Bix Beiderbecke Archives - Paul – and some of that Jazz

From the Record Shelves #358 – Pink Elephants – The title “primarily refers to a euphemism for visual hallucinations, often associated with Delirium Tremens, a severe alcohol withdrawal symptom.” The musicians involved in this session may have sent thoughts to their newly deceased friend (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Record Shelves #356- Sweet Sue – It’s like I’ve always loved this tune by Victor Young. At least since I heard it for the first time in my teens in this version by Paul Whiteman’s big orchestra. Others that have heard other, more jazz-oriented versions first may just be waiting for the fabulous (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Studio #91 – I’m Wondering Who – This tune would probably be forgotten if it hadn’t been recorded by “The New Yorkers”. And they would in turn probably also be forgotten, if they hadn’t been consisting of the top white jazzmen including Bix Beiderbecke and Frankie Trumbauer under (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Record Shelves #321 – I’m Coming Virginia – Johnny Hyman, better known as Johnny Wiggs (1899–1977), started to play cornet at an early age and became professional playing in different bands in his hometown New Orleans after 1925. He chose, however to become a teacher of other things (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Record Shelves #318 – Dardanella – Coinciding with WW1, let’s say between 1915 and 1920, oriental types of songs were popular, and this is one of them, published by Fred Fisher in 1919. He also wrote the lyrics, but they are seldom used. When Paul Whiteman took it up about ten years later, he assigned it (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Record Shelves #310 – Little Did I Know – Under the leadership of saxophone player Glenn Gray and with the aid of good management, the Casa Loma Orchestra had success in the 30’s. Here, around the turn of the decade from the 20s, they appear as a mixture of a dance band and (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Record Shelves #284 – Riverboat Shuffle – As always when he is present, Bix Beiderbecke, with his cornet, is the protagonist here. There are several facets of his genius, and here on this session with Frankie Trumbauer’s Orchestra in 1927 (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Record Shelves #274 – Davenport Blues – When Adrian Rollini got a contract for a session with the newly started Decca Company in October 1934, he had help from his brother Art, the tenor saxophone player, to get together a really good line-up, including (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Record Shelves #231 – Flashes – As you can expect, there is a display of Bunny Berigan’s virtuosity and talent here, a lot of “take it, Bunny!” where he shows off his skills and power. Impressive as it is, I still prefer the reading of a handful of arrangements (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Record Shelves #216 – ’Taint So, Honey, ’Taint So – It was raining like mad, but I was out on my bike. I had a very important business to take care of, which was buying a record. When I came to Leif Anderson he opened the door wearing his bathrobe. Leif was (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Record Shelves #212 – Sunday – The Vintage series made compilations of tunes from special years on some albums. I bought them as they came out in chronological reverse order, starting in 1928 and finish with 1926 which is the album that (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Record Shelves #202 – Rose of Washington Square – Milt Gabler had a record shop since 1926 in Manhattan, across the street from the Commodore Hotel. In the thirties, he sold mostly reissues of the jazz classics from the 1920s, and one day he said to (…) read more and listenread more and listen