[Dixielandjazz] Recordings of early jazz clarinet players.

[Bill Haesler]

John Fortier asked [in part]:
> Does anyone know where I can find clarinet recordings by Captain John Handy. Gus Bivona, Toby Scoville Browne, or Wade Whaley?  
> ....plenty of Handy recordings playing alto sax, but I can't find any on clarinet....  I know that Wade Whaley played with Kid Ory for a time.  Bivona played with Bunny Berrigan, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, and Bob Crosby, but have not been able to locate any of their recordings with him as a sideman.  ....I am also looking for a clarinet recording by Don Chesebro of Wisconsin.  He passed away this year .... I have not been able to find any recordings.  

Dear John,
This is what I have on file.
I've given CD reissue details first, as these may be easier to obtain.
I have also given LP information, so that you can start looking for them.

Captain John Handy:
•Punch Miller. 1960. American Music AMCD52. (Handy plays clarinet only. On all other recordings he plays sax, apart from odd tracks.)

Gus Bivoni:
These may be worth checking out:
•Bunny Berigan & His Orchestra. 
Bunny Berigan, Irving Goodman, Johnny Napton (t) Ray Conniff, Bob Jenney (tb) Gus Bivona (as/cl) Murray Williams (as) Georgie Auld, Clyde Rounds (ts) Joe Bushkin (p) Dick Wharton (g,vcl) Hank Wayland (b) Buddy Rich (d) Kathleen Lane (vcl) 
New York, 22 November 1938
     Sobbin' Blues     
     I Cried for you (kl vcl)     
     Jelly Roll Blues     
     'Deed I Do (kl vcl)     
(Particularly the following small group selection of Bix tunes):
Bunny Berigan, Irving Goodman (t) Ray Conniff (tb) Murray Williams, Gus Bivona (cl/as) Georgie Auld (ts) Joe Lippman (p) Hank Wayland (b) Buddy Rich (d) 
New York, 30 November 1938
     In A Mist     
     Flashes         
     Davenport Blues        
     Candlelights         
New York, December 1, 1938
     In The Dark     
     Walkin' The Dog         
Reissued on LP (Victor LPV581, Bluebird 9953, RCA PM43689) and French Classics CD 816 & 816. 
I have not checked the above tracks for clarinet, but can do so if required.
Gus Bivoni also plays clarinet on the following:
•Mel Powell "Muskrat Ramble". 1948. It is on the Mosaic 'Classic Capitol Jazz Sessions' 12CD set, Disc VIII.
•'Glory Alley' film sound track with JT band. Rhino R2 72827 (a CD).
  also check http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJZ-WHIA-LE
•Gus Bivona, 1956. 'Dig That Crazy Band', Mercury MG20157 (an LP).
•Gus Bivona & His Orchestra. 1957. Mercury MG20304 (an LP)
•Steve Allen All Stars. 1958. Mercury MG20518 (an LP)
•Steve Allen All Stars. 1959. Roulette R25053 (an LP)
•Gus Bivona. 'Ballads,Bounce & Bivona'. Warner Brothers W1264 (an LP)
•Gus Bivona. 'Bivona Deals In Millions'. Warner Brothers W1361
•Jerry Gray. 'This Is Jerry Gray'. 1966. Dot DLP3741/DLP25741 (an LP)

Scoville 'Toby' Browne
•Buck Clayton's Big Four. 1946. HRS session. On LP (Original Jazz Classics OJC1709) and the 'HRS" Mosaic CD set.
Teddy Wilson Octet. 1946. On LP (various).
•Helen Humes with Buck Clayton's Orch. 1947. Classics CD 1036.
Lionel Hampton session (3 tunes). 1956. On Bluebird CD 66157.
As you probably know, he also plays (cl/ts) on the 1966 'Introducing Cap'n John Handy' RCA-Victor LP LPM3762 & NL89503.

Wade Whaley.
•Bunk John with Kid Ory's Band. 1943. American Music AMCD16 'Bunk Johnson In San Francisco'.
•Kid Ory. 1944. Upbeat 187 (a CD). 'Portrait of the Greatest Slideman Ever Born'.'
•Kid Ory. 'Kid Ory '44-46'. American Music AMCD19.
•Bunk Johnson's V-Disc Veterans. 1944 'Spicy Advice'. GHB BCD-101 (a CD).  

Don't hesitate to ask, if you require additional details.
Very kind regards,
Bill.