When it comes to Red Nichols,
as Humphrey Lyttelton once said, History comes
out backwards. Due to the vagaries of record
company’s releases and to international distribution
networks many of Nichols’ own discs arrived
in Europe before those of Bix Beiderbecke.
To ears unpractised in the chronologies involved
it seemed that Beiderbecke was the copyist
– whereas of course it was Nichols who was
steeped deep in Beiderbecke’s stylistic lore.
The arguments over such things tend to recur
but it’s far better to listen to Nichols’
own recorded legacy unburdened by considerations
of influence, if we can. His was a strong,
confident lead and he led some superb bands.
Many of these tracks are deservedly
famous but inspired by the centenary of his
birth we have a tasty collection of twenty-six
of them recorded between 1926 and 1930. The
Nichols collegiate included luminaries such
as Frank Teschmacher-inspired clarinettist
Jimmy Dorsey and trombonist Miff Mole, pioneer
jazz guitarist Eddie Lang and equally pioneer
jazz violinist Joe Venuti. Alongside them
was the leader of bass saxophonists in this
period, Adrian Rollini, and a phalanx of other
stars, Pee Wee Russell, Jack Teagarden, Benny
Goodman and Glenn Miller among them. All are
heard here.
Dorsey bustles on his on-the-beat
alto playing in That’s No Bargain like
a proto-jump player, only slightly hampered
by the rather dodgy drumming of Vic Berton.
Pianist Arthur Schutt contributes some tasteful
quasi-classical moments along with some competent
chording but it’s Mole who impresses most
in the early tracks, driving all before him
in Buddy’s Habits. By 1927 Dorsey has
relaxed his more frenetic playing and Pee
Wee Russell’s embryonic style is in well in
place in Riverboat Shuffle. Nichols’
Five Pennies was a moveable feast with up
to a dozen or so in the band at any one time
and the later recordings see an increase in
personnel (in some of the 1927 and 1930 sessions
there was a three man trumpet section). One
of the most easy going of the records was
Ida, Sweet as Apple Cider whose relaxed
rhythm is superb, despite the over-busy Burton
behind the skins. Some of Nichols’ best playing
is here – sample I Never Knew – and
when he’s joined by Teagarden, the resident
genius of the band, and by bluesy Joe Sullivan
things go without any pain at all. It’s well
worth sampling Fud Livingston’s Imagination,
a clever and imaginative piece of writing,
and one considerably ahead of its time. We
even get Wingy Manone’s Corrine Corrina,
recorded under Nichols’ auspices.
Fine copies are used and Vic
Bellerby’s notes are unpartisan but admiring.
Just as it should be.
Jonathan Woolf
Nichols was steeped deep in
Beiderbecke’s stylistic lore - a strong, confident
lead and he led some superb bands. Many of
these tracks are deservedly famous ... see
Full Review
CD Reviews
LIVING ERA CD AJA 5564 [77.38]
