177 Choo Choo Jazzers - VJM's Jazz & Blues Mart · 2020. 10. 17. · Billy Higgins and Alberta...

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3 The Choo Choo Jazzers and Similar Groups: A Musical and Discographical Reappraisal, Part Three By Bob Hitchens, with revised discographical information compiled and edited by Mark Berresford Please see Part One (VJM 175) for index to abbreviations and reference sources. THREE MONKEY CHASERS Bob Fuller (cl) Louis Hooper (p) Elmer Snowden (bj) New York, October 16, 1925 141142-3 Uncle Remus Stomp (Fuller and Hooper) Har 50-H 141143-1 Montmarte Giggles [sic] (Spencer Williams) Har 50-H Rust, Kidd, LW: BF,LH,ES. The personnel is from the Columbia file cards. Rosa Henderson With The Three Jolly Miners Rosa Henderson (vcl) acc by: Bob Fuller (cl) Louis Hooper (p) Elmer Snowden (bj) New York, October 17, 1925 E-1511/2/3 An’ I Don't Mean If ! (De Leath) Voc A-15215 E-1514/5/6 You Can't Be Like My Last Man Was (Davis - Hooper) Voc B-15215 Rust: JF,BF,LH. B&GR, Kidd: BF,LH,ES. MB and I agree with the latter. MONETTE MOORE Monette Moore (vcl) acc by: Rex Stewart (cnt) Louis Hooper (p) New York, October 19, 1925 141153-3 Take It Easy (Overstreet and Davis) Col 14105-D 141154-3 Get It Fixed (Spencer Williams) Col 14105-D Rust, B&GR, Kidd, Bastin: RS,LH. Miley disco: RS. The personnel is taken from the file card. The Charleston Trio Bob Fuller (cl) Louis Hooper (p) Elmer Snowden (bj) New York, October 28, 1925 33824-1,2,3 Carolina Stomp (Rube Bloom) Vic unissued 33825-1,2,3 Ridiculous Blues (Fuller, Hooper) Vic unissued All three takes of each title were marked as ‘Destroy’. Rust: BF,LH,ES. Not mentioned by Kidd or LW. According to Louis Hooper (RR 77, June 1966), “We were only at Victor once. There was a slight feud going on between Joe Davis and Nat Shilkret who was the chief recorder there. Joe had managed to get an audition for us and for some inexplicable reason, Bob Fuller developed a case of the jitters. He muffed two or three important notes and we had had it for that day. Whether or not that played into the hands of Shilkret I don’t know… we were never permitted to do a re-make.” Three Jolly Miners Banjo - Piano - Clarinet Bob Fuller (cl) Louis Hooper (p) Elmer Snowden (bj) New York, October 29, 1925 E-1540/2 House Party Stomp (Waller) Voc A 15164 E-1543/5 Grand Opera Blues (Fuller - Hooper) Voc B 15164 Rust, Kidd, LW: BF,LH,ES. I have not heard these recordings (BH). Billy Higgins and Alberta Perkins Billy Higgins and Alberta Perkins (vcl) acc by: unknown (cl) (p) New York, October 31, 1925 E1574/75/76 How can I miss you when you’re gone Voc unissued E1577/78/79 You can’t proposition me Voc unissued Rust: omitted. B&GR: u/k cl,p. Not available. Rocky Mountain Trio Bob Fuller (cl) Louis Hooper (p) Elmer Snowden (bj) New York, c. November 2, 1925 9805-A GRAND OPERA BLUES (A Highbrow Stomp) (Hooper - Fuller) Gen 3184-A 9806-A OLD MAN'S CHARLESTON (Fuller - Hooper) Gen 3184-B Rust, Kidd, LW: BF,LH,ES. Agreed. Elmer Snowden is now with the Plantation Revue on tour with Ethel Waters. (BAA 5/12/25, p4/6)

Transcript of 177 Choo Choo Jazzers - VJM's Jazz & Blues Mart · 2020. 10. 17. · Billy Higgins and Alberta...

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The Choo Choo Jazzers and Similar Groups: A Musical and Discographical Reappraisal, Part Three By Bob Hitchens, with revised discographical information compiled and edited by Mark Berresford Please see Part One (VJM 175) for index to abbreviations and reference sources. THREE MONKEY CHASERS Bob Fuller (cl) Louis Hooper (p) Elmer Snowden (bj) New York, October 16, 1925 141142-3 Uncle Remus Stomp (Fuller and Hooper) Har 50-H 141143-1 Montmarte Giggles [sic] (Spencer Williams) Har 50-H Rust, Kidd, LW: BF,LH,ES. The personnel is from the Columbia file cards.

Rosa Henderson With The Three Jolly Miners Rosa Henderson (vcl) acc by: Bob Fuller (cl) Louis Hooper (p) Elmer Snowden (bj) New York, October 17, 1925 E-1511/2/3 An’ I Don't Mean If ! (De Leath) Voc A-15215 E-1514/5/6 You Can't Be Like My Last Man Was (Davis - Hooper) Voc B-15215 Rust: JF,BF,LH. B&GR, Kidd: BF,LH,ES. MB and I agree with the latter. MONETTE MOORE Monette Moore (vcl) acc by: Rex Stewart (cnt) Louis Hooper (p) New York, October 19, 1925 141153-3 Take It Easy (Overstreet and Davis) Col 14105-D 141154-3 Get It Fixed (Spencer Williams) Col 14105-D Rust, B&GR, Kidd, Bastin: RS,LH. Miley disco: RS. The personnel is taken from the file card.

The Charleston Trio Bob Fuller (cl) Louis Hooper (p) Elmer Snowden (bj) New York, October 28, 1925 33824-1,2,3 Carolina Stomp (Rube Bloom) Vic unissued 33825-1,2,3 Ridiculous Blues (Fuller, Hooper) Vic unissued All three takes of each title were marked as ‘Destroy’. Rust: BF,LH,ES. Not mentioned by Kidd or LW. According to Louis Hooper (RR 77, June 1966), “We were only at Victor once. There was a slight feud going on between Joe Davis and Nat Shilkret who was the chief recorder there. Joe had managed to get an audition for us and for some inexplicable reason, Bob Fuller developed a case of the jitters. He muffed two or three important notes and we had had it for that day. Whether or not that played into the hands of Shilkret I don’t know… we were never permitted to do a re-make.” Three Jolly Miners Banjo - Piano - Clarinet Bob Fuller (cl) Louis Hooper (p) Elmer Snowden (bj) New York, October 29, 1925 E-1540/2 House Party Stomp (Waller) Voc A 15164 E-1543/5 Grand Opera Blues (Fuller - Hooper) Voc B 15164 Rust, Kidd, LW: BF,LH,ES. I have not heard these recordings (BH). Billy Higgins and Alberta Perkins Billy Higgins and Alberta Perkins (vcl) acc by: unknown (cl) (p) New York, October 31, 1925 E1574/75/76 How can I miss you when you’re gone Voc unissued E1577/78/79 You can’t proposition me Voc unissued Rust: omitted. B&GR: u/k cl,p. Not available. Rocky Mountain Trio Bob Fuller (cl) Louis Hooper (p) Elmer Snowden (bj) New York, c. November 2, 1925 9805-A GRAND OPERA BLUES (A Highbrow Stomp) (Hooper - Fuller) Gen 3184-A 9806-A OLD MAN'S CHARLESTON (Fuller - Hooper) Gen 3184-B Rust, Kidd, LW: BF,LH,ES. Agreed. Elmer Snowden is now with the Plantation Revue on tour with Ethel Waters. (BAA 5/12/25, p4/6)

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Viola McCoy Comedienne, with Piano, Violin and ‘Cello [sic] Viola McCoy (vcl) acc by the Dixie Trio: Rex Stewart (cnt) prob Elmer Snowden (vln) prob Louis Hooper (p) New York, January 6, 1926 2043/45W Stomp Your Blues Away (Smolev - Seaman) Voc B 15245 E2046/48W Shake That Thing (Jackson) Voc A 15245 Rust, B&GR: RS,u/k vln,p. Howard Rye confirms RS in notes to Document DOCD5417 and rejects Porter Grainger as pianist. Sounds like LH. A search has found no confirmation that ES played violin, although, as MB emphasises, he might be expected to do so, and was probably available in the studio on the day.

Three Jolly Miners Banjo - Piano - Clarinet Bob Fuller (cl) Louis Hooper (p) Elmer Snowden (bj) New York, January 12, 1926 E-2108/9/10 Chicago Back Step (Fuller - Hooper) Voc B 1004 E-2111/2/3 F Minor Blues (Tate) Voc A 1004 Rust, Kidd, LW: BF,LH,ES. Agreed – a lot of piano on 2108. Typical ES on 2113, not quite so clear on 2108. Date from LW. E-2108 credits from ledger Three Jolly Miners Banjo - Piano - Clarinet Bob Fuller (cl) Louis Hooper (p) Elmer Snowden (bj) New York, February 15, 1926

E-2435/6 Pig Alley Stomp (Williams) Voc A 1003 E-2437/8 Ridiculous Blues (Fuller - Hooper) Voc B 1003 Rust, Kidd, LW: BF,LH,ES. Agreed – more piano on 2438. The Vocalion file cards credit Spencer Williams as the composer of Pig Alley Stomp. Viola McCoy, With the Dixie Trio Piano-Violin-Cornet [sic] Viola McCoy (vcl) acc by: Bob Fuller (cl,perc-1) prob Elmer Snowden (vln) Louis Hooper (p) New York, February 15, 1926 E2439/40W South Street Blues (Roberts) Voc B-1002 E2441/42W Charleston Blues (Smolev - Seaman) -1 Voc A-1002 Rust: BF,u/k,LH? B&GR: BF,u/k,u/k. See 6/1/26 for thoughts about violin. This sounds like the same man. MB points out that ES was present in the studio (see Three Jolly Miners above).

Ethel Waters in 1929 and in the 1928 Columbia Race Records catalogue.

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End of the likely absence of Arthur Ray with Margaret Johnson’s tour. ETHEL WATERS Ethel Waters (vcl) acc by: Louis Hooper (p) New York, February 17, 1926 141688-3 After All These Years (Brooks) Col 14199-D 141689-1 Throw Dirt In Your Face (Brooks) Col 14132-D 141690-3 I'm Saving It All For You (Williams and Davis) Col 14197-D Rust, Kidd: Shelton Brooks-1, LH-2. B&GR: LH (all tracks). Hooper’s presence is confirmed on the Columbia file cards. same personnel New York, February 19, 1926 141704-3 Refrigeratin' Papa (Mama's Gonna Warm You Up) (Wasserman) Col 14132-D Rust, Kidd: as above. B&GR: LH. The personnel is taken from the Columbia file card. Ethel Waters recorded six other titles on the 19th and 20th February with various piano accompanists, but Hooper appears on only these titles. ROSA HENDERSON Rosa Henderson (vcl) acc by : Rex Stewart (cnt) Louis Hooper (p) New York, March 2, 1926 141740-1 Let's Talk About My Sweetie (Donaldson and Kahn) Col 14130-D 141741-2 Mama Is Waitin' For You (Williams) Col 14130-D Rust, B&GR, Kidd: RS,LH. Agreed. The personnel is taken from the Columbia file card.

Five Musical Blackbirds Tom Morris (t) Bob Fuller (cl) Ted Brown (as,vln-1) Louis Hooper (p) Herb Brown (bj) New York, early March, 1926 106633 Hot Coffee (Krueger – Costello) -1 Pathé-Actuelle 36404-A 106634 Carolina Stomp Pathé-Actuelle unissued 106635-1 18th Street Strut (Bennie Moten) Pathé-Actuelle 7508-B 106636 Black Horse Stomp (Joe Tarto) Pathé-Actuelle 36404-B Rust, Kidd: TM,BF,TB,LH,HB. Lord’s discography adds that either Fuller or Brown doubles on violin on (1). Brown is known to have doubled violin and sax - why suggest BF? KBR refutes TM and BF here.

Rocky Mountain Trio Bob Fuller (cl) Louis Hooper (p) Elmer Snowden (bj) New York, March 23, 1926 X-47-A BLOWIN’ OFF STEAM (Johnson) Gen 3288-A X-48-A GALLOPIN’ DOMINOES (Waller) Gen 3288-B Rust, LW: BF,LH,ES. [Gallopin’ Dominoes is the same tune as Alligator Crawl. I have not heard these titles (BH). Rosa Henderson and The Four Musical Blackbirds Rosa Henderson (vcl) acc by: Tom Morris (t) Bob Fuller (cl) Louis Hooper (p) unknown (tu) New York, March 31, 1926 E2713/15 Do It, Mr. So-and-So Voc unissued E2716/18 Fulton Street Blues Voc unissued Rust: TM,BF,LHu/k tu. B&GR: all u/k. Rains agrees TM. Date from Rust. GEORGE WILLIAMS George Williams (vcl) acc by: Harry Tate (t) Louis Hooper (p) New York, March 31, 1926 141897-3 SOME BABY - MY GAL (Dowell) Col 14148-D 141898-1 LEVEE BLUES (Williams) Col 14148-D Rust, B&GR: Harry Tate, LH. Kidd: u/k,LH. The personnel is taken from the Columbia file card. HT is a very good trumpeter, similar to RS. GEORGE WILLAMS AND BESSIE BROWN George Williams, Bessie Brown (vcl) duets acc: by Louis Hooper (p) New York, April 2, 1926 141902-2 You Can't Proposition Me (Moore, Davis) Col 14135-D

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(April 2, 1926 session continued) 141903-3 Hit Me But Don't Quit Me (Chris Smith) Col 14135-D Rust, B&GR, Kidd: LH. The personnel is taken from the Columbia file card. Harry Cooper joins Duke Ellington. From this point onwards BF records increasingly with TM and Mike Jackson. In general I omit these sessions. MAGGIE JONES and Her Band (Col 14243-D) MAGGIE JONES (Col 14139-D) Maggie Jones (vcl) acc by: Louis Metcalf (t) Jake Frazier (tb-1) Cliff Jackson (p) New York, May 7, 1926 142165-3 THE MAN I LOVE IS OH SO GOOD (Johnson and Troy) -1 Col 14243-D 142166-2,3 I'm Leaving You (Maisto and Costello) -1 Col 14139-D 142167-1,2 I'm A Real Kind Mama (Maceo Pinkard) Col 14139-D 142168-2,3 YOU AIN'T GONNA FEED IN MY PASTURE NOW (Smolev and Seaman) Col 14243-D Rust, B&GR, Collinson: LM,JF,CJ. The personnel is taken from the Columbia file card.

Rosa Henderson With The Three Hot Eskimos (Piano – Clarinet – Cornet) Rosa Henderson (vcl) acc by: prob Louis Metcalf (t) Bob Fuller (cl) Cliff Jackson (p) New York, May 14, 1926 E-3048/49/50 Here Comes My Baby (Dowell – McHugh - Mills) Voc A 1021 E-3051/52/53 Chicago Policemen Blues (Smith) Voc B 1021 Rust: LM,BF,CJ or Edgar Dowell. B&GR: u/k, BF,LH or CJ. Collinson: TM or BM,BF,LH or CJ. Miley disco: u/k,u/k,CJ. Rains hears LM. MB suggests ED and poss LM. I considered HT as trumpet but this man is rather more prominent and confident. Sounds like LM,BF and CJ to me. KBR (N&N77) notes that this tp does not fall away in tone at the end of notes as LM had done on earlier recordings. He suggests that Edwin Swayzee fits the bill. But we have not heard from LM for 18 months during which time he has been active in Harlem. A young musician is bound to develop his style in these circumstances. In the absence of any reference to Swayzee’s involvement from contemporary media or in personal reminiscences by those who were there, I see no

reason revise this personnel. I do agree that the same trumpet is heard on Rosa’s next two issued sessions and on that of c. January 1927 (by which time Swayzee was in the mid-west with Trent). Note the correct title of Voc B 1021! Rosa Henderson Rosa Henderson (vcl) acc by: unknown cl and p. New York, May-June 1926 E-3189/90 Hock Shop Blues Voc unissued E-3191/92 I'm Saving It All For You (Joe Davis - Spencer Williams)* Voc unissued Rust: u/k cl,LH? B&GR: u/k cnt (3191), cl (3189),p. I have not heard these titles (BH). Rosa Henderson with The Four Black Diamonds Rosa Henderson (vcl) acc by: Louis Metcalf (t) Jake Frazier (tb) Bob Fuller (cl) Cliff Jackson (p) New York, June 5, 1926 E-3194 Daddy Come Back (Cogert) Voc A 1025 E-3196 I've Got Somebody Now (Williams) Voc B 1025 Rust: LM,JF,BF,LH? B&GR: LM,JF,BF,LH or CJ? or ED? Collinson: LM,JF,BF,LH or CJ or ED. I hear LM,JF,BF and CJ (definitely) N.M.L. Dance Orchestra (mx 3904). Music Lovers Syncopators (mx 3905) Bob Fuller (cl) Louis Hooper (p) Elmer Snowden (bj,percussion effects-1) New York, c. June 1926 3904-1 Dancin' The Blues (-) NML 1155 3905-1 Desert Blues -1 (-) NML 1156 Rust: BF,LH,ES. LW: “sounds like BF”. Rains has the records and confirms personnel. MB agrees and notes the percussion, stating that it likely to be Snowden tapping the vellum of his banjo. New Orleans Jazz Trio: probably Bob Fuller (cl) Louis Hooper (p) Elmer Snowden (bj) New York, June 18, 1926 X-186-A Dancin' The Blues Gen unissued X-187-A Desert Blues Gen unissued Rust: BF,LH,ES. I haven’t heard these records, and wonder if they are identical to the preceding session.

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Rosa Henderson Rosa Henderson (vcl) acc by: unknown (t) prob Bob Fuller (cl) Cliff Jackson (p) New York, July 2, 1926 E-3363 Rough House Blues (A Reckless Woman's Lament) (Williams) Voc A 1038 E-3366 She Belongs To Me (He Belongs To Me) (Johnson – Razaf -Denniker) Voc B 1038 E-3367/69 Hock Shop Blues Voc unissued Rust, B&GR: all u/k. Good t; KBR suggests Demas Dean. MB notes that despite the clarinet being listed as ‘unknown’ the style is consistent with Fuller’s at this date (eg. June 5, 1926 session). ROSA HENDERSON Rosa Henderson (vcl) acc by: Cliff Jackson (p) New York, July 15, 1926 142450-2 HE'S MY MAN (Grice) Col 14152-D 142450-3 HE'S MY MAN (Grice) Col 14152-D 142451-2 IN THAT APARTMENT UPSTAIRS (Lucas) Col 14152-D Rust, B&GR, Collinson: CJ. This is confirmed in the Columbia recording files. MB confirms the unreported 142450-2 MARTHA COPELAND Martha Copeland (vcl) acc by: Cliff Jackson (p) New York, September 14, 1926 142608-1 BLACK SNAKE BLUES (Johnson and Spivey) Col 14161-D 142609-2 PAPA IF YOU CAN’T DO BETTER (Miller and Longshaw) Col 14161-D 142609-3 PAPA IF YOU CAN’T DO BETTER (Miller and Longshaw) Col 14161-D Rust, B&GR, Collinson: CJ. This is confirmed in the recording files. ROSA HENDERSON Rosa Henderson (vcl) acc by: poss Charlie Gaines (t) Bob Fuller (cl) prob Cliff Jackson (p) New York, September/October, 1926 6781-4 Papa, If You Can't Do Better (I’ll Let A Better Papa Move In) (Miller - Longshaw) Ban 1882-A 6781-5 Papa, If You Can't Do Better (I’ll Let A Better Papa Move In) (Miller - Longshaw) Ban 1882-A 6852-2 I'm Saving It All For You (Davis -Williams)* Dom 3852- Rust: BCT,BF,LH. B&GR: LM?,BF?,LH. Kidd: LM?,u/k,LH. Clearly “Big Charlie Thomas” (i.e. prob Charlie Gaines (Rains)) and BF. Sounds like CJ to me. I assume 6781 are remakes from a mid August session. KBR does not accept Gaines here. THE MELODY MAN (Joe Davis) Joe Davis (vcl) acc by: Cliff Jackson (p) New York, November 29, 1926 143157-2-3 I’ve Lost All My Love For You Har 312-H 143158-1-3 I Don’t Want To Forget Har 312-H The personnel is taken from the Columbia file card. Harry Cooper left Duke Ellington about this time. Viola McCoy Viola McCoy (vcl) acc by: Bubber Miley (t) Cliff Jackson (p) New York, c. early December, 1926 2219-C I'm Saving It All For You (Williams - Davis) Cam 1066-A 2220-B Papa, If You Can't Do Better (Les Miller) Cam 1066-B Rust,B&GR, Collinson: LM,CJ. Clearly this is the same tp as on the next session and therefore BM. I agree CJ.

MARTHA COPELAND Martha Copeland (vcl) acc by: Bubber Miley (t) Cliff Jackson (p) New York, December 21, 1926 143203-1 ON DECORATION DAY (They’ll Know Where To Bring Your Flowers To) (Westfield and Davis) Col 14189-D 143204-3 FORTUNE TELLER BLUES (Grainger) Col 14189-D Rust, B&GR, Collinson, Miley disco: BM,CJ. Personnel confirmed by the Columbia files and Copeland addresses “Bubber.” These references are valuable as these sessions, i.e. this, and the McCoys preceding and following have an unusually subdued BM. Earlier references named Seymour Irick (tp) possibly because of this fact.

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Viola McCoy Viola McCoy (vcl) acc by: Bubber Miley (t) Cliff Jackson (p) New York, c. December 28, 1926 2261-A "Git" Goin' (Davis - Grainger) Cameo 1097 2261-C "Git" Goin' (Davis - Grainger) Cameo 1097 2262-A Some Day You'll Come Back To Me (Earl B. Westfield) Cameo 1097 2262-B Some Day You'll Come Back To Me (Earl B. Westfield) Cameo 1097 Rust, B&GR, Collinson, Miley disco: LM,CJ. BM confirmed by comparison to preceding session. I agree CJ. RM has unlisted mxs 2261-C/2262-B Blind Richard Yates Blind Richard Yates (vcl) acc by: Cliff Jackson (p) New York, January 11, 1927 E-4378/9W I’m Gonna Moan My Blues Away (Yates)* Voc unissued E-4380/1 W Roamer Blues (Spencer Williams)* Voc unissued Rust: omits this. B&GR, Collinson: CJ. I have not heard these titles (BH). Rosa Henderson Rosa Henderson (vcl) acc by: prob Louis Metcalf (t) poss Louis Hooper (p) New York, c. January 1927 107315 Slow Up Papa (Razaf, Denniker)* Pathé-Actuelle 7522- 107316 Hock Shop Blues (Sidney Easton)* Pathé-Actuelle 7522- Rust: CJ? B&GR: u/k cnt,p. Sounds like LM to me, and poss LH Monette Moore Monette Moore (vcl) acc by Tom Morris (t) Ernest Elliott (cl) unknown (cl/f), poss Bob Fuller (bcl), unknown (p) New York, January 26, 1927 37572-2 MOANING SINNER - Blues (B. Christian - G. Smith) Vic 20484-B 37573-1 HARD HEARTED PAPA (Phil Worde - Edgar Dowell) Vic LPV534 37573-2 HARD HEARTED PAPA (Phil Worde - Edgar Dowell) Vic 20484-A Rust, B&GR: RS,EE,u/k bcl,f,?Phil Worde; Rains confirms TM and possibly MJ and hears a flute. MB hears two B-flat clarinets, one doubling flute, plus a bass clarinet, which may be Bob Fuller. I hear a 2nd cl (poss E-flat) rather than flute but accept that the flute is mentioned in the Victor files. I agree TM is present as on next track. MB suggests ED or PW.

Elizabeth Smith Elizabeth Smith (vcl) acc by Tom Morris (t) Ernest Elliott (cl) unknown (cl/f) unknown (p) New York, January 26, 1927 37574-2 POLICE DONE TORE MY PLAYHOUSE DOWN (Edgar Dowell) Vic 21539-A Rust: RS,EE,BF,u/k f,?Phil Worde; B&GR: TM,EE?,BF,u/k f, poss Edgar Dowell; Rains: TM,EE,BF,faint f,u/k p. Again a flute is mentioned in the Victor files. Again I prefer e flat cl to f and piano is not LH. EE is good. BF’s presence depends on the instrument (I have never seen reference to him playing flute). MB hears two clarinets, one possibly doubling flute, and again suggests ED or PW.

MARTHA COPELAND Martha Copeland (vcl) acc by: Louis Hooper (p) New York, February 16, 1927 143480-2 THE BLACK SNAKE MOAN (Jefferson) Col 14196-D 143481-3 MINE’S JUST AS GOOD AS YOURS (Gray) Col 14196-D Rust, B&GR: LH. Agreed. The personnel is taken from the Columbia file card. LIZZIE MILES Lizzie Miles (vcl) acc by: Louis Metcalf (t) Louis Hooper (p) New York, March 18, 1927 80644-B SLOW UP PAPA (Razaf-Denniker) OKeh 8456-B 80645-A GRIEVIN' MAMA BLUES (Delaney) OKeh 8456-A Rust, B&GR: LM,LH. The personnel is taken from the Columbia file card.

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MARTHA COPELAND Martha Copeland (vcl) acc by: Louis Metcalf (t) Louis Hooper (p) New York, March 19, 1927 143689-1 Soul And Body (He belongs to me) (Porter Grainger) Col 14208-D 143690-3 Sorrow Valley Blues (Scruggs) Col 14208-D Rust, B&GR: LM,LH. The personnel is taken from the Columbia file card. BOB FULLER Bob Fuller (cl solo) acc by: Louis Hooper (p) Elmer Snowden (bj-1,g-2) New York, March, 1927 E-22042 DALLAS BLUES (Garrett - Wand) Br 7006-A E-22045 I AIN'T GOT NOBODY (And Nobody Cares for Me) (Graham - Williams) -1 Br 7006-B Rust: BF,ES. Kidd, LW: BF,LH,ES. I agree with the latter. LW gives 21/3/28 as the date, but 1927 seems more likely. Sis Quander Sis Quander (vcl) acc by: Bob Fuller (cl) Cliff Jackson (p) New York, March 25, 1927 E-4764/65W Down That Lonesome Road Voc unissued E-4766/68W Country Woman’s Blues Voc unissued B&GR, Collinson: BF,CJ. I have not heard these titles (BH). Viola McCoy Viola McCoy (vcl) acc by: prob Horace Holmes (t) Louis Hooper (p) New York, March, 1927 2364-A-C Slow Up Papa (Razaf - Denniker) Rom 375 2365-A-B Fortune Teller Blues (Porter - Grainger) [sic] Rom 375 Rust, B&GR, Kidd: RS,LH. Not LM. Trumpet is fluent but quiet. Not like RS on 2/3/26. Similar to HH on McCoy’s next session. LH agreed. Harry Cooper is a possible alternative t.

Uncle Charley Richards. Blind Richard Yates (vcl) acc by: Louis Hooper (p) New York, c. April, 1927 107359 Levee Blues (Spencer Williams) Pathé Actuelle 7521-A 107360 Wayward Roamer Blues (Spencer Williams) Pathé Actuelle 7521-B Rust, B&GR: LH. Agreed. Steamboat Joe and his Laffen’ Clarinet Bob Fuller (cl) Louis Hooper (p) Elmer Snowden (bj) New York, April 6, 1927 GEX-575 TEXAS SHUFFLE (Fuller - Hooper) Gen 6103-A GEX-576 MISSISSIPPI VALLEY BLUES (Myer - Hooper) Gen 6103-B

Rust: BF,LH,ES. Ernest Virgo has confirmed this personnel aurally. LW omits, implying not BF. I agree with Virgo, but the cl tone comes as a shock! “Blind Richard” Yates Blind Richard Yates (vcl,kazoo-1) acc by: Louis Hooper (p) New York, c. April 9, 1927 GEX-577-A I'm Gonna Moan My Blues Away -1 (Yates) Gennett 6104-A GEX-578-A Sore Bunion Blues (Williams) Gennett 6104-B Rust, B&GR, Kidd: LH. Agreed. Uncle Charley Richards Blind Richard Yates (vcl,effects) acc by: Louis Hooper (p) New York, c. May, 1927 107448-B Sore Bunion Blues (Spencer Williams) Pathé Actuelle 7527-A 107449-C I'm Gonna Moan My Blues Away (Richard Yates) Pathé Actuelle 7527-B Rust, B&GR: LH. Agreed. [Artist credit from Pe 127]

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FANNIE JOHNSON Viola McCoy (vcl) acc by: prob Horace Holmes (t) unknown (cl) poss Louis Hooper (p) New York, May, 1927 2447-C Black Snake Blues (Stivey - Johnson) [sic] Cam 1158 2448-B Soul And Body (He Belongs To Me) (Porter Grainger*) Cam 1158 Rust: HH?,George Scott?,CJ. B&GR,Collinson: HH?,u/k,CJ. I hear the trumpet from Viola’s last session, unknown clarinet (just possibly George Scott) and not CJ; maybe LH. * JW reports ‘John Jackson’ as composer credit on Ro 385. Sis Quander Sis Quander (vcl) acc by: prob Louis Hooper (p) New York, May, 1927 107543 Black Snake Blues (J. Johnson) Pathé Actuelle 7530-A 107544 Soul And Body (He Belongs To Me) (J. Jackson) Pathé Actuelle 7530-B Rust, B&GR, Kidd: LH. More likely LH but just possibly CJ Sis Quander Sis Quander (vcl) acc by: poss Horace Holmes (t) unknown (cl) poss Louis Hooper (p) New York, May, 1927 Mama Is Waitin' For You (Spencer Williams)* Pathé Actuelle 7528- Mine's Just As Good As Yours (Gray)* Pathé Actuelle 7528- Rust, B&GR: LH. Lord disco give u/k cnt,tb,cl,LH. Trumpet might be HH again, cl and p sound the same as on 2447 above. There is no trombone. Viola McCoy Viola McCoy (vcl) acc by: prob Horace Holmes (t) Louis Hooper (p) New York, c. mid June 1927 2495-B Back Water Blues (Bessie Smith) Cam 1189 2496-A Mama Is Waitin' For You (Spencer Williams) Cam 1189 Rust, B&GR: HH?,LH. Kidd: u/k,LH. I agree with Rust but KBR hears LM. Kitty Waters (vcl) acc by: Louis Hooper (p) New York, c. June 1927 Back Water Blues Pathé-Actuelle 7531- Rough House Blues Pathé-Actuelle 7531- Rust, B&GR, Kidd: LH. Agreed. JANE GRAY Peggy English (vcl) acc by: Cliff Jackson (p) New York, July 21, 1927 144475-2 Who’s Wonderful, Who’s Marvelous? MISS ANNABELLE LEE (Clare and Pollack) Har 464-H 144476-1 Are You Happy? (Ager and Yellen) Har 464-H Rust, Collinson: CJ named in Columbia files. VIOLA McCOY Viola McCoy (vcl) acc by: Bob Fuller (cl) prob Porter Grainger (p) New York, c. late August 1927 2584-C Dyin' Crap Shooter's Blues (Porter Grainger) Cam 1225 2585-A Gay-Catin' Daddy (Andy Razaf) Cam 1225 Rust, B&GR: BF,LH. Kidd: BF,LH,u/k b. I hear BF. There is rather a lot of piano for LH with a strong left hand, but it is not CJ, prob PG. On his Document DOCD-5418 notes Howard Rye wondered whether he heard a sb. Rosa Henderson Rosa Henderson (vcl) acc by: poss Cliff Jackson (p) New York, c. September 20, 1927 107789 You Can't Have It Unless I Give It To You (Andy Razaf)* Pathé-Actuelle 7535-A 107790 Dyin' Crap-Shooter's Blues (Porter – Grainger) [sic] Pathé-Actuelle 7535-B 107791 Police Blues (Delaney) Pathé-Actuelle 7538-A 107792 Never Let Your Left Hand Know What Your Right Hand’s Doin’ (Delaney) Pathé-Actuelle 7538-B Rust, B&GR: CJ. Possibly CJ, but very restrained by his standards.

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LIZZIE MILES Lizzie Miles (vcl) acc by: Bob Fuller (cl), prob Louis Hooper (p) New York, October 12, 1927 7554-1 MEAN OLD BEDBUG BLUES (Jack Wood) Ban 6117-A 7555-1,2 YOU CAN’T HAVE IT UNLESS I GIVE IT TO YOU (Andy Razof) (sic) Ban 6117-B Rust, B&GR: u/k,u/k. LW omits. I hear BF,LH Kitty Waters Kitty Waters (vcl) acc by: unknown (p) poss Bobby Leecan (g) New York, c. October 15, 1927 107835 Mean Old Bed Bug Blues (J. Wood) Pathé-Actuelle 7537-A 107836 Loud And Wrong (T. Delaney) Pathé-Actuelle 7537-B Rust, B&GR: LH,u/k. Bastin confirms LH. Piano merely comps, not LH’s style. MB suggests BL on the basis of comparison with his Victor recordings. No b present (contrary to sleeve of Document DOCD-5518). LIZZIE MILES Lizzie Miles (vcl) acc by: Bob Fuller (cl) Louis Hooper (p) New York, February 29, 1928 7820-2 NOBODY SHOWS WHAT MY BABY SHOWS (Andy Razaf) Ban 7075-B 7821-1,-2 SECOND-HAND DADDY Ban 7075-A 7822-2,-3 A GOOD MAN IS HARD TO FIND (Eddie Green) Conq 7185-B Rust, B&GR: BF,LH. Agreed. Takes confirmed: Con 7185, 7821-1/7822-3

Rosa Henderson Rosa Henderson (vcl) acc by: prob Louis Metcalf (t) prob Porter Grainger (p) unknown (bj) New York, March 21, 1928 E-7212/13 Get It Fixed (Williams) Voc 1177 Omitted from Rust. B&GR: u/k,?PG,u/k bj. Brunswick file card notes that PG was the arranged of this performance and it likely he is also the pianist. Sounds like LM (although KBR disagrees strongly) but I don’t think it is CJ. The bj playing is very basic and barely audible. The Brunswick file card also notes that it took three hours to record two takes of one title!

Rosa Henderson Rosa Henderson (vcl) acc by: unknown (tb) prob Porter Grainger (p) New York, April 7, 1928 E-7266 Poplar Bluff Blues (McKeever – Dowell) Voc 1177 Omitted from Rust. B&GR: u/k tb,p. Sounds like the same p, but the tb is new to this listing. LIZZIE MILES Lizzie Miles (vcl) acc by Bob Fuller (cl) Louis Hooper (p) unknown (bj) New York, May 2, 1928 7953-2 Shake It Down Ban 7128- 7953-3 Shake It Down Jewel 5309- 7954-1 Banjo Papa (Stop Pickin’ On Me) Dom 4152- 7955-2 Your Worries Ain't Like Mine Dom 4152- Rust, B&GR, Kidd: BF,LH,u/k. Kidd states not ES and I agree. BOB FULLER Bob Fuller (cl), acc by: Charles Prime (p) Elmer Snowden (bj) New York, May 18, 1928 7981-1 FIREWORKS (Spencer Williams) Domino 0249-A 7981-2 Fireworks (Spencer Williams) Oriole 1274 7982 Pig Alley Stomp Ban unissued 7983-1 HERE 'TIS (Charles Prime) Ban 7151 7983-2 HERE 'TIS (Charles Prime) Domino 0249-B 7984-2 Alligator Crawl (Thomas Waller)* Oriole 1274 Rust, LW: BF,CP,ES. Kidd: BF,LH,ES. Piano strides on 7981 and just comps on 7983.

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THREE BLUES CHASERS Bob Fuller (cl) prob Charles Prime (p) Elmer Snowden (bj) New York, June 11, 1928 400777-B NOTHIN' BUT BLUES (Roberts) OKeh 8595 400778-B LAME DUCK BLUES (Williams) OKeh 8595 Rust all u/k. Kidd: BF,LH?,ES?. Bertrand Demeusy agrees. MB owned the record and reports BF,ES, prob CP. I have not heard these titles (BH). BOB FULLER Bob Fuller (cl), acc by: Charles Prime (p) prob Elmer Snowden (bj) New York, June 19, 1928 146556-3 NAMELESS BLUES (Williams) Har 688-H 146557-1 RIDICULOUS BLUES (Fuller and Hooper) Har 688-H Rust, LW: BF,CP,ES. Kidd: BF,CJ,u/k. Charles Prime is named in the Columbia files. BF agreed and probably ES. Finally, a couple of second thoughts: Rosa Henderson and The Choo Choo Jazzers. Rosa Henderson (vcl) acc by: prob Harry Smith (tp) prob Cliff Jackson (p) New York, June 21 – 26, 1924 31607 I Can't Get The One I Want (Rose – Ruby - Handman) Ajax 17049-B Rust (Ed 3 onwards), B&GR, Collinson: HS,CJ. Miley disco: HS or BM, CJ. Distinct trumpet style, no clarinet, probably CJ (not quite sure). HS was named by Hot Lips Page as an early influence. Mainly Texas based, he nonetheless was associated with Gonzelle White’s group along with Jake Frazier and Gus Aiken. So it is quite possible that he was in New York at this time, but I know of no press reports to substantiate this. Lips’ biography, “Luck’s in my corner” by Todd Bryant Weeks gives good coverage to HS. Weeks does not mention his sources other than Rust, and Rust of course did not record his source. So we must take this identification on trust, recognising that Rust will not have dreamed this up. See also 31636 etc. The reference (in Part 1 of this list in VJM 175) to Barclay Draper working with CJ, while true, is irrelevant here. Rosa Henderson and The Choo Choo Jazzers Rosa Henderson (vcl) acc by: prob Harry Smith (tp-1) poss Louis Metcalf (tp-3) Bob Fuller (cl-2) Cliff Jackson (p) New York, July 11 – 24, 1924 31636 Strut Yo' Puddy (Williams) -1 Ajax 17055-A 31637 Somebody's Doin' What You Wouldn't Do (Jackson) -2 Ajax 17055-B 31639 Hard Hearted Hannah (Yellen – Bigelow - Bates) -3 Ajax 17060-A Rust:HS,BF,CJ. B&GR: RS?,BF,CJ. Collinson: RS?,BF,CJ. KBR: RS,BF?,Mike Jackson. Trumpet (1) is too active for the man from the last three sessions (two by Hazel Meyers and one by Helen Gross) . I suggest HS. But tp (3) sounds like a different man to me. I would say LM as on the two neighbouring sessions.(Helen Gross & Josie Miles).

If you have any corrections, suggestions or contributions to make, please email me at mailto:[email protected] thanks.

Bob Hitchens.