Jazz / Dixieland
CD 1: Whistlin' the Blues - 77:14 min.
At The Jazz Band Ball
Dippermouth Blues (Sugar Foot Stomp)
New York, November 10, 1939
Muggsy Spanier (cn), George Brunies (tb), Rod Cless (cl), Bernie Billings (ts), Joe Buskin (p), Bob Casey (b), Don Carter (d)
Sister Kate
New York, November 10, 1939
Muggsy Spanier (cn), George Brunies (tb)(vcl), Rod Cless (cl), Bernie Billings (ts), Joe Buskin (p), Bob Casey (b), Don Carter (d)
Riverboat Shuffle
Relaxin' At The Touro
At Sundown
Bluin' The Blues
New York, November 22, 1939
Same, except Nick Caiazza (ts) replaces Bernie Billings
Lonesome Road
New York, December 12, 1939
Same, except Al Sidell (d) replaces Don Carter
Sweet Lorraine
Four Or Five Times
That's A Plenty
Sweet Sue, Just You
New York, March 24 - April 6, 1940
Muggsy Spanier (cn), Sidney Bechet (cl)(ss), Carmen Mastren (g), Wellman Braud (b)
Angry
Weary Blues
Snag It
Alice Blue Gown
New York, April 15, 1944
Muggsy Spanier (cn), Miff Mole (tb), Pee Wee Russell (cl), Dick Cary (p), Eddie Condon (g), Bob Casey (b), Joe Grausso (d)
Sweet Lorraine
Oh! Lady Be Good
Sugar
September In The Rain
New York, April 22, 1944
Muggsy Spanier (cn), Ernie Caceres (bar), Pee Wee Russell (cl), Dick Cary (p), Eddie Condon (g), Sid Weiss (b), Joe Grausso (d)
Memphis Blues
Riverside Blues
Rosetta
New York, September 27, 1944
Muggsy Spanier (cn), Miff Mole (tb), Pee Wee Russell (cl), Boomie Richman (ts), Gene Schroeder (p), Eddie Condon (g), Bob Haggart (b), George Wettling (d)
CD 2: Pee Wee Speaks - 77:04 min.
That's A Plenty
Squeeze Me
Jazz Me Blues
Pee Wee Speaks
Pat's Blues
New York, October 17, 1944
Muggsy Spanier (cn), Robert Louis McGarity (tb), Pee Wee Russell (cl), Boomie Richman (ts), Jess Stacy (p), Henry White (g), Bob Haggart (b), George Wettling (d)
Whistlin' The Blues
Sobbin' Blues
Darktown Strutters' Ball
The Lady's In Love With You
New York, December 7, 1944
Muggsy Spanier (cn), Robert Louis McGarity (tb), Pee Wee Russell (cl), Boomie Richman (ts), Jess Stacy (p), Eddie Condon (g), Bob Haggart (b), Joe Grausso (d)
Tin Roof Blues
Muskrat Ramble
New York, March 1, 1945
Muggsy Spanier (cn), Lou McGarity (tb), Pee Wee Russell (cl), Gene Schroeder (p), Carl Kress (g), Bob Casey (b), Joe Grausso (d)
Bugle Call Rag
That's A Plenty
Feather Brain Blues
Lucky To Me
New York, March 2, 1945
Muggsy Spanier (cn), Lou McGarity (tb), Pee Wee Russell (cl), Ernie Caceres (bars), Gene Schroeder (p), Carl Kress (g), Bob Haggart (b)(whistling), Charlie Carroll (d)
Tin Roof Blues
Cherry
China Boy
You're Driving Me Crazy
You Took Advantage Of Me
New York, October 22, 1945
Muggsy Spanier (cn), Lou McGarity (tb), Peanuts Hucko (cl), Bud Freeman (ts), Dave Bowman (p), Hy White (g), Trigger Alpert (b), George Wettling (d)
PeeWee Squawks
Sentimental Journey
Muggsy Special
New York, September 9, 1946
Muggsy Spanier (cn)(vcl), Vernon Brown (tb), Pee Wee Russell (cl)(vcl), Nick Caiazza (ts), Gene Schroeder (p), Bob Haggart (g), George Wettling (d)
Buchformat 2 CD + 20 page booklet
Muggsy Spanier was one of the foremost exponents of the Dixieland cornet. Although he was not born in New Orleans, his style was completely imbued to the New Orleans jazz of the beginning of the 20th century. He was however fortunate enough to grow up in a city where black and white musicians alike could take that New Orleans sound and give it a contemporary feel - whilst at the same time keep its recognisably traditional roots.
Muggsy Spanier
Active Decades: '20s, '30s, '40s, '50s and '60s
Born: Nov 09, 1906 in Chicago, IL
Died: Feb 12, 1967 in Sausalito, CA
Genre: Jazz
Muggsy Spanier was a predictable but forceful cornetist who rarely strayed far from the melody. Perfectly at home in Dixieland ensembles, Spanier was also an emotional soloist (equally influenced by King Oliver and Louis Armstrong) who was an expert at using the plunger mute. He started on cornet when he was 13, played with Elmer Schoebel's band in 1921, and first recorded in 1924. Spanier was a fixture in Chicago throughout the decade (appearing on several important early records) before joining Ted Lewis in 1929. Although Lewis was essentially a corny showman, Spanier's solos gave his band some validity during the next seven years. After a stint with Ben Pollack's orchestra (1936-1938), Spanier became seriously ill and was hospitalized for three months. After he recovered, the cornetist formed his famous eight-piece "Ragtime Band" and recorded 16 Dixieland performances for Bluebird (later dubbed The Great Sixteen) that virtually defined the music of the Dixieland revival movement. But because his group actually preceded the revival by a couple years, it soon had to break up due to lack of work. Muggsy joined Bob Crosby for a time, had his own short-lived big band, freelanced with Dixieland bands in New York, and starting in 1950 he gradually relocated to the West Coast. During 1957-1959 Spanier worked with Earl Hines' band and he continued playing up until his retirement in 1964, touring Europe in 1960 and always retaining his popularity in the Dixieland world.
---Scott Yanow, All Music Guide |
