Over a year ago, I promised that I’d be taking a three-part look at cymbals and cymbal-playing in 1920s jazz, each article profiling a typical period instrument from my own collection which I use regularly, and examining some instructive audio examples of our ‘Twenties drumming Heroes using theirs in action. I began with an essay … Continue reading Instruments #7: The ‘Snappy’ Turkish-style Cymbal, late 1920s
Tricky Cymbal
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 #6: William ‘Sonny’ Greer, 1895-1982
“We were a pretty wild bunch in those days, myself in particular” – Sonny Greer KEY RECORDINGS: With DUKE ELLINGTON AND HIS KENTUCKY CLUB ORCH. / WASHINGTONIANS, 1924-30 Some of the great drummers of the ‘twenties gained their reputations as journeymen, able to slot seamlessly into a wide variety of musical ensembles and consequently to … Continue reading Heroes #6: William ‘Sonny’ Greer, 1895-1982
Heroes #5: Victor Berton, 1896-1951
“A true pioneer, for the timekeeping methods he introduced and for his role in determining the very equipment [...] subsequent drummers would play.” – Richard M. Sudhalter KEY RECORDINGS: With THE WOLVERINE ORCHESTRA, 1924 With RED NICHOLS & MIFF MOLE, 1925-30 (aka. The Red Heads / Red Nichols & His Five Pennies / Red & … Continue reading Heroes #5: Victor Berton, 1896-1951
Drums In The Twenties 