Tag: Original Indiana Five

An early session by the not-from-Indiana Original Indiana Five featuring trumpeter Johnny Sylvester.

When I first read this title, I thought: “Oh, a clever play on words – they’re talking about musical staves and how jazz harmonies often change keys mid-stave!” You know, sorta like “Changes” by Walter Donaldson and Byron Gay: e.g. “Beautiful changes in different keys – Beautiful changes and harmonies”.

The roots go deeper – as it is an Al Bernard-penned song about a street tough in New Orleans with the subtitle “The Meanest Man in New Orleans”. The lyrics referenced that Stavin’ was a rough “bad man” from New Orleans who “He had a knife long enough to row a boat [and] a big forty-four, underneath his coat”

While I first passed this off as some Yt mythologizing, interestingly, the name “Stavin’ Chain” also appears in a couple of songs in 30s blues records by Lil Johnson and Big Joe Williams.

Jelly Roll Morton, when asked about Stavin’ Chain by Alan Lomax said “Stavin’ Chain, well he was a pimp. Supposed to have more women in this district than any other pimp.”

Seems to me that Al, Jelly Roll, and these later blues artists were all referencing some older NOLA folklore. Al perhaps misheard or got the name wrong, as “Stavin’ Chain” makes sense as a nickname for a street tough, but “Stavin’ Change” is more of an apt metaphor for a traditionalist who resists change.

Lots of New Orleans-style ensemble playing with Nick Vitalo adding an extended alto solo at 1:15. Sylvester and Panelli get a few hot breaks in and Tony Colucci keeps things moving with a solid foundation of 4/4 banjo rhythm.

Recorded in New York City on September 7, 1923.
Released as Perfect 14173 and Pathé Actuelle 021070.

Credits:
Johnny Sylvester – trumpet, director
Charlie Panelli – trombone
Nick Vitalo – clarinet, alto sax
Harry Ford – piano
Tony Colucci (?) – banjo
Tom Morton – drums

Sources:
https://pages.stolaf.edu/americanmusic/2017/10/03/whats-a-stavin-chain/

An early recording by the Original Indiana Five when it was led by Johnny Sylvester. Here, the OI5 give us their take on “Tin Roof Blues”, a tune made famous by the New Orleans Rhythm Kings earlier that year. (And if you haven’t heard it, you can hear that recording here: https://youtu.be/V7VbDFw5Udk )

Charlie Panelli takes a trombone solo at 0:55, then hands it to Nick Vitalo for a clarinet solo at 1:18. Sylvester gives us a trumpet solo at 2:07.

If you own a copy of Brian Rust’s “Jazz and Ragtime Records” 6th ed – make a note – this record appears listed there as Pathé Actuelle 036029 rather than the correct catalog number shown here (036019).

Recorded in New York City on November 6, 1923.
Released as Pathé Actuelle 036019.

Credits:
Johnny Sylvester – trumpet, director
Charlie Panelli – trombone
Nick Vitalo – clarinet, alto sax
Harry Ford – piano
Tony Colucci (?) – banjo
Tom Morton – drums

Here’s an Original Indiana Five track you may not have heard – it was not included on the extensive four volume OI5 Jazz Oracle series released on CD in 2000 – though it does appear on the 1999 Frog CD release “Everybody Stomp: The Harmony Recordings 1925-1929”.

Here, we hear the Harry Barris tune (and you’ll recognize the name of one of Paul Whiteman’s Rhythm Boys) “Play It Red” delivered with a kind of exacting elegance. The clear precise tone of Tony Tortomas’ trumpet sounds almost baroque at times.

Other performers of note include Pete Pellizzi (who solos on trombone at 0:40), pianist Harry Ford (who solos on piano at 2:22), and the unknown bass saxophonist who keeps things moving along.

Recorded in New York City on May 26, 1927.
Released as Velvet Tone 1432-V.
Also released as Harmony 432-H and Diva 2432-G.

Credits
Tom Morton – drums, director
Tony Tortomas – trumpet
Pete Pellizzi – trombone
Nick Vitalo – clarinet, alto sax
Unknown Artist – bass sax
Harry Ford – piano
Tony Colucci – banjo

An early iteration of the Original Indiana Five on the Olympic label featuring the Johnny Sylvester lineup.

OI5 formed in 1920 but did not record until 1923. The original lineup had featured young clarinetist Jimmy Lytell, who left the group in late 1921 to join the Original Dixieland Jazz Band and was also a member of the Original Memphis Five.

After a rousing intro, the band settles into the melodic head, where the ensemble playing is quite nice and represents the most interesting performances throughout the record. At 1:06, we do hear a solo from what sounds to me like an alto sax while Tony Colucci’s banjo accompanies – but improvisation is minimal and the lines stick closely to the melody. At 2:02 a similarly straightforward melodic solo is heard from trombonist Vincent Grande.

In 1925 Johnny Sylvester left the band and the remaining OI5 members went on to record many excellent titles over the next four years.

The Olympic label was founded by musician John Fletcher in January of 1921. Sales were not good, however, and by the end of the year, the company went into receivership. The assets went up for auction – and were purchased by Fletcher himself (and two partners), who founded the Fletcher Record Company in 1922, and by the end of that year, Olympic records were again being pressed, recording jazz artists such as Fletcher Henderson, Bennie Krueger, Original Georgia Five, and OI5. The label struggled to attract buyers, and by the end of 1923 went bankrupt. The label was later revived for a brief period in Chicago.

Recorded in Long Island City circa May of 1923.
Released as Olympic 1444. Also issued as Majestic 1444 and Broadway 11282, Puritan 11282, and Triangle 11282 (as the Majestic Dance Orchestra).

Credits:
Newman Fier – piano, director
Johnny Sylvester – trumpet
Vincent Grande – trombone
Johnny Costello – clarinet, alto sax
Tony Colucci (?) – banjo
Tom Morton – drums

More on Olympic label:
https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/pdfs/Olympic-Discography.pdf