Bix Beiderbecke

• DOWNBEAT 4-STAR ALBUM !

The great Bix Beiderbecke is arguably the only cornet player whose brilliance could be compared in any way to the genius of Louis Armstrong in the 1920s, despite the obvious differences in their styles. Louis’ powerful tone and explorations in the upper register contrasted with Bix’s cool sound and his improvisations in the middle register. However, while Armstrong would enjoy musical longevity and widespread success, Bix’s career was extremely brief, as he died in 1931 at the tender age of 28.

Presented here is the complete LP the Bix Beiderbecke Legend (RCA Victor LPM-2323), which appeared in 1961 and was prepared by producer George Avakian and writer Charles Edward Smith. It compiles a series of obscure items from Bix’s discography. Eleven bonus tracks have been added to the 14 included on the original LP, consisting of further alternate takes from the selected titles, a wonderful trio performance, and piano solos of four amazing Beiderbecke compositions, one of them performed by Bix himself, and the other three by Jess Stacy.

PERSONNEL:

• BIX BEIDERBECKE, cornet (on all tracks except 22-25)

• Guest Artist:
• THE JEAN GOLDKETTE ORCHESTA
• THE PAUL WHITEMAN ORCHESTA
• BENNY GOODMAN, clarinet
• FRANKIE TRUMBAUER, C-melody saxophone
• TOMMY DORSEY, trombrone
• JIMMY DORSEY, clarinet, alto sax
• JOE VENUTI, violin
• EDDIE LANG, guitar
• BING CROSBY, vocals

Recorded on New York, 1924-1930.

TRACKS:

• 01. Clementine
• 02. I Didn’t Know
• 03. Sunday Take 2
• 04. Changes Take 2
• 05. Changes Take 3
• 06. Lonely Melody Take 3
• 07. Lonely Melody Take 1
• 08. From Monday On Take 3
• 09. There Ain’t No Sweet Man Take 3
• 10. San Take 7
• 11. Dardanella
• 12. You Took Advantage Of Me
• 13. Barnacle Bill The Sailor
• 14. I’ll Be A Friend With Pleasure Take 2
• 15. Sunday Take 3
• 16. From Monday On Take 4
• 17. From Monday On Take 6
• 18. There Ain’t No Sweet Man Take 2
• 19. San Take 6
• 20. I’ll Be A Friend With Pleasure Take 3
• 21. Wringin’ An’ Twistin’
• 22. In A Mist
• 23. Flashes
• 24. In The Dark
• 25. Candlelights