[Dixielandjazz] List of Tenor Sax Players

[Bill Haesler]

Brian Wood mentioned:
> I have never come across any reference to Eddie Miller being 
> influenced by
> anyone else, or that he played alto although most reed players can 
> switch.

Dear Brian,
John Chilton mentions on page 162 of 'Stomp Off, Let's Go. The Story of 
Bob Crosby's Bob Cats & Big Band' (a definitive book) that in a 1937 
interview Mr Miller said his influences were "Leon Roppolo, Johnny 
Dodds (and Coleman Hawkins)."
John also mentions that "by 1926, Eddie's skills, both on clarinet and 
on alto-saxophone, had gained him a good reputation among the young 
musicians of New Orleans....... (he was only 15)....."
In New York Eddie joined the band of Julie Winz in 1930 as an alto-sax 
player and recorded with the group. [More in a separate post.] At this 
time Winz had a residency at the Roseland Ballroom where Eddie "was 
able to listen closely to Coleman Hawkins, who was then starring in 
Fletcher Henderson's Band."
"Then, in September 1930, he [Eddie] had a casual meeting with 
trumpeter Charlie Teagarden (brother of Jack) who told him that Gil 
Rodin, the alto-saxophonist with Ben Pollack's Band had decided to 
leave the band, and Pollack was looking for a replacement."
However Rodin decided to stay, but tenor saxist Babe Russin  was 
leaving. When Pollack asked Eddie did he play tenor, Ray Bauduc jumped 
in and said yes before Eddie could answer. He borrowed a tenor from 
Nappy Lamare's brother Jimmy, "Pollack liked what he heard, and 
arranged for Eddie to buy a brand new Conn tenor saxophone."
However, notwithstanding the above, I do not know of any recordings 
with Eddie Miller playing alto.
Nor can I hear any direct Coleman Hawkins' influences in Eddie Millers' 
wonderful tenor playing.
Kind regards,
Bill.