The Story Is Told

Bix Beiderbecke and his Rhythm Jugglers

Don Murray (clarinet); Howdy Quicksell (banjo); Tommy Gargano (drums); Paul Mertz (piano); Bix Beiderbecke (cornet); Tommy Dorsey (trombone)

It was nearing the Christmas holidays. Bix blew into Indianapolis and asked me to go down to Richmond with him to make some records. He phoned me at my house and I hurried down to pick him up in my new Ford, a Christmas present to myself.

When I found him he told me that he was on his way to make some records for Gennett, the same outfit that had made our record in the fall .... I asked Bix who was going to be with him on the date.

"We're going to make some records in 'slow-drag style," Bix said, "and I've got some guys who can really go. Tommy Dorsey, Howdy Quicksell, Don Murray, Paul Mertz and Tommy Gargano. They are going to drive from Detroit to meet me."

"Boy," I exclaimed, "that's really gonna be somethin'" What are you going to make?"

"Hell, I don't know. Just make some up I guess."

"How about me driving you over tonight?"

"That'll be swell," Bix said. "The guys are bringing three quarts ...."

We got to the studio and sat around for a while and the bottles got lighter and lighter and finally Bix started doodling on his horn. Finally, he seemed to find a strain that suited him but by that time everybody had taken a hand in composing the melody, though as the bottles got still lighter nobody seemed to have a definite understanding of what that melody was.

I have a photo of that group on that day. Bix is leaning against the piano, his legs crossed, and you see him in half-profile. He looks so young, like a little boy, like Little Boy Blue - and he blew. Tommy Dorsey, beside him, bespectacled even at that early age, is slumped in a chair, his trombone at his mouth. The rest of them are in various negligent poses, waiting.

As far as I could see, they didn't have any arrangements worked out, or tune either for that matter, but when the technician came in and gave them the high sign, they took off. Away they went. Away down.

They named the piece Davenport Blues in honour of Bix's home town. It was done in lazy 'jig style' and, as the dead soldiers were racked up, their music got screwier and screwier."

Toddlin' Blues was the next number, and, by the time it was finished, they were having a little trouble staying in front of their horns. But the effect was wonderful. They used the "I'se acomin'" strain from Old Black Joe and there were among them those who were soon "a-comin". A few years later three of those six boys who got together to blow jazz were gone. Little Joes all."

Hoagy Carmichael from Hear Me Talkin' To Ya edited by Nat Shapiro and Nat Hentoff

These Gennett sides described by Hoagy Carmichael were recorded in 1925. Don Murray (clarinet) died in 1929 after a car accident; Tommy Gargano (drums) died in 1928, and Bix in 1931. Ed.