Hoagy Carmichael 125 -- November 22, 2024

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Hoagy Carmichael was born 125 years ago today, on 22-November-1899. He played the piano, composed songs and wrote lyrics, sang, acted in films, and he was Bix Beiderbecke's buddy. Any movie is better with Hoagy Carmichael. He collaborated with Johnny Mercer on many songs.

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In The Best Years of Our Lives, Hoagy played Uncle Butch, a barkeep. Harold Russell played his nephew Homer, who had lost his arms while serving in the Navy. He went through a long period of rehabilitation before he got home. Homer didn't know where he fit in with his family or the girl next door, but Uncle Butch provided emotional support.

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Hoagy wrote many popular songs.

Riverboat Shuffle - Wolverine Orchestra (Bix Beiderbecke) (1924)


Stardust, Hoagy Carmichael & His Pals


Stardust - Louis Armstrong - The actual best version


Skylark

Dance to the Latest and Best on Gennett Records -- August 14, 2024

Los Angeles Evening Post-Record, 01-August-1924

The Starr Piano Company in Richmond, Indiana owned Gennett Records. Gennett made many early jazz recordings.

The Wolverine Orchestra was cornetist Bix Beiderbecke's group, and yet he is not mentioned in the ad. 

Oh, Baby! - Wolverine Orchestra (Bix Beiderbecke) (1924)

Copenhagen - Wolverine Orchestra (Bix Beiderbecke) (1924)

Bix Beiderbecke -- The Wolverine Orchestra -- May 29, 2024

Indianapolis Times, 31-May-1924

It took me a moment to realize that the Wolverine Orchestra was Bix Beiderbecke's group, and yet he is not mentioned in the ad. 

Riverboat Shuffle - Wolverine Orchestra (Bix Beiderbecke) (1924)

Copenhagen - Wolverine Orchestra (Bix Beiderbecke) (1924)

The Okeh Electric Records, October 1, 2015

Talking Machine World, February, 1928

Okeh made many jazz and dance records.

 Frankie Trumbauer was a saxophone player who wrote, arranged and lead.  His orchestra usually included his friend, cornetist Bix Beiderbecke.  Bix was a major figure in 1920s jazz.  He influenced many later trumpet players.  "I'm Coming, Virginia" also featured guitarist Eddie Lang, who is listed above as "Ed."   


Miff Mole was a jazz trombonist who often led bands. 



Boyd Senter was a reed player who frequently led a group called the Senterpedes.  Eddie Lang was a pioneering jazz guitar soloist. 



Violinist Joe Venuti frequently worked with Eddie Lang.  Joe Venuti was famous for his quirky sense of humor. He sent Wingy Manone, the one-armed trumpet player, a gift of one cufflink.

They Know Their Jazz -- November 12, 2014

Talking Machine World, February, 1928

Okeh made many records aimed at minority groups.  Jazz and blues artists Louis Armstrong and Victoria Spivey made many records for the company.  Okeh 40966 featured Frankie Trumbauer and his Orchestra.  Trumbauer was a saxophone player who wrote, arranged and lead.  The band on this session included his friend cornetist Bix Beiderbecke.  Bix was a major figure in 1920s jazz.  He influenced many later trumpet players 

Be sure to click on this ad from Talking Machine World to see a larger version.  I like the John Held, Jr-derived images. 

Both sides of 40966 are available on YouTube:





Justin Ring was a pseudonym used by Sam Lanin.  Lanin was a popular orchestra leader who made many records during the 1920s.  His brother Lester became a famous leader in the 1930s and beyond.  The two sides of Okeh 40977 are also YouTube:




Seger Ellis played the piano and sang.  I did not look too hard to find any of the items on the two records listed.  His style is an acquired taste.  I haven't acquired it. 

Nickname #29 -- September 19, 2013

Benny Goodman, the King of Swing, grew up in Chicago, where he listened to jazz musicians who had emigrated from New Orleans and learned to play the clarinet.  He made his professional debut before he started high school.  He played with Bix Beiderbecke and other jazz pioneers.  He moved to New York and played for many bands and in many recording sessions.  When he formed a big band, he hired bandleader Fletcher Henderson to do his arrangements.  His quartet was integrated.  The big band and the small groups became great successes.  They played a concert at Carnegie Hall.  I love the recording of "Sing Sing Sing" from the concert, with Gene Krupa, Harry James and Jess Stacy.  The small groups, with Teddy Wildon, Lionel Hampton and later Charlie Christian, were pioneering examples of mixed-race groups.  Many of his musicians resented his strictness as a band leader and his use of the Death Ray, a nasty look, but his bands were always good. 

Marian McPartland, RIP -- August 23, 2013

I have spent much of my adult life listening to Marian McPartland's program Piano Jazz on public radio stations, first KQED-FM and then KCSM.  I learned a lot about music from her.  I also thought of her as a living link to Bix Beiderbecke, since her husband Jimmy had taken over as lead cornettist of the Wolverines after Bix moved on. 

Jimmy served in the US Army during World War II and took part in the invasion of Normandy.  He met British pianist Marian Turner in Belgium and they married.  They played together and apart, before and after they divorced in 1970. 

Marian hosted Piano Jazz from 1978 until 2011.  She played duets with everyone.