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Sunday, December 13, 2020

The Names Of Dixieland

 

Wild Bill Blues

The Names Of Dixieland
Baronet Records 108

From the back cover: 

Jack Teagardens Dixieland Band: Jack Teagarden, Trombone; Edmond Hall, Clarinet; Jimmy McPartland, Cornet; Dick Cary, Piano; Carl Kress, Guitar; Walter Page, Bass; Jo Jones, Drums.

One of the great men of all jazz is Jack Teagarden, the easy-going, mild-mannered trombone stylist, who first emerged on the jazz scene out of Oklahoma in the mid-twenties and who has been blowing his fabulously relaxed, rhythmic horn ever since. A veteran of several big bands, including his own and Paul Whiteman's he has also starred with numerous two-beat groups, including those of Red Nichols and Louis Armstrong, and has led several dixieland groups on record session of his own.

Here Teagarden is joined by one of the true New Orleans stalwarts, Edmond Hall, who was also associated with Armstrong for a number of year and whose playing reflects most accurately the rhythmically-aggressive, mellow-sounding New Orleans clarinet style.

Jimmy McPartland's Chicago Rompers: Jimmy McPartland, Cornet; Vic Dickerson, Trombone; Marian McPartland, Piano; Milt Hinton, Bass; Joe Morello, Drums

Jimmy McPartland is, of course, one of the pillars of the Chicago dixieland movement. During the twenties in the Windy City he played with Benny Goodman and Eddie Condon and Bix Beiderbecke, the legendary trumpeter, whose style Jimmy's so closely resembles. And he was the leader of the famed High-Gang, which included Dave Tough, Frank Teschemaker and Bud Freeman.

Freeman plays with Jimmy here, blowing his highly inventive tenor sax. Bud, like Jimmy, an easy-going man (he also dabble in Shakespeare) is the recognized leader of the tenor sax school from which the modern men, such as Lester Young and Stan Getz, eventually emerged, and his highly individualized solos have highlighted music blown by the big bands of Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey and Red Nichols, plus that of many famous dixieland groups.

Tony Parenti's Aces: Tony Parenti, Clarinet; Henry "Red" Allen, Trumpet; Tyree Glenn, Trombone; Hank Duncan, Piano; Milt Hinton, Bass; George Wettling, Drums

Two months and two days after, and less than two miles aways from the birth of Louis Armstrong, appeared a Parenti baby whose parents named Tony. Originally trained to play legitimate clarinet in a large orchestra, young Tony mastered and has ever since retained the pure, round, natural tone of his instrument, a sound, by the way, typical of the playing at many New Orleans clarinetists. But at the age of fourteen the jazz bug bit him and he went to work on the riverboats and in the New Orleans clubs. More than a dozen years later, after most of the other top jazz stars had left New Orleans, Tony went to New York where for twenty years he worked in studio and pit bands, seldom blowing much jazz. But then, after the war, he renewed his jazz career, playing at Condon's and Jimmy Ryan's and in all of Gothem's better-known two beat bistros.

Working in the same league with Tony has been Henry "Red" Allen, a huge man with a warm, expressive face and a trumpet sound to match. Allen, a true New Orleans veteran, played with the legendary Excelsior Band, with Fate Marable's riverboat outfit with King Oliver, Luis Russel, Fletcher Henderson and Louis Armstrong. Also a leader of his own well-known group in the early forties, Red has been one of jazzdom's major but least heralded trumpet influences, with the late Bunny Berigan the most famous of his disciples.

Forty-five year-old, Texas born Tyree Glenn is the youngest member of the Aces. A veteran of numerous swing bands, including Duke Ellinton's, Cab Callway's, Benny Carter's and Don Redman's his all-around mastery of the trombone permits him to blow almost any style, including the traditional tail-gate horn he plays on ensembles.

Paul Barbarin's New Orleans Stompers: Paul Barbarin, Drums; John Brunious, Trumpet; Bobby Thomas, Trombone; Willie Humphrey, Clarinet; Lester Santiago, Piano; Danny Barker, Banjo

Paul Barbarin is one of the real "originals". He began his career in the famed Storyville section of New Orleans, and played with such greats as Sidney Bechet, King Oliver and Mutt Carey. Later, in Chicago, he played with Louis Armstrong in Oliver's band, but after that returned to New Orleans to devote practically all of his time to leading his own group in the town he loves so  much.

Buck Clayton's Buckeroos: Buck Clayton, Trumpet; Big Chief Moore, Trombone; Red Richards, Piano; Pierre Michelot, Bass; Kansas Field, Drums.

Buck, an extraordinary handsome, polished, well poised man, first attracted national attention as a star of Count Basie's band, when that great crew burst into the jazz scene in the mid-thirties. His open and his muted solos (you can still sing through a mute!) continued to be one of the band's identifying and also most thrilling sounds until 1943 when Buck entered the Army.

Since his discharge, Clayton has concentrated more on small groups, most of which he, himself, has led. 

Sharing horn honors with Buck is Big Chief Russel Moore, a large trombonist who claims to be the only full-blooded Indian playing with name musicians. He has been featured with Armstrong's band and also with Sidney Bechet.

Will Bill Davison's Bulldozers: Will Bill Davison, Cornet; Eph Resnick, Trombone; Joe Barry, Clarinet; Dean Drewberry, Piano; Charlie Trager, Bass; Eddie Phyfe, Drums

Davison was a big mid-west favorite for many years before coming to New York in the early forties to take musical charge of various dixieland groups. For some time now he has been a starred performer at Eddie Condon's where his bitting cornet has led the way for many noted two-beaters. A rough-and-ready friendly human, his personality seems to epitomize the typical dixieland musician.

My Gal Sal - Jimmy McPartland's Chicago Rompers
Gettysburg March - Paul Barbarin's New Orleans Stompers
Wild Bill Blues - Wild Bill Davison's Dixieland Band
Original Dixieland One Step - Jack Teagarden's Dixieland Band
High Society - Jack Teagarden's Dixieland Band
Frankie And Johnny - Tony Parenti's Aces
Good Old Summertime - Tony Parenti's Aces
Lazy River - Buck Clayton's Buckeroos
Bill Bailer - Tony Parenti's Aces
Saints Go Marching In - Wild Bill Davison's Bulldozers
South - Wild Bill Davison's Bulldozers

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