An American in Paris: here’s jazz royalty that many in the U.S. might not know about. Freddy Taylor was a New Yorker who performed at the Cotton Club in Harlem in the early 1930s before going to Europe with the Lucky Millinder Orchestra in 1933, where he stayed to start his own band. He became known there as “the Baron of Swing”. He and his “Swing Men from Harlem” recorded two sessions in Paris – the first of which is represented by the two sides of this record: “Blue Drag” and “Viper’s Dream”.
The four recordings at the second session (where guitarist Oscar Alemán was replaced by Django Reinhardt) were unissued on 78 rpm. No U.S. issue of Taylor’s work as a bandleader was ever pressed on 78 rpm – though he does appear as a vocalist on a few Quintette of the Hot Club of France sides for Victor (25511, 26506, and disc 40-0122 from an album in the Hot Jazz series).
“Viper’s Dream” has a similarly chill vibe to “Blue Drag”, befitting its topic. It swings along at a trot – taking its time and never rushing lines. The primary soloist is Fletcher Allen on tenor – but we also hear brief imagistic interludes where pianist John Ferrier and drummer William Diemer are showcased.
This original composition by Taylor and reedman Fletcher Allen was recorded by Django Reinhardt and the Quintette of the Hot Club of France two years later in 1937 – and that is how most jazz fans might know of this tune.
This very clean Ultraphone U made for a very nice transfer.
Recorded in Paris, France in March 1935.
Released as Ultraphone U AP 1489 (Mx. 77285).
Credits:
Freddy Taylor – trumpet, vocals
Charlie Johnson – trumpet
Arthur “Chester” Lanier – clarinet, alto sax, baritone sax
Fletcher Allen – clarinet, tenor sax, arranger
John Ferrier – piano
Oscar Alemán – guitar
Eugene d’Hellemmes – string bass
William Diemer – drums
Now listen to the flip side, “Blue Drag”:
https://youtu.be/hOuYSN21ZA8
