[Dixielandjazz] Pee Wee Erwin

[Steve Barbone]

Marek Boym at marekboym at gmail.com wrote:

> To the best of my memory, Erwin was a swing musician, who turned to
> Dixie when "swing" dried out as a source of income.
> I heard him in Nice, France, with Bernie Privin, and did they swing!
> And yes, an excellent Dixieland player - sometimes.  Some of the "Big
> Jeb Dooley" recordings are not so great, but I have several excellent
> LPs by his various bands.  Also,  in the mid-1950's, he participated
> in a recording project with other swing masters, later issued and
> reissued on various bargain labels (such a Design, Bravo, etc), which
> included Dixieland standards, played as swing more than Dixieland
> (excellent recordings, whether the trumpeter/cornetist is Erwin or Rex
> Stewart).

Hello Marek:

Yes, Erwin was originally a big band player, then a swing player, then a
studio musician. His brand of Dixieland was indeed swing rhythm based, with
emphasis on solos, but also solidly conceived in ensemble. His trumpet
school in NJ with Goodman alumnus, Chris Griffin, was widely praised by NYC
area musicians. Following is a short bio:

Born George Erwin in Falls City Nebraska, May 30, 1913; Died in Teaneck New
Jersey, Jun 20, 1981, Trumpeter. He grew up in a musical family and began
playing trumpet at the age of four. He made his first radio broadcast four
years later. After traveling with territory bands he played with Joe Haymes
(1931-3), Isham Jones (1933-4) and others, then settled in New York.

Pee Wee's wide range and skills as a sight reader and improviser caused him
to be much in demand for radio sessions and he played on Benny Goodman's
programs in 1934-5 and 1936. In 1935 he also worked with Ray Noble. Later he
played with Tommy Dorsey (1937-9), who gave Erwin's powerful tone particular
prominence on such pieces as Who?.

After leaving Dorsey, Erwin pursued a career as a studio musician, and also
ran a big band (1941-2). In 1949 he began leading an ensemble which became
resident at Nick's in New York City, for much of the 1950s. During the 1960s
he ran a trumpet school with Chris Griffin and continued to perform. He also
became increasingly active in radio and TV work. On the NYC staff of CBS, he
played regularly for the Garry Moore, Carol Burnett, Candid Camera and
Jackie Gleason shows. From 1963 on he had a weekly radio jazz show with Ed
Joyce. His playing retained its spirit and verve throughout the following
decade, when he toured Europe with Warren Covington, the Kings of Jazz (his
own band, 1974) and the New York Jazz Repertory Company. He gave his last
performance in Holland in 1981.

His Dixieland work, briefly mentioned above was an almost 10 year, off and
on residency at Nick's in NYC. For those interested in his sound, the
following record may still be available. The band was superb and the joy
they got out of playing transferred to the audience. This was the band I sat
in with at Nick's as a teenager.

At the time, bassist Charlie (now Chuck) Traeger was my best gig buddy, a
great player and a beautiful guy. He is the only member of that band still
living (80+) and retired to Yulan NY with wife June in a cabin in the woods.
Towrd the end of his playing career, Chuck became one of the foremost bass
repair specialists in the USA, doing work for guys like Ron Carter and the
entire bass section of the NY Philharmonic.

Traeger's book, "The Setup And Repair of the Double Bass for Optimum Sound"
A Manual for Players, Makers, And Repairers by Chuck Traeger, David
Brownell, William Merchant Paperback, Henry a Strobel (December 2004) should
be perused by every bass player in the world.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone

PEE WEE ERWIN SEXTET - COMPLETE FIFTIES RECORDINGS
Label:     LONE HILL JAZZ   Number:  10122   Item Code:     55416
Format:     CD   DATES     (1955/1956)

Personnel: Pee Wee Erwin, Andy Russo, Sal Pace, Billy Maxted, Charlie
Traeger, Tony Spargo

This rare release contains the complete 1950s recordings of trumpet giant
Pee Wee Erwin¹s legendary sextet. The trumpeter is featured here on 15
ebullient tracks along with such notable musicians as clarinetist Sal Pace,
trombonist Andy Russo, pianist and arranger Billy Maxted, bassist Charlie
Treager and drummer Tony Spargo. Several of these sidemen, most notably
Maxted and Spargo who was also the drummer for the legendary ODJB became
successful bandleaders in their own right. While the bulk of the material is
made up of classic Dixieland fare, the excitement and enjoyment of the
musicians is palpable, and the group performances and individual solos are
all exceptional. Songs are:
   
Washington And Lee Swing, Battle Hymn Of The Republic, Dixieland Shuffle,
Hindustan, Pagan Love Song, I'm Confessin', Memphis Blues,
Peter And The Wolf, Big Noise From Winnetka, A Whistler And His Dog,
Tea For Two, After You've Gone, Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers,
Little Rock Getaway, American Patrol,