The last – and hottest – of three recordings the great Luis Russell orchestra made during a fantastic 1930 session that I highlighted this week.
“Panama” was originally published in 1912 by ragtime composer William Henry Tyers and was recorded by New Orlean’s Rhythm Kings in 1922, quickly becoming standard fare and was subsequently recorded by W. C. Handy in 1923 Johnny De Troit, Henry Halstead, and McKenzie’s Candy Kids in 1924 – and by Fletcher Henderson in 1925.
Things really get cookin’ around 0:41 as a hot Pops Foster bass break leads into a Henry “Red” Allen trumpet solo, followed by a trombone solo from J.C. Higginbotham, a tenor sax solo from Greely Walton, a clarinet solo from Albert Nicholas, an alto solo from Charlie Holmes, and a wild ensemble show-stopper ending that brings the house down and then some.
Surely a recording that showcases the Russell band at the top of their game!
Recorded in New York City on September 5, 1930.
Released in the U.K. as Parlophone R 963.
(Original domestic release = Okeh 8849)
Credits
Luis Russell – piano, director
Otis Johnson, Henry “Red” Allen – trumpet
J.C. Higginbotham – trombone
Charlie Holmes – alto sax
Albert Nicholas – alto sax, clarinet
Greely Walton – tenor sax
Will Johnson – banjo, guitar
George Pops Foster – string bass
Paul Barbarin – drums
The two other recordings from this same session:
“High Tension”
https://youtu.be/yei7nN1iRL0
“Muggin’ Lightly”
https://youtu.be/uezEjgzmt8E
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