8 posts tagged “jass”
A band consisting of nothing but heavy-hitters, the Creole Jazz Band featured not only Mr. oliver, but Johnny Dodds, Baby Dodds, Lil Hardin, and a little-known student of Oliver's, some kid named Louis Armstrong. Heard of him?
Biz recorded this with saxophonist Frankie Trumbauer, his good friend and frequent collaborator on his side jazz projects (as opposed to his regular work with larger dance bands). Beiderbecke is yet another musician who died tragically young (28)... but hey, that's what happens when you drink Prohibition gin. Too bad, he played a sweet horn. In this song, for a change, Bix plays piano before switching to cornet (he played both instruments equally and amazingly well) on the last few bars.
Rarity from a territory dance band. Territory bands worked a specific area of the country, playing hot jazz on the club and dance hall circuit across one or more states. Mr. Brown and his band presumably worked along the East Coast.
Oh, and for those of you seeking further info (and sound samples!) of hot jazz bands of the 20s, check out this site.
Great band and great song title!
No, I didn't misspell jazz. Jass is an infrequent spelling from the early days that I kind of want to be revived.
Tiny Parham was an early jazz performer of great talent and, as usual, mysterious background. A piano player, the rather huge Parham (one account puts him at 600 pounds) came from Canada but grew up in Kansas City and later moved to Chicago. A talented giant (no pun intended) in early jazz who worked for Paramount records as a talent scout. Sadly, he ended his days playing at a roller rink in Chicago until he died in 1943.
"Slow River" by Bix Beiderbecke with some band whose name I can't remember. That's Bix on cornet. A really pretty and sweet song.
In a nod toward the New Orleans part of my trip, here's Mr. Jelly-Lord.
"Jelly Roll" means "vagina." It meant Jelly Roll Morton, whose real name was Ferdinand Joseph Lamothe, got a lot of tail. I'm telling you in case you were too afraid to ask your Dad.
