Crazy-O-Logy

Often a sideman on many of the recordings here, Freeman also recorded several sides under his own name (albeit they were few and far between). "When Bud Freeman first matured, his was the only strong alternative approach on the tenor to the harder-toned style of Coleman Hawkins and he was an inspiration for Lester Young. Freeman, one of the top tenors of the 1930s, was also one of the few saxophonists (along with the slightly later Eddie Miller) to be accepted in the Dixieland world, and his oddly angular but consistently swinging solos were an asset to a countless number of hot sessions.

Freeman, excited (as were the other members of the Austin High School Gang in Chicago) by the music of the New Orleans Rhythm Kings, took up the C-melody sax in 1923, switching to tenor two years later. It took him time to develop his playing, which was still pretty primitive in 1927 when he made his recording debut with the McKenzie-Condon Chicagoans. Freeman moved to New York later that year and worked with Red Nichols' Five Pennies, Roger Wolfe Kahn, Ben Pollack, Joe Venuti, Gene Kardos, and others. He starred on Eddie Condon's memorable 1933 recording "The Eel." After stints with Joe Haymes and Ray Noble, Freeman was a star with Tommy Dorsey's Orchestra and Clambake Seven (1936-1938) before having a short unhappy stint with Benny Goodman (1938). He led his short-lived but legendary Summe Cum Laude Orchestra (1939-1940) which was actually an octet, spent two years in the military, and then from 1945 on, alternated between being a bandleader and working with Eddie Condon's freewheeling Chicago jazz groups. Freeman traveled the world, made scores of fine recordings, and stuck to the same basic style that he had developed by the mid-'30s (untouched by a brief period spent studying with Lennie Tristano)." (Allmusic.com) Enjoy! +

Tracks

01 - Craze-O-Logy
02 - Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man
03 - What Is There To Say 
04 - The Buzzard
05 - Tillie's Downtown Now
06 - Keep Smilin' At Trouble
07 - You Took Advantage Of Me
08 - Three's No Crowd
09 - I Got Rhythm
10 - Keep Smilin' At Trouble
11 - At Sundown
12 - My Honey's Lovin' Arms
13 - I Don't Believe It
14 - Trappin' The Commodore Till
15 - Memories Of You
16 - 'Life' Spears A Jitterbug
17 - What's The Use 
18 - Three Little Words
19 - Swingin' Without Mezz
20 - The Blue Room
21 - Exactly Like You
22 - Private Jives

Barrel House Stomp

What can I say, it's been another busy month. Which is good considering that it is summer and people travel. Squeaking one in before the end of the month, and making sure that there is at least some continuity here, I offer some more Chicago jazz. This series is very well done (John R.T. Davies), and you can't beat the liner notes (Brian Rust). The music selection is good, though I do wonder if we need three takes of the same tune. That's strictly for purists, while I think most people would be satisfied with another handful of tunes. Regardless, it's good listening. The tunes span a period between December 1927 and January 1930, with musicians including Red McKenzie, Eddie Condon, Frank Teschemacher, Bud Freeman, Gene Krupa, Mezz Mezzrow, Bud Freeman and other usual suspects. Good stuff for the new year's celebrations. Scans included. And to all who enjoy the music here, have a great 2013! Enjoy! +

Tracks

01. McKenzie & Condon's Chicagoans - Sugar
02. McKenzie & Condon's Chicagoans - China Boy
03. McKenzie & Condon's Chicagoans - Nobody's Sweetheart
04. McKenzie & Condon's Chicagoans - Liza
05. Charles Pierce & His Orchestra - Bull Frog Blues
06. Charles Pierce & His Orchestra - China Boy
07. Charles Pierce & His Orchestra - Jazz Me Blues - Take 3
08. Charles Pierce & His Orchestra - Sister Kate - Take 4
09. Charles Pierce & His Orchestra - Jazz Me Blues - Take 5
10. Charles Pierce & His Orchestra - Sister Kate - Take 7
11. Charles Pierce & His Orchestra - Nobody's Sweetheart
12. Chicago Rhythm Kings - There'll Be Some Changes Made
13. Chicago Rhythm Kings - I've Found A New Baby
14. Jungle Kings - Friars Point Shuffle
15. Jungle Kings - Darktown Strutters' Ball
16. Frank Teschemacher's Chicagoans - Jazz Me Blues
17. Louisiana Rhythm Kings - Baby, Won't You Please Come Home
18. Elmer Schoebel & His Friars Society Orchestra - Copenhagen
19. Elmer Schoebel & His Friars Society Orchestra - Prince Of Wails
20. The Cellar Boys - Wailing Blues - Take A
21. The Cellar Boys - Wailing Blues - Take B
22. The Cellar Boys - Barrel House Stomp - Take A
23. The Cellar Boys - Barrel House Stomp - Take B
24. The Cellar Boys - Barrel House Stomp - Take C

Makin' Friends

Darned Blogger! This (and the next volume) were scheduled to go last week, but .... Albert "Eddie" Condon was one of the gang of young white Chicago jazz musicians in the 1920s. He started out playing banjo with Hollis Peavey's Jazz Bandits when he was 17. He worked with several members of the famed Austin High School Gang in the 1920s. In 1927 he co-led (with Red McKenzie) the McKenzie-Condon Chicagoans on a record date that helped define Chicago jazz (and featured Jimmy McPartland, Jimmy Teschemacher, Joe Sullivan, and Gene Krupa). After organizing some other record sessions, Condon switched to guitar, moved to New York in 1929, worked with Red Nichols' Five Pennies and Red McKenzie's Blue Blowers, and recorded in several settings, including with Louis Armstrong (1929) and the Rhythm Makers (1932). During 1936-1937, he co-led a band with Joe Marsala. In 1938 he led some sessions for the Commodore label and he became a star. He had a nightly gig at Nick's in New York City from 1937 to 1944. From 1944 to 1945 he led a series of recordings at Town Hall that were broadcast weekly on the radio, many of which are in circulation. This first cd from the box set covers December, 1927 through June, 1930. Condon's discography is really a Who's Who of the era, and he was known for getting people together (info available on the scans). Enjoy. +

Tracks

01. Sugar
02. China Boy
03. Nobody's Sweetheart
04. Liza
05. Friars Point Shuffle
06. Darktown Strutters Ball
07. There'll Be Some Changes Made
08. I've Found A New Baby
09. Jazz Me Blues
10. Oh! Baby
11. Indiana
12. Makin' Friends
13. I'm Gonna Stomp, Mr. Henry Lee
14. That's A Serious Thing
15. Minor Drag
16. Indiana
17. Tailspin Blues
18. I Need Someone Like You
19. Hello Lola
20. One Hour
21. Girls Like You Were Meant For Boys Like Me
22. Georgia On My Mind
23. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me
24. Darktown Strutters Ball
25. You Rascal You

Spreadin' Rhythm Around

Here's one that I've been meaning to get to for some time. I was reminded of this recently after I was outbid on a McKenzie's Candy Kids 78. One of these days I'll get one! From Scott Yanow at Allmusic.com comes the following description: The Mound City Blue Blowers originally made history with a dozen high-quality novelty recordings during 1924-25 that featured the trio of Red McKenzie's comb, Dick Slevin's kazoo and banjoist Jack Bland; guitarist Eddie Lang solidified the rhythm on their later six numbers. However, other than McKenzie's participation, those dates had little to do with the 25 recordings on this Classics CD, the last issued under the Mound City Blue Blowers' name. In fact, other than taking four vocals on the first date, McKenzie makes only cameo appearances on kazoo during the remainder of the program, although he had clearly organized the bands. The six sessions feature overlapping personnel with some hot playing from either Bunny Berigan (on four of the dates) or Yank Lawson on trumpet and Eddie Miller or Forrest Crawford on tenor and clarinet. In addition to McKenzie, guitarist Nappy Lamare has eight vocals; there are also five from Billy Wilson, four from Spooky Dickenson and two by a vocal group. Only "High Society" and "Muskrat Ramble" are instrumentals, although there are strong solos on nearly every number. The music falls between Dixieland and small-group swing and is most notable for the playing of Berigan. Enjoy. +
Tracks

1 What's the Reason (I'm Not Pleasing You?)
2 She's a Latin from Manhattan
3 You've Been Takin' Lessons
4 (Back Home Again In) Indiana
5 Red Sails in the Sunset
6 I'm Sittin' High on a Hill Top
7 On Treasure Island
8 Thanks a Million
9 Eeny Meeny Meiny Mo
10 A Little Bit Independent
11 I'm Shooting High
12 I've Got My Fingers Crossed
13 High Society
14 Muskrat Ramble
15 The Broken Record
16 The Music Goes 'Round and Around
17 I'm Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself a Letter)
18 Mama Don't Allow It
19 (If I Had) Rhythm in My Nursery Rhymes
20 I Hope Gabriel Likes My Music
21 You Hit the Spot
22 Spreadin' Rhythm Around
23 Saddle Your Blues to a Wild Mustang
24 Wah-Hoo!
25 I'm Gonna Clap My Hands