[Dixielandjazz] Red Nichols Experts.

[Bill Haesler]

> Who are among the Red Nichols Experts?
> I’m doing a musicological deep dive into Davenport Blues and would like to know more about the Nichols versions.

Dear Andrew, 
I now 'know that you know' (a good title for a song) that I am still around and still active with jazz and discography.
And I liked your definition of "interruptions"
Now in my 92nd year, but gradually slowing down.
The aural research took longer than I expected.

> The Red And Miff's Stompers :  New York, February 11, 1927 - is earliest, with a bigger band and a more elaborate arrangement.
> Red Nichols (cnt) Miff Mole (tb) Jimmy Dorsey (cl,as) Alfie Evans (tenor sax) Arthur Schutt (p) Joe Tarto (tu) Vic Berton (hot tympani and percussion) - Tony Colucci (bj) very softly replaces Eddie Lang.

That was the personnel for the first Red and Miff's Stompers sessions recorded for Edison on October 13, 1926 and November 10, 1926.  
The February 11, 1927 Victor session you are referring to had:
Red Nichols (c) Miff Mole (tb) Jimmy Dorsey (cl,as) Arthur Schutt (p, arr) Tony Colucci (bj) Vic Berton (hot tympani and percussion).
Two tunes were recorded and issued: Delirium (37768-2) and Davenport Blues (37769-2). 

> I hear no tuba - just wonderful tympani playing. Also, Alfie Evans plays tenor - not alto. So, there are some important errors in the Lord discography.

Because, Evans and Tarto were not involved. And Lord's Jazz Discography reference is a little confusing.

> Also, the arrangement is ny Paul Mertz.

What is your source for that information?  

> I’d love to hear the alternate take, but can’t find it. Could someone send me an mp3?

• Davenport blues
Red And Miff's Stompers: 
New York, February 11, 1927
37769-1    Davenport blues   	(unissued)   
37769-2    Davenport blues	Vic 20778, RCA (F)PM43179, NL89606, Saville (E)SVL146, Whitakers Wax Works 265, Masters of Jazz (F)MJCD804 [CD], 
						Classics (F)1212 [CD], Frog (E)DGF19 [CD], RCA Bluebird 6753-2-RB [CD], ASV Living Era (E)CDAJA5564 [CD], Retrospective
        					(E)RTS4227 [CD]
37769-3    Davenport blues    	Jazz Arch JA-21, RCA (F)PM43179, Bluebird 3136-2-RB [CD], Frog (E)DGF20 [CD]

Note: Saville (E)SVL146 titled "Red & Miff".
RCA (F)NL80606 titled "Red Nichols & Phil Napoleon - New York Horns",
Bluebird 3136-2-RB [CD] titled "The jazz age"
Bluebird 66085-2 [CD] titled "RCA Victor Jazz - The first half-Century - The 20's-60's"
RCA Bluebird 6753-2-RB [CD] titled "Great Trumpets (Classic Jazz To Swing)".
One take of "Davenport blues" also on RCA LEJ-9.
Frog (E)DGF19 [CD] titled "Slippin' Around. Miff Mole Vol.1". 
Frog (E)DGF20 [CD] titled "Slippin' Around - Again. Miff Mole Volume 2".
RCA (F)PM43179 is [LP] titled "Black And White Series – Vol. 200, The Sounds Of New York – Vol. 4".  (I no longer this.)
I have the above CDs.

Here 'tis:
Red and Miff's Stompers Victor take-3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmBo0uGSe3g  Frog DGF20  (source given as test.)
plus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8mmKQzbCgY
Refer to the included comment : <This version was an alternate take that was put on LP by the old Jazz Archives label (largely the work of collector Jerry Valburn.)  It was on the LP "Collector's Jackpot."  I don't think it had been on LP previously.  I believe much of that record series has recently been brought out on CD, but not under that label name.> 
I have this Jazz Archive JA-21 LP and it is the same rendition.

And here is the issued take
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqVKBVFooVg  			Victor 20778-B
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRBESrRxUGw&t=66s		Special Record 20778-B
and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OmtorHBVSQ  	Frog DGF19  

Now for the big surprise. It is identical to the alleged take-3!
A nobody seems to have picked it up over the years.
Both Frog reissues are the same, but from obvious different sources.
A quick aural check of Delirium reveals the same situation. No alternate -takes.
Take -3 of both does not appear to exist.
The notorious Jerry Valburn seems to have made an assumption from the clean 'test' in his possession.  

Herewith the Victor ledger information:
Davenport Blues
Red and Miff's Stompers

Take Date and Place			Take		Status	Label Name/Number	Format	
2/11/1927 New York, New York	1		Destroy			
2/11/1927 New York, New Yor	2		Master	Victor 20778		10-in.	
2/11/1927 New York, New York	2		Master	Victor 0113		10-in.	
2/11/1927 New York, New York	3		Hold			
2/11/1927 New York, New York	4		Destroy	
(Victor 0113 is a Pict-Ur Music Theatre 10-in 78 series.)	

•Or is it my old ears? I would appreciate your opinion.	 

> The Charleston Chasers version of Feb 25, 1927, is slower and the arrangement is much simpler. 

Charleston Chasers
Red Nichols (c) Miff Mole (tb) Jimmy Dorsey (cl,as) Arthur Schutt (p) Dick McDonough (bj) Joe Tarto (tu) Vic Berton (d) 
New York, February 25, 1927
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvlW8TXhLaI

A similar Miff Mole Molers' group recorded the tune for Okeh on 7 March 1927 with Joe Tarto (tu) and Ray Bauduc on drums.
Also on Frog 19.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntGyW54CxOo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD52S4Z69O0

> In the alternate take, the clarinet takes the break, instead of Bix's whole-tone scale harmonized for the three horns, as in the master take.

Which rendition are are referring to?

> Nichols also recorded Davenport in 1939 with a big band, supposedly arranged by Billy Maxted, but another source says Marks - but gives no first name. 
> I’d love to hear this as well. Again, an mp3 would be greatly appreciated.

Bluebird B-10408-B	June 21, 1939,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMk6Q0KcHvg
What was your Marks' source?

> In 1958, Red did it again with a large group arranged by Heinie Beau - and bringing back the hot-timpani.

Recorded for Capitol T1051
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eWa5lvirtE
Davenport blues
Red Nichols (c) Jackie Coon (mel) Moe Schneider (tb) Wayne Songer (cl,bar,as) Bill Wood (cl) Heinie Beau (cl,ts) Jerry Kaspar (bassax) Ralph Hansell (vib,tymp,bells) Bobby Hammack (p) Allan Reuss (g) Morty Corb (b) Jack Sperling (d) 
Los Angeles, June 4, 1958
Davenport blues    Cap T1051, (F)C054-85161
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BzK3yB3Y-c

> Red loved Bix - as testified in his recordings of Davenport Blues and arrangements of his piano pieces: In A Mist and Candlelights.  Red also commissioned arrangements of Flashes and In The Dark, but they were never recorded.

The following renditions were released by Audiophile:

Red Nichols, Syncopated Chamber Music
In a Mist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0Ix7QnLlak

Candlelights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc-ddKDFtxg

Very kind regards,
Bill.