rhythm section (minus Luis Russell) are drawn from from Red Allen's New Orleans cohort.
In "It's Written All Over Your Face," Red has a brief intro, Pee Wee follows with a sedate muted solo, then Red comes in with a fabulous improvisation.
Henry “Red” Allen, t, v / Pee Wee Erwin, t / George Washington, tb / Buster Bailey, cl / Luis Russell, p / Danny Barker, g / Pops Foster, sb / Paul Barbarin, d. New York, January 23, 1935.
• Believe It, Beloved– vHA- Ban 33337, Mt M-13304, 91940, Or 3087, Per 16071;
• Believe It, Beloved– vHA- Epic LN-3252 (LP);
• It’s Written All Over Your
Face:
Ban 33337, Mt M-13304,
91940,
Or 3087;
• It’s Written All Over Your Face: Mt 91940;
• Smooth Sailing– vHA- Ban 33355, Mt M-13322, Or 3097, Per 16080;
• Whose Honey Are You?– vHA- Ban 33355, Cq 8474, Mt M-13322, Or 3097, Per 16080, Ro 2471
All recordings drawn from my book As Long As They Can Blow. Interracial Jazz Recording and Other Jive Before 1935.
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