Interracial Jazz Recording (#33) Putney Dandridge & Nappy Lamare

Putney Dandridge

                             

Putney Dandridge was a piano player, vocalist and showman, in the style of Cab Calloway.  You can  see him in Harlem is Heaven, as accompanist to Bill Bojangles Robinson. Dandridge gigged on 52nd St. and other venues around town and faded from the scene in the late 1940's, possibly because of ill health. 

Nappy Lamare

Dandridge did some recordings in 1935-36 with a bunch of jazz all-stars. This particular session had two white performers, guitarist Nappy Lamare and bass player Artie Bernstein. Lamare doesn't get much attention, but he was a strong player, who could improvise well. Bernstein is always solid.

Roy Eldridge starts off "Nagasaki" with a "Yankee Doodle" intro (statement on colonialism?) and Dandridge enters with his "jivey" approach to the tune, which around that time was being covered by just about everybody. Harry Grey and Dandridge are both credited as pianists, and I think Grey can be heard while Dandridge does his scat chorus later in the song. Eldridge gets a brief sparkling solo.

Putney Dandridge: Roy Eldridge, t / Chu Berry, ts (where shown) / Putney Dandridge, p (where shown), v / Harry Grey, p (where shown) / Nappy Lamare, g / Artie Bernstein, sb / Bill Beason, d. New York, June 25, 1935.

• Nagasaki- pPD-HG- Voc 3024, Br A-81009, A-86038;
• Chasing Shadows- tsCB / pHG- Voc 2982, Br A-86033;
• When I Grow Too Old To Dream- tsCB / pPD- Voc 2982, S-34, Br A-86033

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

Interracial Jazz Recording (#32): Seger Ellis, the Dorseys and Louis Armstrong

Seger Ellis

Seger Ellis had an interesting career. He was a piano player and good enough to be recorded as a soloist. He performed on radio and in vaudeville and was encouraged to sing. Although his tenor voice doesn't exactly swing, you can't say he was rhyhmically stiff or stilted. 

When he recorded for Okeh records, Ellis apparently got to choose the small studio groups he played with and looking at the lineup here, he obviously made good choices.                                                              

Satch

Nice clarinet intro by Jimmy Dorsey. The ensemble is active behind Ellis' vocal. Armstrong's solo is an actual improvisation, while Tommy Dorsey's take on the bridge is more of a paraphrase of the melody. Session man Harry Hoffman's ad libbing on violin is actually quite good.

At this point, there wasn't anyone who was called a "jazz singer," per se. Armstrong, Teagarden, Crosby, Ethel Waters and a passel of female blues/vaudeville singers were in the process of creating it. Ellis made his own small contribution to the process.

Seger Ellis (vcl) acc by Louis Armstrong (tp) Tommy Dorsey (tb) Jimmy Dorsey (cl) Harry Hoffman (vln) Justin Ring (p,celeste) Stan King (d) New York, June 4, 1929.

• S’posin’- OKeh 41255, Ariel 4459, Jazum 13, CBS 65251
• To be in love (espesh’lly with you)- Ariel 4460

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

Interracial Jazz Recording (#31) Fats Waller and Gene Austin

Fats Waller, as I've noted, was a key player in early interracial sessions. On this recording, he's teamed up with a pop singing star of the era Gene Austin, who hit it very big with "My Blue Heaven." Austin sings in a light tenor, with good intonation. Although jazz ears might not love it, I find it pleasant enough. Waller sounds great in any context and excellent guitarist Carl Kress also gets a few moments in the sun. 

                  

"I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling," which became a standard, was co-written by Waller and Harry Link (whose his other big song was "These Foolish Things,") with lyrics by Billy Rose. "Maybe, Who Knows?" is by Johnny Tucker, Joe Schuster and lyrics by singer Ruth Etting.

Gene Austin (vcl) acc by orchestra: Leonard Joy (cond), Mike Mosiello (tp), Andy Sannella (cl,as), Yascha Zayde, Lou Raderman, Murray Kellner (vln), Abe Borodkin (cello), Fats Waller (p), Carl Kress (g), Dick Cherwin (b) William Dorn (d) or Joe Green (d) New York, June 26, 1929.

• I’ve got a feeling I’m falling (*)- RCA Vic VPM6056;
• I’ve got a feeling I’m falling (*)- Vic 22033, Classics (F)689 [CD];
• Maybe - who knows ?- Vic 22033, HMV B-3117, EA-593;
• Note: One take of (*) also on ASV Living Era (E)5217 73[CD], Take Two 414 [CD]. All titles from Vic 22033 also on JSP (E)CD952 [CD] titled “Fats Waller - The Complete Recorded Works, volume 6”; rest of 5CD set by Fats Waller and other leaders.

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

Interracial Jazz Recording (#30) Bill Bojangles Robinson w. The Dorsey Bros. and Co.

Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, dancer of reknown, appears on several early 1930's records with Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington and Don Redman. Here he sings, scats and tap dances with a group of all-star white musicians. No solos, per se, but they all trade phrases and there's a fierce accelerando, leading to a lazy coda

Bill Robinson

Tommy Dorsey

There were other tap dancing jazz records, although the most well known is probably the set recorded by Fred Astaire (also a good piano player) in 1952 with Oscar Peterson.

Bill “Bojangles” Robinson (vcl,tap dancer) acc by Manny Klein (tp) Tommy Dorsey (tb,ldr) Jimmy Dorsey (cl) Arthur Schutt (b) Eddie Lang (g) Joe Tarto (tu) Stan King (d) New York, May 27, 1931.

• Just a crazy song (bbr,band vcl)- Br 6134, MCA (Jap)VIM-4634/35, 3519/20, MCA 3520, Br 7705;
• Keep a song in your soul (br vcl)- Br 6134, 7705, Columbia 30183, Rivermont BSW1165 [CD]

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

Interracial Jazz-Jugband-Blues Recording (#29). Jimmie Rodgers w. Louisville Jug Band

Jimmie Rodgers, called "The Singing Brakeman" and "America's Blue Yodeler" was one of the seminal early country musician-composers. He was known to have truck with black musicians, most famously on "Blue Yodel #9" with Louis Armstrong and Lil Hardin Armstrong (I'll post it in the future).

 Earl McDonald on jug, Henry Miles on fiddle in outfits for their sponsors on WHAS-AM,
the Ballard Flour Company

Jimmie Rodgers

Here Rodgers appears with the Louisville Jug Band. Earl McDonald and Clifford Hayes were the leaders of the group, who, with some changes in personnel, were later called the Ballard Chefs and the Dixieland Jug Band.

Clearly, this is not jazz. It's jugband-blues, but you have some improv by George Allen on clarinet, Clifford Hayes on violin and Freddy Smith on guitar-not to mention some staunch jug blowing.

Jimmie Rodgers with Louisville Jug Band: Jimmie Rodgers (vcl) George Allen (cl) Clifford Hayes (vln) Cal Smith (bj) Freddy Smith (g) Earl McDonald (jug) Louisville, Kentucky, June 16, 1931.

• My Good Gal’s Gone Blues: BB B-5942, MW M-5014

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

This is a pretty well-known session, which features a bunch of jazz musicians at the top of the heap. Bubber Miley is the black representative. He solos on "Rockin' Chair" and, as noted by Prof. Chalfen, probably does not play on "Barnicle Bill"- just Bix. 

Bix

Bubber

On "Rockin Chair," vocals are Hoagy and Irving Brodsky. Bubber, growling, and Bix both solo, with good work by Venuti and Lang.

There are three vocalists on Barnicle Bill: Hoagy takes the female part, Carson Robison the male, and at the very end, master practical joker Joe Venudi. Listen closely, as Venuti does not say "Barnicle Bill the Sailor," but Barnicle Bill the ______.

Hoagy Carmichael, v, dir: Bix Beiderbecke, c / Bubber Miley, t/ Tommy Dorsey, tb / Benny Goodman, cl / as / Bud Freeman, ts/ Joe Venuti, vn, v / Irving Brodsky, p, v / Eddie Lang, g / Harry Goodman, bb / Gene Krupa, d / Carson Robison, v. New York, May 21, 1930.

• Rockin’ chair (hc,ib vcl)- Vic 25494, V38139, LSA3180, Phontastic (Swd)NOST7618;
• Barnacle Bill the sailor (hc,cr,jv vcl)- Vic V38139, LPM2329, LEJ-2, Camden CAL383, Stash ST116

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

Interracial Jazz Recording (#27) Benny Goodman and Teddy Wilson

The best known example of an early integrated group in jazz was that of Benny Goodman, with Teddy Wilson and then Lionel Hampton. It's a complicated story and it wouldn't have happened without John Hammond and Helen Oakley-one of the pioneer woman producers in jazz. The first step was a 1935 concert in Chicago at the Congress Hotel. As these 1934 recordings show, Goodman and Wilson were recording together prior to that event. 

               

                                                 

"As Long as I Live" is a Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler tune, written for a Cotton Club review and introduced by Avon Long and Lena Horne. It features an intro and solo by Wilson and vocals and solos by Jack Teagarden. The band that Goodman eventually hit it big with was much larger than this 9-man unit.

Benny Goodman and His Orchestra: Benny Goodman, cl, dir: Charlie Teagarden, George Thow, t / Jack Teagarden, tb, v / Hank Ross, ts / Teddy Wilson, p / Benny Martel, g / Artie Bernstein or Harry Goodman, sb / Ray McKinley, d. New York, May 14, 1934.

• I Ain’t Lazy - I’m Just Dreamin’– vJT- Par R-2695, Od A-272264;
• As Long As I Live– vJT- Col 2923-D, Par R-2695, Od A-272264;
• Moon Glow- Col 2927-D, 35839, CB-786, FB-2826;
• Breakfast Ball- Col 2927-D, DB / MC-5005, CQ-3416, DW-4361

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

Interracial Jazz Recording (#26) The Dodds Brothers and Frank Melrose

The Dodds brothers-Johnny on clarinet and drummer Warren (Baby) were two of the most influential players in early jazz. Their careers include important collaborations with King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton and Sidney Bechet.        

Johnny Dodds

Baby Dodds

They did a few recordings with the white piano player Frank Melrose, brother of Walter and Lester, big time Chicago agents and publishers. Melrose was a kind of protege of Jelly Roll Morton, whose playing style he emulated. He had a sporadic music career, supplementing his income working a factory job.
             

    Frank Melrose

This is one of the first recordings of Junie Cobb's sprightly tune "Piggly Wiggly." The Dodds show their mastery. Herb Morand is a good player and Melrose holds his own. It's amazing how much Baby Dodds manages to swing the band with just a snare drum.

Beale Street Washboard Band: Herb Morand (cnt) Johnny Dodds (cl) Kansas City Frank Melrose (p) Baby Dodds (d,wbd) Chicago, July 24, 1929.

• Forty And Tight- Voc 1403, V-1016, Ban 32388, Br 80076, Cq 7980, Or 8120;
• Forty And Tight- Ristic Special;
• Piggly Wiggly- Voc 1403, Ban 32388, Cq 7980, Or 8120, Per 196, Ro 5120;
• Piggly Wiggly- Br 80076, Voc V-1016, Dec MB-22050

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

Interracial ??? Jazz Recording (#25) Goldkette or McKinney?

This is one of those recording sessions whose history is somewhat confusing. The question here is, which of two powerhouse Detroit bands played the session: Jean Goldkette's Orchestra (white) or McKinney's Cotton Pickers (black)? Let's look at it more closely.

Harold Stokes

Don Redman

It's accepted that black arranger/saxophonist Don Redman was the arranger. In an interview with Charles Delaunay in 1946, Redman said that "Birmingham Bertha" was played by the full McKinney’s Cotton Pickers. According to him, it was the Goldkette orchestra which should have recorded these titles, for which he had written the arrangements. But on their way from Detroit to Chicago, the Goldkette band bus broke down and the orchestra couldn’t make it to the Victor studio for the first part of the session. Since Redman and the Cotton Pickers were in Chicago (and familiar with the tunes), Redman says they replaced the Goldkette band. 

However, the Victor recording sheet for this session lists Jean Goldkette’s orchestra and not McKinney’s Cotton Pickers. The 3 saxes and 2 trombones match typical Goldkette recording bands of the time. There are also two strings listed and the Cotton Pickers had none.

In any case, one member of the Goldkette band was surely present: Harold Stokes. Stokes was a pianist and accordionist who had led the Goldkette Band. He was not on the Goldkette bus, had travelled to Chicago in his own car and could therefore participate. His hot accordion playing on the recording is unmistakeable. If what Redman says is correct, the presence of the white Stokes would make it an interracial session.

It's a measure of the parity of these great bands that there can be disagreement on who is performing. You'll see from the info below, that Rust says it was McKinney’s Cotton Pickers.

McKinney’s Cotton Pickers: John Nesbitt, Langston Curl (tp) Claude Jones (tb) + other (tb) Don Redman (as,arr) George Thomas (ts) 2 vln, Harold Stokes (accor), Todd Rhodes (p) Dave Wilborn (bj) Ralph Escudero (tu) Cuba Austin (d) Kay Palmer (vcl) Jean Goldkette (dir) Chicago, July 27, 1929.

• I’m refer’n’ just her ‘n’ me (unissued).
• Birmingham Bertha (kp vcl)- Vic 22077, RCA (F)741088, PM42407, GAPS 080, Timeless (Du)CBC1-084; Note: According to Don Redman (reported in the Timeless liner notes) the above was recorded by McKinney’s Cotton Pickers because the Goldkette orchestra was unable to make it to Chicago for the date.

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

Interracial Jazz Session (#24) Ethel Waters and Sammy Fain

Ethel Waters was one of the great early blues-vaudeville-jazz singers. She did a number of interracial recordings from the late 1920's to the mid-1930's, often with the Dorseys and went on to great success in Broadway, films and television. 

         

Waters is accompanied on the first track of this session by Sammy Fain on piano. Fain was a self-taught musician, who was working as a stockboy for Mills Publishing when his talent was noted. He had a long career as a composer, writing many well known songs for stage and screen, including  "Let a Smile Be Your Umbrella," "You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me," "I'll Be Seeing You" and "That Old Feeling." 

Fain has a good feeling for accompanying in the blues-vaudeville-jazz style and Waters is a knockout.

Ethel Waters (vcl) acc by Sammy Fain (p-1) Maceo Pinkard (p-2) Nathaniel Reed (p-3) New York, February 20, 1926.

• If you can’t hold the man you love (1)- Col 14134-D;
• Satisfyin’ papa (3)- Col 14199-D, Wolf (Au)WJS-1009;
• Sugar (2)- Col 14146-D, KG31571;
• I wonder what’s become of Joe ? (2)- Col 14134-D;
• You’ll want me back (3)- Col 14146-D;
• Note: All above titles also on Classics (F)672 [CD].

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

Interracial Jazz Session (#23) Waller, Williams, Justin Ring

Call it jugband jazz. We have the prolific pianist, composer, singer, producer Clarence Williams and Clarence Todd, a vocalist who also played ukulele, piano, and on these recordings, kazoo. Then, we have Fats Waller, just a couple of years after his first recordings.

Justin Ring and Fred Hagar

  

Clarence Williams

                                          

The last performer is Justin Ring-not a well-known name. Ring was associated with hundreds of recordings, from around 1900, mostly as an arranger, also as a pianist and "percussionist." Here, he plays woodblock.

Waller always works, of course, and there are also some nice solos and polyphonic kazoos.

Jamaica Jazzers: Clarence Williams, Clarence Todd (kazoo) Fats Waller (p) Justin Ring (perc) New York, c. May 10, 1924.

• You don’t know my mind blues- OKeh 40117, Classics (F)664 [CD];
• West Indies blues- OK 40117, Od 03196;
• Note: Classics 664 [CD] titled “Fats Waller 1922-1926”; rest of this CD by Waller and others, Both above titles also on JSP (E)CD927 [CD] titled “Fats Waller - The Complete Recorded Works, volume 1”

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

Interracial Jazz Session (#22) Red Norvo and Teddy Wilson

Today, March 31 (1908), is Red Norvo's birthday-an appropriate time to post a session Norvo led that featured pianist Teddy Wilson. Wilson, a widely influential swing pianist, was in the forefront of the desegregation of live jazz.  In 1935, a year after these recordings, he became a member of Benny Goodman's trio with Gene Krupa and then Goodman's quartet when Lionel Hampton was added.

Starting in vaudeville and radio in the 1920's, Norvo was a preeminent marimba and xylophone player who switched to vibes in the 1940's. He had a long career as a leader and sideman, often recording with his wife, singer Mildred Bailey. He was an adventurous player who searched for new sounds throughout his long career, including an interesting early 1950's stint with Charles Mingus.

Trombonist  Jack Jenney was a solid swinger, although more well known for his tone on ballads. It's also interesting to hear Charlie Barnet and Artie Shaw before they became big timers.

These are the group's two sessions:

Red Norvo and his Swing Septet: Jack Jenney, tb / Artie Shaw, cl / Charlie Barnet, ts / Teddy Wilson, p /Bobby Johnson, g / Hank Wayland, sb / Billy Gussak, d / Red Norvo, x. New York, September 26, 1934.

• Old Fashioned Love- Col 3059-D, 35688, DB-5012, MC-5012;
• I Surrender, Dear- Col 2977-D, 35688, DB-5012, MC-5012

Red Norvo and his Swing Septet: Jack Jenney, tb / Artie Shaw, cl / Charlie Barnet, ts / Teddy Wilson, p /Bobby Johnson, g / Hank Wayland, sb / Billy Gussak, d / Red Norvo, x New York, October 4, 1934.

• A Tomboy- Col 2977-D, MC-3031, Par R-2110;
• The Night Is Blue- Col 3026-D, Par R-2088

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

Interracial Jazz Recording (#21) Bessie Smith & Eddie Lang

Bessie Smith earned her title as Empress of the Blues. She managed to be both powerful and able to express a wide range of emotion. Clarence Williams was a whirlwind-pianist, songwriter, producer, promoter, singer and publisher. As noted on previous posts, white guitarist Eddie Lang shows up on many mixed sessions. 

Suggestive doesn't really cover the "blue-ness" of the lyrics in all these tunes. 

Bessie Smith (vcl) acc by Clarence Williams (p) Eddie Lang (g) New York, May 8, 1929.

• I’m wild about that thing- Col 14427-D, CG30126, Swag (Aus)JCS3374, CBS(G)LSP14100, Jass 5;
• You’ve got to give me some- Col 14427-D, CG30126, Swag (Aus)JCS3374, BBC (E)602;
• Kitchen man- Col 14435-D, CG30126, Bilt 1040, HJCA 613, Murray Hill P315996;
• Note: Mx 148486 misprinted on some labels as “You’e got to give me some”
• All above titles also on Roots (Eu) RTS43015 [Cass], Columbia C2K-52838 [CD]

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

Interracial Jazz Tune (#20) Lang, Johnson, Dorsey (not Oliver) & Carmichael

Blind Willie Dunn was a pseudonym used by guitarist Eddie Lang when he played in black sessions, including the sessions he did with his pal, guitarist Lonnie Johnson. Johnson is the only non-white player on the 5 sessions done by this group in spring, 1929 and is probably the soloist you hear, as he was more deft at single-string playing than Lang.

Lang and Johnson

King Oliver is listed on the label but Tommy Dorsey, known of course as a trombonist, is actually the trumpet player and he sounds excellent. Hoagy Carmichael is the pianist, does some light scatting and probably slipped in the little bit of the xylophone we hear in "Jet Black Blues" and the wood blocks in "Blue Blood Blues." 

I'll go crazy and post both. What the hell.  

Blind Willie Dunn’s Gin Bottle Four: Tommy Dorsey (tp) Eddie Lang, Lonnie Johnson (g)  Hoagy Carmichael p,vcl, percussion New York, May 1, 1929.

• Jet black blues- OKeh 8689, Swag (Aus)33717, Par (E)PMC7106, Col C2L24;
• Blue blood blues- OKeh 8689, Swag (Aus)33717, Par (E)PMC7106, CBS (F)63610

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

Interracial Jazz Tune (#19) Jelly Roll Morton w. Boyd Senter

Jelly Roll Morton claimed to be the creator of jazz-a slight exaggeration-but he was definitely a foundational figure. He was a superb pianist, composer, arranger and raconteur; not to mention O.G. If you don't know about Morton, I encourage you to explore his music.

            
Morton doesn't solo in "Mr. Jelly Lord," apart from the intro,  although he is prominent in the background. The session includes Jack Russell, usually a pianist, on kazoo, someone called Memphis on comb (and tissue paper) and Boyd Senter on clarinet. Senter knew how to play jazz, albeit with a "stovepipe" quality (a la Ted Lewis). His "Senterpedes" were popular during the 20's and he employed many good jazz musicians, including the Dorseys, Lang, Venuti.

The use of kazoo and comb were pretty widepread in the era and although they seem quaint, I prefer to think of them as providing an expanded sonic palette. 

Jelly Roll Morton’s Steamboat Four: "Memphis" (comb), Jack Russell (kazoo), Boyd Senter (cl) Jelly Roll Morton (p) Chicago, IL, prob. April 1924.

• Mr. Jelly Roll [Mr. Jelly Lord]- Carn 11397, Riv RLP12-128, Byg (It)33, Milestone M47018, Rhapsody (E)RHA6021.

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

Interracial Recording (#18) Billy Banks and Company

Billy Banks

Billy Banks is a singular character. He sang and entertained as a male and as a female impersonator, in jazz, cabaret and vaudeville settings. He was working in Cleveland when the ubiquitous Irving Mills, on a business trip to Cleveland, caught Banks' act and signed him to a contract. He brought him to New York to headline at Connie's Inn in Harlem. Mills hired guitarist-bandleader (and equally ubiquitous) Eddie Condon to put together a band for what turned out to be 4 recording sessions. 

Of course, as a mixed band, they could not perform publically. Billy Banks worked around New York for a short while, then went on tour in Europe, eventually settling in Tokyo, Japan.

The lyrics of this track, "Oh Peter," fairly reek with subtext.  It's a great performance and there's an excellent solo by Sullivan. Red and Pee Wee's playing, as always, is great. Eddie Condon and Jack Bland play lutes with plectrum necks made by the Vega Banjo Company. 

Billy Banks and his Orchestra (known on other sessions as The Rhythmakers): (Mixed Group) Henry Allen, t, v / Pee Wee Russell, cl, ts / Joe Sullivan, p / Eddie Condon, bj / Jack Bland, g / Al Morgan, sb / Zutty Singleton, d/Billy Banks, v. New York, April 18, 1932.

• Bugle Call Rag: Ban 32459, Or 2483, Per 15615, Ro 1856, UHCA 109, Br 01590;
• Oh Peter (You’re So Nice) – vHA: Col 35841;
• Margie– vBB: Ban 32462, Or 2487, Per 15620, Ro 1861, UHCA 110, Br 01561,
• A-500199;
• Spider Crawl– vBB: ARC unissued. NOTE: Columbia 35841 as The Rhythmakers

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

Interracial Recording (#17) Boswells, Bing and Redman

These are some of the heaviest hitters of the day. Bing, everyone knows. The Boswell Sisters were the premiere vocal group of the era. They only recorded between 1925-1936, but were very influential, appearing often on radio and in some films. Redman was an important arranger and reed player, who, after being with Fletcher Henderson, went on to lead his own band.

Boswell Sisters

Don Redman

                                   

This arrangement of "Lawd, You Made The Night Too Long," written by Sam M. Lewis (lyricist) Victor Young (composer), is quite the opus. In a minor key, there are several sections, with intros and segues. It's not the typical Redman arrangement and I could not find who the arranger is, although I speculate it could be composer Victor Young. Strangely, there are several discographies that have no entry for this recording. To add to the oddity, the song is over 5:00 long, which means it was recorded on a 12" disc, instead of the usual 10", probably because of the clout of Young, who was a powerhouse in radio and film, receiving 22 Oscar nominations.

Boswell Sisters and Bing Crosby w. Don Redman and His Orchestra: Don Redman, cl, as, dir: Langston Curl, Sidney de Paris, Shirley Clay, t / Claude Jones, Fred Robinson, Benny Morton, tb / Edward Inge, Rupert Cole, cl, as / Robert Carroll, ts / Horace Henderson, p, a / Talcott Reeves, bj / Bob Ysaguirre, bb / Manzie Johnson, d / The Boswell Sisters, v. /Bing Crosby, v. New York, April 13, 1932.

• Lawd, You Made The Night Too Long: Br 20109, 0107, A-5113, 20097 (Italian), Col SW-290 (Japanese)

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