Frankie Trumbauer and his Orchestra - Singin’ The Blues

Singin’ The Blues by Frankie Trumbauer and his Orchestra, featuring Bix Beiderbecke FRANKIE TRUMBAUER AND HIS ORCHESTRA Frank Trumbauer, C-melody or alto sax, dir: Bix Beiderbecke, cornet / Bill Rank or Miff Mole, trombone / Jimmy Dorsey, clarinet, alto sax / Paul Mertz, piano / Howdy Quicksell, banjo / Eddie Lang, guitar / Chauncey Morehouse, drums. New York, February 4, 1927. 80393-B Singin’ The Blues Parlophone A6235 (OKeh 40772) Note: Saxophonist Doc Ryker is usually listed as being on this recording, but in fact he is not present. Several experts suggest that Frank Trumbauer is playing an alto saxophone here, as what is being played fits the alto’s range better than the C-melody. It has also been suggested that Miff Mole plays the trombone on this side, whereas Bill Rank plays on the other two sides waxed during this session, and there is historical evidence to back this theory up. “Singin’ The Blues“ by Frankie Trumbauer and his Orchestra, featuring the legendary Bix Beiderbecke, is one of the most important jazz recordings ever to have been made. It influenced a generation of both white and black jazz and dance band musicians, including Louis Armstrong, and it’s reverberations have echoed down the eras, informing post-War generations of “cool school“ musicians and beyond. I have transferred the best quality copy I have of this recording. I have several original 78s of this side, but found the Australian Parlophone master pressing to be by far the best, much better than the English Parlophones and better than my copy of the original OKeh, which is slightly worn (perhaps they used an early stamper for the Australian pressing). After declicking, I reduced some of the surface noise, but not so much that it cuts into the music. Thus one can clearly hear the upper frequencies. A few people may prefer to have less surface hiss, in which case this video isn’t for them. I hope I have done this classic jazz recording justice, but of course nothing is perfect - except perhaps Bix’s playing here!