Classics 1930-1931

Volume six in the complete recordings of trumpeter Red Nichols as reissued by the Classics Chronological Series consists of 25 Victor and Brunswick recordings dating from September 1930 through January 1931, and is especially recommended to those who enjoy Depression-era jazz and pop vocals, with the pop outweighing the jazz by a considerable margin. "On Revival Day," a topical novelty originally released in two parts on flipsides of a 78 rpm record, trombonist Jack Teagarden is backed by a vocal group billed as the Foursome. Forthwith, Nichols' ensemble is garnished at times with a couple of violins and is almost invariably dusted with sugary vocals by Scrappy Lambert, Dick Robertson, Eddie Thomas, Paul Small, and songwriter Harold Arlen. If you're curious to hear what the composer of "Blues in the Night" sounded like as a crooner, that's him singing "How Come You Do Me Like You Do?" as well as his own compositions "Linda," "You Said It," and "Sweet and Hot." The jazziest vocals, even funkier than Teagarden's, are by trumpeter Wingy Manone, who puts his personal stamp on "Rockin' Chair," "Bugaboo," and "Corrine Corrina." Betwixt and between the vocals there exist smoothly coordinated ensemble passages and a number of fine solos, for almost every group that Nichols ever led was peppered with skilled jazz musicians. In addition to those already mentioned, Nichols is heard alongside clarinetist Benny Goodman, trombonist Glenn Miller, saxophonists Jimmy Dorsey and Eddie Miller, pianist Joe Sullivan, and drummer Gene Krupa. ~ arwulf arwulf|