Eugene F. Rodemich was born in St. Louis in 1890 and studied violin and piano as a child. In 1904, he heard a group of ragtime pianists perform at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis and was immediately hooked. He moved to NYC in 1913 and worked as an accompanist for vaudeville performer Elsie Janis – and later went on tour with her in France to entertain the troops during WWI. After returning to St. Louis in 1918, he started his own orchestra, which hired young saxophonist Frank Trumbauer in 1921.
“Scissor Grinder Joe” was a novelty tune that begins with a melancholic arpeggiated piano line that is decidedly un-jazzy which reappears throughout the piece. The band comes in at a quick clip, artfully articulating the theme with stylistic aplomb. Soon we hear a piano solo followed by what sounds like a paper and comb solo. A sax and trumpet engage in a speedy melodic reparté. Then two muted trumpets battle to see whose wah-wah is most wooing. The whole thing comes to a close as artfully arranged as it began. The last thing we hear is the simple piano riff repeating and gently reminding us of its mournful state.
The identity of the paper and comb / kazoo soloist is unknown. Curiously, Rust states that “the Mound City Blue Blowers are said to have appeared with this band, as they may have done on the stand, but not in the recording studio.” I wonder if Red McKenzie may be a contender here?
Rust and a few others have attempted to provide personnel for this session – and they are quite different from one another. I’ve listed those that all sources agree upon plus a few suggestions (marked with a ?) on who else is playing.
Recorded in New York City on June 11, 1924.
Released as Brunswick 2663.
Credits:
Credits:
Gene Rodemich – piano, director
Clarence Foster or Jess Walton (?), Charles Werner – cornet
Jules Blattner (?) – trumpet
Julius Robb (?), Bill Bailey (?) – clarinet, alto sax
Allister Wylie (?) – alto sax, 2nd piano
Jules Silberberg – sax, violin
Otto Reinert (violin)
Unknown performer – paper and comb
Larry Conley – trombone
Eddie Storman – banjo
John Bambridge (?) – tuba
Paul Spoerloder – drums
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