Jazz Crazy Records

An Archive of Early Jazz on 78 RPM

Author: Professor M

  • “Rattlesnake Groan” – Luella Miller (1927) Early Blues f/ Lonnie Johnson on violin!

    “Rattlesnake Groan” – Luella Miller (1927) Early Blues f/ Lonnie Johnson on violin!

    It’s always a good day when a blues record from the Vocalion 1000 series comes into your collection. Though this copy has been well-loved and the levels are quite low on this recording, I think I was able to get a decent transfer.

    There is much mystery about Luella Miller – she first recorded for Vocalion in St. Louis in 1926, then did six sessions in 1927-28 resulting in the release of 24 songs over 12 records – and 11 unissued matrices. After August of 1928 it is not clear what happened to Miss Miller as no further recordings were made.

    On “Rattle Snake Groan”, her rustic performance, replete with moans and groans, is convincing. We also get the bonus of having Lonnie Johnson as an accompanist – on the violin! He plays guitar on the other side.

    Recorded in New York City on January 28, 1927.
    Released as Vocalion 1081.

    Credits:
    Luella Miller – vocals
    James Johnson – piano
    Lonnie Jonson – violin

    There’s a nice writeup on Luella Miller and this song at:
    https://www.goldminemag.com/articles/ponder-mysterious-disappearance-blues-singer-luella-miller

    Side B of this record, “Dreaming of You Blues”, can be heard at:
    https://youtu.be/oc6hg6g-hQ4

  • “Mujer Celosa” – Trio Matamoros (1928)

    “Mujer Celosa” – Trio Matamoros (1928)

    My interest in Congolese Rumba has had me seeking out records from His Master’s Voice G.V. series – which were quite influential in the development of African music in the 40s and 50s.

    The G.V. series was made up of Cuban and Latin American music made by Victor in the U.S. They started releasing records in 1933 and the series was marketed to audiences in Africa as “Hits from Cuban and South American Shores”.

    This early disc from Trio Matamoros features the son clave rhythm that underlies much Afro-Cuban music and prominent guitars. I was struck, in particular, by how the melodic guitar part that here begins at 0:32 and ends at 0:43 resembles one of my favorite guitar parts played by Papa Noel in Léon Bukasa’s “Monique Wa Baba” starting at the one minute mark. Could Papa Noel have been paying homage to the Trio Matamoros quoting the line from this record? It sure sounds like it!

    Recorded in Camden, New Jersey on May 29, 1928.
    Released as His Master’s Voice G.V. 8.
    Originally released as Victor 81614.

    Credits:
    Miguel Matamoros – guitar, tenor vocals
    Rafael Cueto – guitar
    Siro Rodríguez – claves, baritone vocals

    Go listen to Léon Bukasa’s “Monique Wa Baba” and compare the guitar part mentioned above!
    https://youtu.be/Zl6hNQ0xtv8

  • “A Jazz Holiday” – Abe Lyman’s Sharps and Flats (1928)

    “A Jazz Holiday” – Abe Lyman’s Sharps and Flats (1928)

    Another great tune heard last weekend at the Bix Beiderbecke Jazz Festival performed by Josh Duffee and his Graystone Monarchs – a William Benton Overstreet tune called “A Jazz Holiday”, which was also recorded that same year by Benny Goodman’s Boys, Ted Lewis, and Joe Candullo’s Orchestra.

    Here we have Abe Lyman’s Sharps and Flats performing the festive number with vigor. Trumpet and clarinet solos are plentiful, and we also hear a brief piano solo by Al Newman starting at 1:57.

    If this one doesn’t make you get up and do the Charleston, I don’t know what will.

    Recorded in Chicago, Illinois on November 28, 1928.
    Released as Brunswick 4155.

    Abe Lyman – drums, director
    Fred Ferguson, Howard Fenimore – trumpet
    Orlando “Slim” Martin, Warren Smith – trombone
    Jim Welton – clarinet, alto sax, flute
    Al Baker (or possibly Gus Mueller) – clarinet, alto sax
    Horace “Zip” Keyes – clarinet, tenor sax
    John Schonberger, Harry Podalsky – violin
    Al Newman – piano
    Charlie Pierce – banjo
    Jake Garcia – string bass

  • “Don’t Wake Me Up Let Me Dream” – Howard Lanin’s Ben Franklin Dance Orchestra (1925)

    “Don’t Wake Me Up Let Me Dream” – Howard Lanin’s Ben Franklin Dance Orchestra (1925)

    This is a tune I heard at the Bix Beiderbecke Jazz Festival last weekend performed by the Graystone Monarchs led by Josh Duffee. When I got home, I dug around the vault and found my copy.

    Howard Lanin was one of six Lanin siblings who became bandleaders – including Sam Lanin and Lester Lanin. Both Sam and Howard’s orchestras got their start at the Roseland Ballroom in Philadelphia in 1918.

    Here we find Howard leading an orchestra at Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Hotel – which just opened in 1925 when this record was made. The hotel was converted into apartments in the 1980s and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The beautiful ballroom still exists and was restored in 1988 and can be seen at: https://finleycatering.com/venues/ballroom-at-the-ben/

    This snappy number was no doubt a crowd favorite in its time, and one can imagine the active dance floor during its performance.

    Recorded just across the river in Camden, New Jersey on September 29, 1925.
    Released as Victor 19797.

    Credits:
    Howard Lanin – leader
    Sam Lanin – director
    Red Nichols (?), Tex Brewster – trumpet
    Unknown Artist – trombone
    Uknown Artist – clarinet, soprano sax, alto sax
    Johnny O’Donnell – clarinet, alto sax
    __ Tranchitelli – clarinet, tenor sax
    Joe or Willie Lanin – piano
    Russell Deppe – banjo
    Unknown Artist – tuba
    Chauncey Morehouse – drums

  • “Chicago” – Quintette Du Hot Club De France (1937) f/ Django Reinhardt

    “Chicago” – Quintette Du Hot Club De France (1937) f/ Django Reinhardt

    I’m back from the outstanding Bix Jazz Festival and have some videos of that to post but now am off to Chicago for a little well-earned family summer vacay time. I’ll be back Saturday!

    In the meantime, here is Django Reinhardt and his Quintet of the Hot Club of France doing a fine rendition of “Chicago (That Toddlin’ Town)” by Fred Fischer. The tune was originally published in 1922 and was a bit of an oldie by this time.

    This record was never issued concurrently on HMV or Victor and this French issue on the Swing label represented its only release.

    Recorded in Paris, France on April 26, 1937.
    Released as Swing 2.

    Credits
    Stéphane Grappelli – violin
    Django Reinhardt, Marcel Bianchi, Pierre Barault – guitar
    Louis Vola – bass

    The flip side, “Charleston” can be heard at:
    https://youtu.be/zrzizt3UbRg

  • “I Wonder Where My Baby Is Tonight!” – The Goofus Five (1925)

    “I Wonder Where My Baby Is Tonight!” – The Goofus Five (1925)

    The Goofus Five were a small combo offshoot of the California Ramblers who recorded for Okeh Records from 1924-29. They originally were five performers, with Adrian Rollini playing the goofus – their slang term for the couesnophone – which looks like a tiny toy saxophone and sounds like a harmonica or accordion.

    Over time, their numbers grew and Rollini would often double on the bass sax – which he was well known for. On this record the Goofus “Five” are really the Goofus Seven.

    This pleasant toe tapper is full of endearing melodies which seem to spontaneously blossom as the tune progresses. It’s hard not to listen and feel your heart lighten a bit.

    While Brian Rust lists Chelsea Quealey on trumpet in his Jazz Records discography, viewer @lindyhoppers has argued that the trumpet on this session is actually Roy Johnston.

    Recorded in New York City on October 28, 1925.
    Released as Okeh 40500.

    Roy Johnston (?) or Chelsea Quealey (?) – trumpet
    Bobby Davis – clarinet, soprano sax, alto sax
    Sam Ruby – tenor sax
    Adrian Rollini – bass sax
    Irving Brodsky – piano
    Tommy Felline – banjo
    Stan King – drums

  • Find Out More About Your 78 rpm Record – Jazz Chat Episode 9

    Find Out More About Your 78 rpm Record – Jazz Chat Episode 9

    Collecting 78 rpm records is a fascinating hobby – and one of the first things many new collectors struggle with is where to find good information about the records they unearth.

    I made this video to help you find the excellent online resources out there that will enable you to learn more about your 78 rpm record(s). I always find that knowing more about a record deepens my connection to it.

    Here is a list of the sites and resources I go over in the video – bookmark these for future reference!

    Discogs
    https://www.discogs.com

    DAHR
    https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/

    Jazz and Ragtime Records, 1897-1942
    by Brian Rust, (Free Personal Use Edition)
    https://archive.org/details/rust_jazz-records_free-edition-6

    American Dance Band Discography
    by Brian Rust
    https://archive.org/details/Biblio-1979-USA-01-Brian-Rust-American-Dance-Band-Discography/

    The Complete Entertainment Discography (from mid-1890s to 1942)
    by Brian Rust
    https://archive.org/details/completeentertai0000rust/

    Blues and Gospel Records 1890-1943, 4th Edition
    By Robert M.W. Dixon; John Godrich; Howard Rye
    https://archive.org/details/bluesgospelrecor00robe/

    Country Music Records: A Discography 1921-1942
    By Tony Russell
    https://archive.org/details/countrymusicreco00russ

    Ethnic Music on Record
    By Dick Spottswood
    Vol 1 – Western Europe
    https://www.google.com/books/edition/Ethnic_Music_on_Records/haDl3PEpQP0C
    Vol 2: Slavic
    https://www.google.com/books/edition/Ethnic_Music_on_Records/iSmUhoAz2lIC
    Vol 3: Eastern Europe
    https://www.google.com/books/edition/Ethnic_Music_on_Records/nRhQy_Q_rpkC
    Vol 4: Spanish, Portuguese, Philippines, Basque
    https://www.google.com/books/edition/Ethnic_Music_on_Records/qNh8VBZHQ2YC
    Vol 5: Middle East, Far East, Scandinavian, English Language, American Indian
    https://www.google.com/books/edition/Ethnic_Music_on_Records/TvB2hsWm8HwC

    AfroDisc – Discographies of African labels
    https://www.afrodisc.com/

    Michael Kinnear’s Website – Discographies and books on Indian labels
    https://bajakhana.com.au/

    Mainspring Press – Free Online Discographies
    https://mainspringpress.org/mainspring-press-free-online-discographies/

    The Chris Strachwitz Collection at the Arhoolie Foundation
    https://arhoolie.org/record-company-catalogs-of-regional-and-ethnic-music/

    Hendersonia: The Music of Fletcher Henderson
    by Walter C. Allen
    ​​https://archive.org/details/hendersoniamusic00alle

    Clarence Williams
    by Tom Lord
    https://archive.org/details/clarencewilliams00lord

    Mr. Jelly Lord
    By Laurie Wright
    https://archive.org/details/mrjellylord0000wrig

    BG On The Record: A bio-discography of Benny Goodman
    By D. Russell Connor and Warren W. Hicks
    https://archive.org/details/bgonrecordbiodis00conno/

    Ellingtonia: A Duke Ellington Discography
    https://ellingtonia.com/

  • “Jungle Nights in Harlem” – Duke Ellington and his Cotton Club Orchestra (1930)

    “Jungle Nights in Harlem” – Duke Ellington and his Cotton Club Orchestra (1930)

    Recorded in Hollywood, California on June 4, 1930.
    Released as Victor 23022.

    Credits:
    Duke Ellington – piano, arranger, director
    Cootie Williams, Arthur Whetsel, Freddy Jenkins – trumpet
    Joe Nanton – trombone
    Juan Tizol – valve trombone
    Johnny Hodges – clarinet, soprano sax, alto sax
    Harry Carney – clarinet, alto sax, baritone sax
    Barney Bigard – clarinet, tenor sax
    Fred Guy – banjo
    Wellman Braud – bass
    Sonny Greer – drums

  • “Screaming the Blues” – Maggie Jones (1924) f/ Louis Armstrong & Fletcher Henderson

    “Screaming the Blues” – Maggie Jones (1924) f/ Louis Armstrong & Fletcher Henderson

    Many of the early blues singers recorded with talented jazz performers – and the combination on this record is stellar.

    Maggie Jones (who also sang under the pseudonym Fae Barnes) screams the blues with Fletcher Henderson and Louis Armstrong himself in support.

    Songwriting credits go to Jones and Henderson.

    Not the cleanest copy of this record, but it turned out much better than I thought it would.

    Recorded in New York City on December 17, 1924.
    Released as Columbia 14055-D.

    Credits:
    Maggie Jones – vocals
    Louis Armstrong – cornet
    Fletcher Henderson – piano

  • “Go Joe Go” – Hal Kemp and his Orchestra (1927)

    “Go Joe Go” – Hal Kemp and his Orchestra (1927)

    Ending our look at a few hot dance bands on the Brunswick label this week, we return to Hal Kemp with a interesting arrangement of a tune written by Phil Napoleon and Frank Signorelli of the Original Memphis Five.

    The curious thing about this record is that it prominently features a guitar – but no guitarist is listed with the band in Brian Rust’s credits. While there is a banjo player credited (Olly Humphries), I’m not hearing a banjo at all. Also, the guitarist on this record sounds quite fluid and relaxed in his playing – wondering if this is Olly giving the guitar a go or an uncredited guest?

    Guitarist Gene “Pinky” Kintzle (who I just found out was from Bix’s hometown here in Iowa) played extensively with Hal Kemp but did not join the group until 1929 – and I’m not even sure if he was in NYC this early.

    The tune has a choppy start-and-stop arrangement that makes it a bit cerebral. Quite the highbrow approach for a record labeled as a “blues stomp”! The lush guitar interludes give moments of pleasure, along with Schegel’s trumpet solo and John Scott Trotter’s tuba-accompanied piano breaks.

    But things really start to heat up around the two minute mark when Schlegel’s peppy trumpet breathes some fire into the tune during his second solo.

    Now I need to go find a copy of Phil Napoleon’s version of this tune on Edison 51908 and Harmony 383-H – and the OM5 version on Pathé Actuelle 36576.

    Recorded in New York City on May 5, 1927.
    Released as Brunswick 3536

    Credits
    Hal Kemp – director, clarinet, alto sax
    Wade Schlegel – trumpet
    Keith Roberts – trombone
    Ben Williams – clarinet, alto sax, baritone sax
    Saxie Dowell – clarinet, tenor sax
    John Scott Trotter – piano
    Olly Humphries (?) – guitar
    Jim Mullen – tuba
    Skinny Ennis – drums