Tag: University Six

This Howdy Quicksell composition was recorded by the California Ramblers in May of 1925 for Pathé-Perfect. Then again by the Ramblers in an unissued session in October 1925 for Victor. Here, we have a final version for Columbia’s Harmony label under the University Six banner.

Rollini and Davis takes center stage on this number. At 0:55 Rollini launches into an inspired extended bass sax solo. At 1:55 Davis takes a effervescent sax solo. Lest you think things were running out of steam, at 2:31 Abe Lincoln adds a trombone solo.

Recorded in New York City on December 1, 1925.
Released as Harmony 134-H

Credits:
Roy Johnston – trumpet
Abe Lincoln – trombone
Bobby Davis – clarinet, soprano sax, alto sax
Sam Ruby – tenor sax
Adrian Rollini – bass sax, goofus, xylophone
Irving Brodsky – piano, arranger
Tommy Felline – banjo
Stan King – drums, kazoo

University Six were one of the many aliases that members of the California Ramblers used when recording on various labels. This moniker was used on the Harmony – Velvet Tone – Diva labels, which were Columbia’s budget labels.

This lively tune, composed by fellow jazz-bos Louis Panico and Elmer Schoebel, is performed with a festive panache that exudes the optimism and confidence of the jazz age. Panico (the lead trumpet player with Isham Jones’ Orchestra famous for his “laughing” effects on the hit “Wabash Blues”) and Schoebel were playing at Guyon’s Paradise Ballroom in Chicago in 1926 – which is ostensibly where they must have collaborated on this tune. Anyone know the backstory there?

This session was Tommy Dorsey’s first with the University Six, and he takes a nice trombone solo starting at 1:52. Roy Johnson and Bobby Davis do fine work throughout – and of course Adrian Rollini can be heard on bass sax stoking the engine in the rhythm section.

All in all – this one’s a real ace in the hole.

Recorded in New York City on May 12, 1926.
Released as Harmony 209-H.

Credits
Roy Johnston – trumpet
Bobby Davis – clarinet, soprano sax, alto sax
Tommy Dorsey – trombone
Sam Ruby – tenor sax
Adrian Rollini – bass sax
Irving Brodsky – piano, arranger
Tommy Felline – banjo
Herb Weil – drums