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

[tduncan]

J just knew that you would nail this one Bill just as Louis nailed that
cadenza. I should have read on before I did my research and assumed that
Oliver was playing on his later recording. Redhotjazz.com also has Louis
playing it with his Orchestra in 1939 for a little different take.

Regards,
Tom Duncan
Doctor Dubious and the Agnostics
PO Box 2118      Teaneck, NJ 07666
P   (201)836-6076     FAX   (201)833-4143
www.doctordubious.com
 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com
[mailto:dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com] On Behalf Of Bill Haesler
Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2007 7:28 PM
To: Tom Duncan
Cc: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] 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.


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