KEY RECORDINGS: with THE LOUISIANA FIVE, 1919 Today’s Hero was initially slightly further down my list than number 16, but during the last few months I’ve been doing some intensive research for another project in which he plays a prominent role (more about that below!), so it made sense to write this article now whilst … Continue reading Heroes #16: Anton Lada, 1890-1944
Heroes
Drummers Of The Twenties
Heroes #15: Gene Krupa, 1909-1973
“Krupa’s drums went through us like a triple bourbon.” – Eddie Condon KEY RECORDINGS: With FRANK TESCHEMACHER / RED McKENZIE / EDDIE CONDON and GANG 1927-9 (The Chicagoans / Chicago Rhythm Kings / Jungle Kings / Condon Quartet, etc. etc.) With THELMA TERRY AND HER PLAY BOYS, 1928 With RED NICHOLS / MIFF MOLE and … Continue reading Heroes #15: Gene Krupa, 1909-1973
Heroes #14: Andrew Hilaire, 1899-1935
“Andrew Hilaire: the perfect drummer for Jelly Roll Morton. Time, taste, technique - all superb.” - Hal Smith KEY RECORDINGS: With 'DOC' COOK (COOK & HIS DREAMLAND ORCHESTRA / COOKIE'S GINGERSNAPS / COOK & HIS 14 DOCTORS OF SYNCOPATION), 1924-28 With JELLY ROLL MORTON’S RED HOT PEPPERS, 1926 At the dawn of the recording industry, … Continue reading Heroes #14: Andrew Hilaire, 1899-1935
Heroes #13: Vic Moore, 1902-1976
“Moore hunched over his drums, hammering out a steady pulse...” – Ralph Berton KEY RECORDINGS: With THE WOLVERINE ORCHESTRA, 1924 With THE SIOUX CITY SIX, 1924 With THE ORIGINAL WOLVERINES, 1927-8 In 1920, young Vic Moore was just beginning to take an interest in music, particularly in the jazz which was becoming wildly popular among … Continue reading Heroes #13: Vic Moore, 1902-1976
Heroes #12: Alfred ‘Tubby’ Hall, 1895-1945
'I got my press roll from [...] Tubby Hall'– Baby Dodds KEY RECORDINGS: [?] With DOC COOK & HIS DREAMLAND ORCHESTRA, 1924 With LOUIS ARMSTRONG & HIS ORCHESTRA, dir. CARROLL DICKERSON, 1927-31 Addressing the early life and work of Alfred ‘Tubby’ Hall, hard on the heels of having finished introducing our previous Hero – Mr. Stan King … Continue reading Heroes #12: Alfred ‘Tubby’ Hall, 1895-1945
Heroes #11: Stan King, 1900-1949
"Come on, I want you to meet the world's greatest drummer, Stan King!" - Fud Livingston, as quoted by Timme Rosenkrantz KEY RECORDINGS: With THE CALIFORNIA RAMBLERS (VAGABONDS / LITTLE RAMBLERS / GOOFUS FIVE / UNIVERSITY SIX / VARSITY EIGHT / GOLDEN GATE ORCH. / etc. etc. etc.) 1923-6; 1927-9 With THE DORSEY BROTHERS ORCHESTRA, … Continue reading Heroes #11: Stan King, 1900-1949
Heroes #10: Joseph ‘Kaiser’ Marshall, 1899-1948
“One of the great drummers of the early days of jazz” – Leonard Feather KEY RECORDINGS: With LUCILLE HEGAMIN, 1920-22 With FLETCHER HENDERSON & HIS ORCHESTRA, 1923-29 With McKINNEY’S COTTON PICKERS, 1929 With LOUIS ARMSTRONG, 1929 A select number of individuals in jazz history were awarded honorific ‘noble’ nicknames by their peers; some of these … Continue reading Heroes #10: Joseph ‘Kaiser’ Marshall, 1899-1948
Heroes #9: Chauncey Morehouse, 1902-1980
"The Dixieland drummer[’s] success depends entirely on his own originality" – Chauncey Morehouse KEY RECORDINGS: With THE GEORGIANS, 1922-24 With JEAN GOLDKETTE & HIS ORCHESTRA, 1926-27 With FRANKIE TRUMBAUER & HIS ORCHESTRA, 1927 With BIX BEIDERBECKE & HIS GANG, 1927 In jazz, as in many art forms, certain historical figures occasionally acquire a mythical status, … Continue reading Heroes #9: Chauncey Morehouse, 1902-1980
Heroes #8 : Paul Barbarin, 1899-1969
“The warmth, the feeling, the swing, the beat, the everything, were there.” – Louis Armstrong KEY RECORDINGS: With KING OLIVER’S DIXIE SYNCOPATORS / KING OLIVER’S ORCHESTRA, 1926-9 With LUIS RUSSELL AND HIS ORCHESTRA, 1928-9 With JELLY ROLL MORTON’S RED HOT PEPPERS, 1929 With LOUIS ARMSTRONG & HIS SAVOY BALLROOM FIVE / HIS ORCHESTRA, 1929 When … Continue reading Heroes #8 : Paul Barbarin, 1899-1969
Heroes #7: Ben Pollack, 1903-1971
“Now there was a drummer, one of the finest who ever lived.” – Jimmy McPartland KEY RECORDINGS: With THE NEW ORLEANS RHYTHM KINGS [NORK], 1923 With THE STOMP SIX, 1925 BEN POLLACK & HIS CALIFORNIANS/ HIS PARK CENTRAL ORCHESTRA, 1926-30 With BENNIE GOODMAN & HIS BOYS, 1928 With IRVING MILLS [small groups under many aliases], … Continue reading Heroes #7: Ben Pollack, 1903-1971
