In a continuation of my Virginia-Blues-a-palooza, here we have the Original Memphis Five performing as Ladd’s Black Aces – and unlike the Superior Jazz Band recording I posted yesterday, here the personnel is a bit more nailed down.
You can immediately sense an energy and confidence missing from the Superior record. There’s a festive quality to the record that gives it a relaxed sense of fun.
We even get treated (or haunted, depending on your love of Cliff Edwards’ Eefin’ vocal technique) by the guest appearance of Ukulele Ike himself – Cliff Edwards – who musters up a hot vocal improvisation starting at 1:23.
All in all, this record feels fresher and less stiff than the Superior record – and though my tolerance for Eefin’ can wane at times, it is a well-performed improvisation that breaks up the ensemble playing.
What do you think of this one?
Recorded in New York City on February 24, 1922.
Released as Gennett 4843, Connorized 3059 (as Connorized Jazzers), Cardinal 517 and Starr 9229.
Phil Napoleon – trumpet
Miff Mole – trombone
Jimmy Lytell – clarinet
Frank Signorelli – piano
Jack Roth – drums
Cliff Edwards (“Ukulele Ike”) – vocal effects (Rust lists “Kazoo” but as @lukeholladay9596 astutely pointed out, this is a stylized vocal technique that Edwards developed called Eefin’. Kind of a combination of humming and scatting that mimics a kazoo using the voice alone. Edwards apparently claimed that he “learned it from street singers in his hometown of St. Louis.”)
If you’re interested in comparing these recordings – here are links to the other transfers from my collection:
1. “Virginia Blues” – Superior Jazz Band
https://youtu.be/DBf3buba9-A
2. “Virginia Blues” – Ladd’s Black Aces (featuring Cliff Edwards “Ukulele Ike”)
https://youtu.be/5hr-_9LwhhM
3. “Virginia Blues” – The Benson Orchestra of Chicago
https://youtu.be/zdqQ9C5m-yM
4. “Virginia Blues” – Lanin’s Southern Serenaders
https://youtu.be/uwP8JeaMNYg