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.”