Take Two
Singin' The Blues
Singin' The Blues was written by J. Russel Robinson, Con Conrad, Sam M. Lewis and Joe Young in 1920 and first recorded as an instrumental by the Original Dixieland Jass Band that same year (It seems to only available with Margie preceding it until 2 minutes in - here). In 1927, the version that is perhaps best known was recorded by Frankie Trumbauer with Bix Beiderbecke's cornet solo engraved in jazz history. The tune has become a jazz standard and was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1977. Less well known is that Frankie Trumbauer recorded it again in 1929 with vocalist Bee Palmer singing the words and scatting in tribute to Bix's solo.
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These two recordings make up our 'Take Two' This month. So we start with the 1927 recording. Frankie Trumbauer's band were: Frankie Trumbauer (C-melody saxophone); Bix Beiderbecke (cornet); Miff Mole (trombone); Jimmy Dorsey (clarinet); Doc Ryker (alto sax); Paul Madeira Mertz (piano); Eddie Lang (guitar) and Chauncey Morehouse (drums).
​In the recording with Bee Palmer, the trumpet player is apparently unknown but the rest of the band are: Frankie Trumbauer (C-melody sax); Bill Rank (trombone); Chet Hazlett or Charles Strictfaden (alto sax); Irving Friedman (clarinet, tenor sax); Lennie Hayton (piano); Snoozer Quinn (guitar); Min Leibrook (bass sax); George Marsh (drums) and Bee Palmer (vocals). Notes with this audio recording say: "Paul Whiteman sponsored this session with sidemen of his orchestra with Frank Trumbauer as the director. The orchestra plays an arrangement built on the saxophone solo created by Tram on February 4, 1927; this part is followed by Bee Palmer singing on the same melody as Tram's solo, then scat singing on the solo played by Bix Beiderbecke on the original Okeh recording. Snoozer Quinn, the guitarist, emphasized that Bix was attending this session, but the few cornet (or trumpet) notes played on "Singin' the Blues" make identification impossible.
© Sandy Brown Jazz 2025.3