HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Chu Berry

Birth of Swing Jazz: Chu Berry

Chu Berry

Born Leon Brown Berry in Wheeling, West Virginia, on 13 December 1908, tenor saxophonist, Chu Berry, spent his brief career performing with some of the biggest names in thirties swing jazz. He may have picked up "Chu" due to styling his mustache after a Fu Manchu at one time or another. It's said that it reminded his peers of the 1916 musical comedy, 'Chu Chin Chow'. Berry made the first major move of his young career by joining the band of Sammy Stewart in 1929. He first recorded with sax player, Benny Carter, and pianist, Teddy Wilson, in 1932 ('Tell All Your Daydreams to Me'). Berry worked with Carter's outfit until they both recorded with Spike Hughes upon the latter's visit to America in 1933. They then performed in the Chocolate Dandies together along with Wilson, a session on October 10, 1933, yielding 'Blue Interlude', 'I Never Knew', 'Once Upon a Time' and 'Krazy Kapers'. Per below, rosters of known personnel are from Tom Lord. See also DAHR and Jan Evensmo under References further below.

'Tell All Your Day Dreams to Me'

Chu Berry (tenor sax) w the Benny Carter Orchestra

Berry's first session Carter's first session as leader

23 June 1932 in NYC Matrix 1765-1 Crown 3321

Trumpet: Louis Bacon / Frankie Newton Trombone: Dicky Wells

Alto sax: Carter (clarinet) / Wayman Carver (flute)

Piano: Teddy Wilson Bass: Richard Fullbright

Drums: Sid Catlett Vocal: unknown

Composition: Billy James / Charles Seitter

'I Never Knew' Chu Berry (tenor sax) w the Chocolate Dandies

10 Oct 1933 in NYC Matrix 265157-1 Parlophone R1815

Trumpet: Max Kaminsky / Benny Carter (alto sax / arrangement)

Trombone: Floyd O'Brien

Piano: Teddy Wilson Guitar: Lawrence Lucie

Bass: Ernest Hill Drums: Sid Catlett

Composition: Ted Fiorito / Gus Kahn

'Krazy Kapers' Chu Berry (tenor sax) w the Chocolate Dandies

10 Oct 1933 in NYC Matrix 265159-2 Parlophone R1743

Trumpet: Max Kaminsky / Benny Carter (alto sax / arrangement)

Trombone: Floyd O'Brien

Piano: Teddy Wilson Guitar: Lawrence Lucie

Bass: Ernest Hill Drums: Mezz Mezzrow

Composition: Benny Carter

Berry's initial titles with the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra went down for Vocalion on March 27, 1936, toward the release of 'Christopher Columbus', 'Grand Terrace Swing', 'Blue Lou' and 'Stealin' Apples'.

'Christopher Columbus' Chu Berry (tenor sax) w Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra

27 March 1936 in NYC Matrix C-1331-1

Vocalion 3211 / Okeh 3211 / Columbia C4L19

Trumpet: Dick Vance / Joe Thomas / Roy Eldridge

Trombone: Fernando Arbello / Ed Cuffee

Alto sax: Buster Bailey (clarinet) / Scoops Carey

Tenor sax: Elmer Williams

Piano: Henderson (arrangement) Guitar: Bob Lessey

Bass: John Kirby Drums: Sid Catlett

Composition: Berry / Andy Razaf

'Blue Lou' Chu Berry (tenor sax) w Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra

27 March 1936 in NYC Matrix C-1333-1

Vocalion 3211 / Okeh 3211 / Columbia C4L19

Trumpet: Dick Vance / Joe Thomas / Roy Eldridge

Trombone: Fernando Arbello / Ed Cuffee

Alto sax: Buster Bailey (clarinet) / Scoops Carey

Tenor sax: Elmer Williams

Piano: Henderson (arrangement) Guitar: Bob Lessey

Bass: John Kirby Drums: Sid Catlett

Composition: Berry / Andy Razaf

From 1937 to 1941 Berry played for Cab Calloway. He also recorded as a bandleader for the first time on 23 March 1937 for the Variety label, his Stompy Stevedores to issue 'Now You're Talking My Language', 'Indiana', 'Too Marvelous for Words' and 'Limehouse Blues' from that session.

'Indiana' Chu Berry (tenor sax) and His Stompy Stevedores

23 March 1937 in NYC Matrix C-1333-1

1 of 2 takes issued on either Meritt 12 or Variety 587

Trumpet: Hot Lips Page Trombone: George Matthews

Clarinet: Buster Bailey (clarinet)

Piano: Horace Henderson Guitar: Lawrence Lucie

Bass: Israel Crosby Drums: Cozy Cole

Music: James F. Hanley 1917 Lyrics: Ballard MacDonald

'Jive' Chu Berry (tenor sax) w Cab Calloway and His Orchestra

30 August 1938 in NYC Matrix M-897-1

Vocalion 4437 / Epic 22007 / Philips 7084

Trumpet: Irving Randolph / Lammar Wright / Doc Cheatham

Trombone: Claude Jones / Keg Johnson / De Priest Wheeler

Alto sax / clarinet: Chauncey Haughton / Andrew Brown

Tenor sax: Walter "Foots" Thomas

Piano: Benny Payne Guitar: Danny Barker

Bass: Milt Hinton Drums: Leroy Maxey Vocal: Calloway

Composition: Berry / Payne / Calloway

'Sweethearts on Parade' Chu Berry (tenor sax) w Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra

5 April 1939 in NYC Matrix 035703-1 Victor 26209

Piano: Clyde Hart Guitar: Allen Reuss

Bass: Milt Hinton Drums: Cozy Cole Vibes / vocal: Hampton

Composition: Carmen Lombardo / Charles Newman

'Shufflin' at the Hollywood' Chu Berry (tenor sax) w Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra

5 April 1939 in NYC

1 of 2 takes issued on either RCA LPM10024 or Victor 26254 / HMV EA2644

Piano: Clyde Hart Guitar: Allen Reuss

Bass: Milt Hinton Drums: Cozy Cole Vibes: Hampton

Composition: Allan Reuss / Lionel Hampton

'Wizzin' the Wizz' Chu Berry (tenor sax) w Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra

5 April 1939 in NYC

1 of 2 takes issued on either Mosaic MD7-236 or Victor 26233

Piano: Clyde Hart / Hampton Guitar: Allen Reuss

Bass: Milt Hinton Drums: Cozy Cole

Composition: Lionel Hampton

Berry died in his prime as a passenger in an auto accident in 1941. Traveling from a gig in Brooklyn to another in Toronto, the car slid into the end of a bridge fifteen miles from Conneaut, Ohio. His last session had been with Calloway on September 10 of 1941 toward the issue of 'Blues in the Night', 'My Coo-Coo Bird' and 'Says Who?'. He had also recorded a couple duets with tenor saxophonist, Charlie Ventura, in September: 'Dream Girl' and 'Get Lost'.

'Who's Yehoodi'

Chu Berry (tenor sax) w Cab Calloway (vocal) and His Orchestra

15 May 1940 in NYC

1 of 2 takes issued on either Vocalion 5566 or Jazz Archives JA8

Composition: Bill Seckler / Matt Dennis

Musically Bipolar Wikipedia

'Hot Air' Chu Berry (tenor sax) w Cab Calloway and His Orchestra

28 Aug 1940 in NYC Matrix 28517-1 Okeh 5950

Composition: Calloway / Gene Novello

'Blues in the Night' Chu Berry (tenor sax) w Cab Calloway and His Orchestra

From Berry's final session

10 Sep 1941 in NYC Matrix 31300-1 Okeh 6422

Vocals: Calloway / The Palmer Brothers

Composition: Harold Arlan / Johnny Mercer

'My Coo-Coo Bird' Chu Berry (tenor sax) w Cab Calloway and His Orchestra

From Berry's final session

10 Sep 1941 in NYC Matrix 31302-1 Okeh 6459 / Queen 021 (Italy)

Vocals: Calloway / The Palmer Brothers

Composition: Buster Harding

With a recording career of but a decade, and only five sessions of eighteen individual titles as a bandleader [Lord], Berry nevertheless became one of the more memorable names in jazz.

Sources & References for Chu Berry:

Oscar Aleman (Keep it Swinging)

Encyclopedia

VF History (notes)

Wikipedia

Scott Yanow (All Music)

Associates Musical:

Sammy Stewart (pianist / 1890-1960):

Eugene Chadbourne (All Music) Arnett Howard (Syncopated Times) National Jazz Archive

Compositions: Music Brainz SHS

Documentaries: Fresh Air (NPR) YouTube

Recordings: Catalogs: 45 Worlds Discogs RYM