[Dixielandjazz] Eddie Miller

[Bill Haesler]

Robert Newman wrote [in part]: .......... and recorded at least two 
clarinet solos with Bob Crosby.

Dear Bob,
Eddie Miller never admitted to being other than "just a clarinetist", 
but his 1930s recordings prove otherwise.
When I first met the charming (and gentle) Mr Miller at the 1979 
Australian Jazz Convention in Perth someone in our group of admires 
asked him if he had recorded much on clt. ”No“ was his reply.
However, when I mentioned that I had all of his 1930s clt sides in my 
collection he seemed quite surprised, for he didn‘t think we 
Australians even knew who he was!
In late 1934, while in California, most of Ben Pollack‘s band resigned, 
unhappy with Pollack's management at that time. A few of them, 
including Eddie Miller, ended up in New York seeking fame and fortune 
and found plenty of freelance work. They eventually formed and 
rehearsed a big band which, in mid 1935, became the Bob Crosby Orch.
Eddie Miller didn‘t record solo clt with Ben Pollack, so his first 
clarinet solos are on these 1934-1935 small group records made when he 
was working on 52nd Street.
Herewith is the list of recordings on which Eddie Miller solos on 
clarinet.
LOUIS PRIMA and His NEW ORLEANS GANG
   26 Dec 1934
1. House Rent Party Day
2. It's The Rhythm In Me
3. Worry Blues
4. Bright Eyes
NEW ORLEANS RHYTHM KINGS
   20 Feb 1935
5. Baby Brown
6. No Lovers Allowed
7. Oh Susanna
8. Since We Fell Out Of Love
   3 April 1935
9. Put On An Old Pair Of Shoes (last ensemble choruses only)
10. Sugar Is Sweet And So Are You
MOUND CITY BLUE BLOWERS
   9 May 1935
11. She's A Latin From Manhattan
12. Indiana
   8 Nov 1935
13. Red Sails In The Sunset
14. On Treasure Island
   12 Dec 1935
15. Enny Meeny Miney Mo
16. I'm Shooting High
17. I've Got My Fingers Crossed
18. High Society
19. Muskrat Ramble
During 1934-1936 Eddie Miller also recorded extensively with Wingy 
Manone. Although he plays clt in many of the ensembles he only solos on 
tenor. Matty Matlock is the clt soloist on all these recordings.
BUNNY BERIGAN and His BLUE BOYS.
   13 Dec 1935
20. I'm Coming Virginia
21. Blues
BOB CROSBY and His BOBCATS
   13 Nov 1937 Bob Crosby	
22. Stumbling
23. Fidgety Feet
BOB CROSBY and his ORCHESTRA	
   16 Nov 1937
24. South Rampart St Parade
25. Dogtown Blues
   10 Feb 1938
26. Wolverine Blues.
Then Irving Fazola (another New Orleans boy) joined the Crosby band and 
Eddie Miller never recorded solo clt with them again. The only other 
record I know featuring Eddie Miller on clarinet was made for Capitol:
EDDIE MILLER'S CRESCENT CITY QUARTET
   27 Jan 1945
27. Cajun Love Song.

Kind regards,
Bill.