[ Bix & His Rhythm Jugglers. ]
In 1925, Bix and a pickup group recorded at Gennett under the name of
Bix and His Rhythm Jugglers. This photo was taken on January 26, 1925 in the Gennett Recording Studios in Richmond, Indiana. From left to right: Howdy Quicksell, Tommy Gargano, Paul Mertz, Don Murray, Bix Beiderbecke, Tommy Dorsey. (In 1925, Bix was working for the
Charlie Straight Orch.. Charlie Straight was a pianist, who's band was working at the Rainbow Garden's in Chicago, in the early 1920's.)
Notes on Bix
(NOTE: There's also a Bix Beiderbecke, entry on the Big Bands homepage.)
Born in Davenport,IA, to a middle class family, Bix went to Chicago in 1921 to attend the to Lake Forest Academy in 1921. Studied piano, but switched to cornet, but it is believed that he never took a lesson on that instrumnet.
The Chicagoans, not much younger than Bix, made him their idol. He had a tremendous influence on such listeners as Louis Armstrong, Red Nichols, and the Austin High gang. He left the Wolverines in 1924 to begin a 5 year ride to the top and then to the sad end of his 28 yr old life.
He was featured with the Trumbauer,(1926); Goldkette (Detroit)) and The Whiteman Bands. Bix was another of the brilliant musicians who left us at a much too early age. Fast living, and 'Booze' caused the premature end to this sensitive and brilliant cornetist's life. He was sick and out of the Whiteman band during his last year and in August of 1931 he was dead of pneumonia."
Just as a side note, Hoagy Carmichael was a close friend of Bix, as were so very many other musicians of the day.
[ Norman Brownlee Jazz Band ]
One of the early "white" jazz bands. This early dixieland group is not remembered today, but was well known and very popular in the 1920's.
In private correspondence, Henry Brownlee, Norman's son, has mentioned that on "Dirty Rag", recorded December 1925 in New Orleans; Okeh # 40337), the sidemen consisted of:
(My father, Norman Brownlee, Pianist, had several top-notch sidemen in his band.)
* Sharkey Bonano, cornet. Emmett Hardy was the band's first Cornetist. But, Emmett, a dim, legendary figure, never recorded and died at the young age of 22. His playing is reputed to have influenced Bix Beidebecke (who died at age 28).
After Emmett Hardy died, he was followed by trumpeters Wingy Manone, Johnny Wiggs, Sharkey Bonano (who was on the Okeh recording of "Peculiar" and "Dirty Rag" recorded December 1925 in New Orleans; Okeh # 40337)
* On trombone was mainly Tom Brown and George Barth (who doubled on Sax and Bass.
* Mellophone was played by Billy Braun who doubled on piano.
* Bill Eastwood was on Banjo, doubled on Guitar and Baritone Sax. ("but the record was cut with my uncle, Behrman French, on banjo".)
* On clarinet he had Larry Shields; then after Larry went to New York, his brother Harry Shields came in (he is on the record).
* Alto/Baritone Sax was played by Hal Jordy.
* On drums was Alonzo Crombie. Dad said -- "you start a piece, go out and eat lunch, and when you got back Al Crombie's beat was as steady as when you left! Like a metronome!"
"He had other sidemen, of course, over the years. Also, most of the members doubled on other instruments, Dad also played string bass; Eastwood played piano; almost all played saxophone (Dad played Tenor Sax as well)."
"My Dad played a short stint on String Bass with Paul Whiteman when he was in town. And, he was a good
friend of Jack Teagarden. I remember when I was about 10, Jack's band came to New Orleans to play the old St. Charles Theater and Dad took me to hear them. Jack spotted him in the audience and made him go up on stage - they
greeted each other like lost brothers! I was in awe! Of course I got to meet him and his brother Charlie.
The Dorsey Brothers said Dad had the first "Swing" Band in America. Dad's String Bass is in the New Orleans Jazz Museum."
This entry on the wonderful Norman Brownlee Orch., was graciously submitted by his son Henry. F. Brownlee.
[ Johnny De Droit Band ]
ca. 1924,
Johnny De Droit, Leader
Tony Parenti, Clarinet. at age 10, tony was in uniform and plaing in the parade brass
bands of NO.
?? , Drums
?? , Trombone
?? , trumpet
[ The Friar's Society Orch. ]
Later changed their name to the New Orleans Rhythm Kings (NORK)
Personnel:
Ben Pollack, Drums; George Brunies, Trombone; Paul Mares, Trumpet; Leon Rappolo, clarinet; Elmer Schoebel, Piano; Jack Pettis, Sax; Lew Black, Banjo and Steve Brown, Bass Fiddle.
One of only two bands that are recognized by their initials alone. The other is the ODJB (Orig, Dixieland Jazz Band)
[ Halfway House Orchestra ]
Abbie Brunies, trumpet, leader
Charlie Cordilla, sax
Monk Hazel, Drums
Leon Rappolo, clarinet. This is the last group with which Leon played before entering the sanitarium, which he never left. His legacy to us are his haunting solos with the NORK. (Always wore white socks with his Tuxedo.)
[ Husk O'Hare Wolverines. ]
b. circa 1890; Chicago, IL. d. April 19, 1970; Chicago, IL
Theme Song: "The One I Love"
Overview
"His" orchestra was, basically, 'The Austin High Gang', -enhanced. O'Hare was not a musician, He was an organizer and a promoter. He is remembered today only because he got a radio job and the White City engagement for the
Austin High Gang.
In late 1924 Husk took over a combo called the BlueFriars . He promptly changed the name to O'Hare's Red Dragons and then changed it again to Husk O'Hare's Wolverines.
This can be somewhat confusing. The original 'Wolverines', were a group that had the legendary Bix Beiderbecke on cornet; Al Gande trombone; Jimmy Hartwell, clarinet; Geo. Johnson sax; Dick Voynow, piano; Bob Gillette, banjo; Min Leibrook, tuba; and Vic Moore , drums. They made their first Chicago appearance in 1923 and first Gennett recording in 1924. The band was immmensely popular, and that popularity probably caused O'Hare to name his (later) orchestra with a similar name.
Here are a couple of tunes played by the "Husk O'Hare Super Chicago Orchestra playing
San, and Tiger Rag, both digitally re-engineered by Mr. Verne Buland. Discographers usually credit this recording with a date of Dec. 1922, but there is some doubt about that date. (There's some further information on the tune "Tiger Rag" in our 'Dixieland Jazz' Jack Carey Orch., entry.) Husk formed another band in 1925 from musicians at Chicago's Austin High School. Some of those members were: Frank Teschemacher, Jimmy McPartland, Dick McPartland, Bud Freeman, Dave Tough, Jimmy Lannigan, Dave North and Floyd O'Brien. That band lasted until 1926. He led other bands from late 1920s through the 1930s. They played mostly in the midwest especially around the Chicago area. He retired from the music business in 1941.
Mr Ken Tidwell contributed these remarks on Husk O'Hare.
[ Red McKenzie and the Mound City Blue Blowers ]
A St. Louis Group, discovered by the Gene Rodemich Orch., who brought them to Chicago and got them bookings. Later, Isham Jones, got them some recording dates.
(See also, Red Nichols below, and Nichols, main entry, and of course the Red McKenzie, main entry
[ New Orleans Rhythm Masters ]
Here's a photograph of this "White" New Orleans Orchestra in 1926 when they were resident at
the Somerset Club, in San Antonio, Texas.
Terry Shand Piano
Sidney Arodin, Clarinet
Charlie Cordilla sax (ex: Jack Laine bandsman)
Jack Teagarden, Trombone.
??, Trumpet
[ New Orleans Swing Kings ]
ca. 1930
Chink Martin, Tuba
Sidney Arodin, Clarinet
?? , 2nd clarinet
Charlie cordilla, 1st Sax
?? , 2nd sax
?? , sousaphone
?? , drums
?? , trumpet
?? , trombone
[ Tony Parenti Orch ]
playing in LaVida Club (Burgandy St. 1924) Personnel unknown. 8 men. Trumpet, trombone, mellophone, sousaphone, piano, drums and 2 reeds, Parenti was one of the reeds, clarinet. The other doubled on clarinet and bass sax. (Tony had also played clarinet in Johnny De Droit's band. (See Links on this page.)
[ Charlie Straight Orch ]
Charles Straight was a pianist, who's band was playing at the Rainbow Gardens in Chicago, in the early 20's. No Further Info. is currently avail.
[ The Wolverines Band ]
Here's a photo of the The Wolverines, with Min Leibrook on Sousaphone and Bix Beiderbecke on Cornet. (A larger photo is shown below.) Bix left school to become a star of the Wolverines Band, in 1923. The music of this band is vibrant and exciting with Bix's cornet having a sound a clarity that is hard to define. Bix on cornet; Al Gande trombone; Jimmy Hartwell, clarinet; Geo. Johnson sax; Dick Voynow, piano; Bob Gillette, banjo; Min Leibrook, tuba; and Vic Moore , drums. They made their first Chicago appearence in 1923 and first Gennett recording in 1924. Here they are playing "Tiajuana", (digitally re-engineered by Mr. Verne Buland) a tune originally composed by another couple of bandleaders, - Larry Conley
and Gene Rodemich
In late 1924, the Wolverines appeared at New York's Cinderella Ballroom. Al Gande had dropped out after their first few recordings and the group was without a trombone for awhile. And here's a photograph of that Wolverines in New York, (Al Gande on trombone is no longer with them). Shortly after the Cinderella job, Bix left the band, and was replaced by another one of the great Chicagoans, Jimmy McPartland.
This original Wolverines band should not be confused with the later band called 'Husk O'Hare Wolverines', with totally different personel.
New York City:
==========
[ "Bailey's Lucky Seven" ]
A "cover" name for a group with different musicians shifting in and out. Red played with them as did Miff Mole,
Eddie Lang (on banjo, prior to 1924); Phil Napoleon and others.
[ Louisiana Five ]
In 1915, Alcide "Kid Yellow" Nunez, and his Louisiana Five, were playing at Bustanoby's Restaurant, in New York City. Here they are playing Yelping Hound Blues. Many other other 'Jazz' bands, such as Jimmy Durante's Original New Orleans Jazz Band (which was neither original or from New Orleans), were also playing in various New York venues. (It was at Reisenweber's Restaurant that the Original Dixieland Jazz Band was to achieve world-wide fame.) In 1919, 'Kid Yellow' was back in Chicago, still recording as the Louisiana Five with members of Tom Brown's old band. (Alcide Nunez on clarinet, Joe Cawley on piano, Charles Panelli on trombone, Karl Beyer on banjo, and Anton Lada on drums.)
[ Original Dixieland Jazz Band ]
I have placed this band here in the New York City section, for, while a true New Orleans group, they never-the-less scored their greatest success in New York City (at Reisenweber's Restaurant). (After a brief stop-over in Chicago, where they played with Stein's Dixie Jazz Band at Schiller's Cafe.)
Nick La Rocca, Left Handed Cornetist B: N.O.LA. 1889. D: N.O.LA. 1961
Nick played with the Jack "Papa" Laine Brass Band in New Orleans. Later, he formed the ODJB, a group of White musicians from N.O., Nick La Rocca (like Jelly Roll Morton) also claimed to be the "inventor" of Jazz. While the claim is no truer than Jelly Roll's claim, Nick probably was the primogenitor of Jazz recording. Among their first 1917 recordings are: Dixieland Jass Band One-Step (originally called "Mutt and Jeff"); Indiana; Darktown Strutter's Ball (their most famous), and Livery Stable Blues. The "animal sounds" of Livery Stable trace their heritage back to the 'skiffle bands'. La Rocca claimed to have composed Livery Stable Blues, but the claim was dismissed when a judge threw out the case, which was litigated when Alcide "Yellow" Nunez (also known as "Kid Yellow") also patented the score as composer.
This was another "co-op" band. The sidemen formed a "co-op profit-sharing" organization, and designated Nick La Rocca as leader. The band remained active until 1925.
[ Red Nichols & his Five Pennies ]
Some additional notes on Red Nichols.
=======================
Loring "Red" Nichols & Miff Mole were one of just a few very famous 'pairs' in jazz history. Eddie Lang and Joe Venuti were another, and perhaps the most famous, of such pairs.
Red, was already resident in NY in 1923. He was heavily influenced by both the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, a band that had a phenomenal success when it played Reisenweber's restaurant in NY, and by Bix Beidebecke. In fact he was recording for Gennett Records under several different group names.
When Red's band played as a pit orchestra for Broadway shows, he frequently, had Joe Tarto playing a specially constructed 8 foot tall Tuba.
Red Nichols and his Five Pennies, often consisted of Red on trumpet; Jimmy Dorsey, reeds; Arthur Shutt, Piano; Vic Berton, drums; Miff Mole on trombone and Eddie Lang on guitar. On many of the "Pennies", Adrian Rollini can be heard playing a Bass Sax, with a truly beautiful embochure.
[ The Original Memphis Five ]
The Original Memphis Five, was still another group that also played in New York City in the 20's. Phil Napoleon on trumpet, Frank Signorelli, piano; Miff Mole, trombone, and Jimmy Lytell on clarinet.
Original New Orleans Jazz Band
Jimmy Durante Novelty Jazz Orch.
Another Group of White New Orleans Musicians. Achille Baquet was a Creole, but so light-skinned that he always played in the "White" bands. This group may or may not have been a band in old N.O. but they formed the Original New Orleans Jazz Band, in New York City in 1917. The members were;
Achille Bacquet (clarinet); Jimmy Durante (piano); Frank Christian (cornet); Frank L'Hotag (trombone), and
Johnny Stein (drums). Johnny Stein had his own "Stein's Dixie Jass Band" previously
in Chicago.
Some of these men may also have played with Durante in his own early
'Novelty Jazz Orchestra'.
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