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Thread ID: 42282	2004-02-06 06:50:00	Off Topic: HTOTW#7, Bix and the Wolverines	Terry Porritt (14)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
213237	2004-02-06 06:50:00	Bix Beiderbecke joined the Wolverine Orchestra in November 1923 at the age of 20, and, in the words of Peter Lesley (see HTOTW#6) "..the effect was electric, and they became a sensation overnight". Let's listen to some acoustic recordings made with the Wolverines in 1924, and then the same tunes played 3 years later with the 'Frankie Trumbauer Orchestra' which was essentially a part of the Jean Goldkette Orchestra, and 'Bix and his Gang' which was almost the same personel but minus Trumbauer During the Wolverine period another young brilliant composer "Hoagy" Carmichael entered the scene, and became firm friends with Bix. Hoagy had qualified as a lawyer, but the world of music was too attractive to him, and he made his living in music. One of the tunes he composed for the Wolverines in 1924 was 'Riverboat Shuffle'. Here (www.redhotjazz.com) is Bix with the Wolverine Orchestra in May 1924 playing 'Riverboat Shuffle'. Now, lets jump 3 years to May 1927, and listen (www.redhotjazz.com) to Bix play the same tune with the Frank Trumbauer Orchestra. Just listen to the difference and how Bix matured in his playing, and his increased technical mastery, no wonder he bowled people over. Also remember we have now moved from acoustic to electrical recording. Now another favourite of mine, 'Jazz Me Blues' composed by a Tom Delaney in 1921. The Wolverine version was recorded in February 1924, click here (www.redhotjazz.com); and in October 1927 Bix recorded it again with a small group called Bix Beiderbecke and his Gang, in which Adrian Rollini is prominent on bass sax listen (www.redhotjazz.com). Finally, a jazz standard, 'Royal Garden Blues', but if you haven't yet heard the later Bix version then as in the words of Al Jolson, 'you ain't heard nothin' yet'. This was composed by record producer, business man, musician, Clarence Williams, with Spencer Williams (no relation). But first the 1924 Wolverine recording here (www.redhotjazz.com) followed immediately (www.redhotjazz.com) by the 1927 recording from the same session as Jazz Me Blues. That was pretty great in my opinion. Yet just over a year later Bix was well and truly heading to the bottom of the hill due to his alcoholism, and another young star, Andy Secrest, was hired by Paul Whiteman to 'play Bix' when Bix was incapable of performing. But that is another story and still some time away. In the next Hot Tunes of the Week we will listen to some of the great recordings made by the Paul Whiteman Orchestra with Bix'n'Bing (Crosby)together, what great times those were.	Terry Porritt (14)
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