Mound City Blue Blowers
The Mound City Blowers were an unlikely success. Originally comprised of Red McKenzie on comb and tissue paper (which sounded like a kazoo), Dick Slevin on an actual kazoo, and Jack Bland on banjo, the unique band's initial recording in 1924 ("Arkansas Blues" and "Blue Blues") became a big hit. The group recorded 12 titles in all during 1924-1925, including two with guest Frankie Trumbauer on C-melody sax and with guitarist Eddie Lang firming up the rhythm on the final six numbers. McKenzie made additional sessions as a vocalist under his own name, while the Mound City title was retired for a few years. However, in 1929, McKenzie used the name for four selections recorded with all-star groups. While "Tailspin Blues" and "Never Had a Reason to Believe in You" featured trombonist/vocalist Jack Teagarden, "Hello Lola" and "One Hour" are considered classic. Coleman Hawkins took a historic ballad solo on the latter, trombonist Glenn Miller rarely sounded hotter than on "Hello Lola," and both clarinetist Pee Wee Russell and McKenzie on comb were in top form. A 1931 date with cornetist Muggsy Spanier, clarinetist Jimmy Dorsey, and Hawkins was mostly a feature for McKenzie's vocals, but his contributions to the final Mound City Blue Blowers recordings (25 songs cut during 1935-1936) are actually quite minor with a few vocals and not enough comb playing. Nappy Lamare, the Top Hatters, Spooky Dickenson, and Billy Wilson actually do most of the singing, but the reason that these last performances (all available on a single Classics CD) are of great interest are the trumpet solos of either Bunny Berigan or Yank Lawson and Eddie Miller on tenor and clarinet.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
Discography
17 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Mound City Blue Blowers 1935-1936
Jazz - Released by Timeless Records on 30 jan. 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Red McKenzie Volume 1 (1924 - 1927)
McKenzie's Candy Kids, Mound City Blue Blowers
Jazz - Released by Sensation Records on 11 jul. 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Talents
Fats Waller & His Buddies, Mound City Blue Blowers, McKenzie's Mound City Blue Blowers, Billy Banks & His Orchestra
Jazz - Released by Talents on 18 aug. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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A Large Gold Bottle and a small Hot Bird
Fats Waller & His Buddies, Mound City Blue Blowers, McKenzie's Mound City Blue Blowers, Billy Banks & His Orchestra
Jazz - Released by Hot Bird on 15 jul. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Yacht Club
Fats Waller & His Buddies, Mound City Blue Blowers, McKenzie's Mound City Blue Blowers, Billy Banks & His Orchestra
Jazz - Released by Yacht Club Part One on 9 okt. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tuscany
Fats Waller & His Buddies, Mound City Blue Blowers, McKenzie's Mound City Blue Blowers, Billy Banks & His Orchestra
Jazz - Released by Tuscany 44 on 21 mei 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Complete Jazz Series 1935 - 1936 (Mound City Blue Blowers)
Jazz - Released by Complete Jazz Series on 27 apr. 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Baloons
Fats Waller & His Buddies, Mound City Blue Blowers, McKenzie's Mound City Blue Blowers, Billy Banks & His Orchestra
Jazz - Released by baloons on 10 mrt. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Pelican Chorus
Fats Waller & His Buddies, Mound City Blue Blowers, McKenzie's Mound City Blue Blowers, Billy Banks & His Orchestra
Jazz - Released by pelican chorus on 8 jan. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beautiful Nature
Fats Waller & His Buddies, Mound City Blue Blowers, McKenzie's Mound City Blue Blowers, Billy Banks & His Orchestra
Jazz - Released by lboy one one on 9 mrt. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
In Black and White
Fats Waller & His Buddies, Mound City Blue Blowers, McKenzie's Mound City Blue Blowers, Billy Banks & His Orchestra
Jazz - Released by In Black on 19 mrt. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
In a Dressing Room
Fats Waller & His Buddies, Mound City Blue Blowers, McKenzie's Mound City Blue Blowers, Billy Banks & His Orchestra
Jazz - Released by dressing room on 23 jan. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bock Beer
Fats Waller & His Buddies, Mound City Blue Blowers, McKenzie's Mound City Blue Blowers, Billy Banks & His Orchestra
Jazz - Released by Blue Night Moon Men on 6 dec. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Power Trees
Fats Waller & His Buddies, Mound City Blue Blowers, McKenzie's Mound City Blue Blowers, Billy Banks & His Orchestra
Jazz - Released by Power Trees on 17 mei 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Boom, Boom Out Goes The Light (Hq Remastered 2023)
Fats Waller, Mound City Blue Blowers, The Rhythmakers
Jazz - Released by Vintage Recordings on 6 nov. 2023
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Time for a Break
Fats Waller & His Buddies, Mound City Blue Blowers, McKenzie's Mound City Blue Blowers, Billy Banks & His Orchestra
Jazz - Released by break down rec. on 9 apr. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo