[Dixielandjazz] West End Blues (was Dixielandjazz Digest, Vol 57, Issue 26)

[Bob Romans]

In my own humble opinion, that settles it!
The cadenza  belongs to Louis...period!
Damn! Why didn't I think to ask him when I met him 1964?
Now I can sleep tonight! :~)
Bill...YOU ARE AMAZING!!!
Thank you!
Warm regards,
Bob Romans,
Pounding my forehead,
1617 Lakeshore Dr.,
Lodi, Calif. 95242
Ph 209-747-1148
www.cellblockseven2002.net
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Haesler" <bhaesler at bigpond.net.au>
To: "Bob Romans" <cellblk7 at comcast.net>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2007 4:27 PM
Subject: Re: West End Blues (was Dixielandjazz Digest, Vol 57, Issue 26)


> Dear Bob and Mop
> I'm a little confused, which is not hard at my age.
> Bob said, then asked: " It has been my understanding that Joe "King" 
> Oliver recorded (and composed) that cadenza before Louis made his own 
> recording of it. Have I been misinformed?"
> Mr Mop replies: "No Bob, you are correct. And Oliver's version is 
> amazing given that he didn't have nearly the chops Louis did."
> Later Steve Barbone said: "I've never heard Oliver's cadenza. Is it 
> anywhere near as fantastic as
> what Louis did?"
> OK then.
> 1.  King Oliver composed "West End Blues" and recorded it for Vocalion 
> on 11 June 1928. No cadenza.
> 2.  Louis Armstrong recorded it several weeks later for Okeh on 28 June 
> 1928 with a (his) cadenza.
> 3.  Ethel Waters recorded it, with Clarence Williams at the piano, for 
> Columbia on 28 Aug 1928, by which time words by Clarence Williams had 
> been added.
> 4. Hazel Smith recorded it for Okeh on 29 Aug 1928 with Oliver on 
> cornet. No cadenza.
> 5.  Katherine Henderson recorded it for QRS in Sept 1928 with Ed Allen, 
> cornet. No cadenza.
> 6.  King Oliver rerecorded it for Victor on 16 Jan 1929 with the 
> cadenza (played by Louis Metcalf).
> I have all the above and have just replayed them.
> Therefore:
> Louis owns that introductory cadenza.
> There is no Oliver cadenza on his original version. Louis added it for 
> his recording.
> The simplified cadenza played on the second (later) Oliver recording 
> was not played by King Oliver.
> Kind regards,
> Bill.
> 
>