Teddy Bunn
Source: Hikaru's Blog
Born on 7 May 1910 in Freeport, New York, self-taught guitarist, Teddy Bunn, began recording at age nineteen on 16 September 1929. Going by matrix number, that was with the Walter Pichon Orchestra followed by the Duke Ellington Orchestra on the same day. For some reason Tom Lord commences with the Ellington session followed by Pichon, but I descend by matrix numbers below. Bunn next recorded with the Six Jolly Jesters on 29 October of 1929.
'Doggin' That Thing' Teddy Bunn backing Walter Pichon Bunn's first recording
Recorded 16 Sep 1929 in NYC Matrix 55843-2 Victor V38544
Trumpet: Henry Red Allen Piano: Pichon Composition: Pichon
'Haunted Nights Only' Teddy Bunn w the Duke Ellington Orchestra
Recorded 16 Sep 1929 in NYC Matrix 55847-2 Victor V38092
Trumpet: Freddy Jenkins / Cootie Williams
Trombone: Juan Tizol (valve) / Joe Tricky Sam Nanton
Clarinet / sax: Barney Bigard / Johnny Hodges / Harry Carney
Piano: Ellington Guitar: Bunn Banjo: Fred Guy
String bass: Wellman Braud Drums: Sonny Greer
Composition: Vincent Youmans
'Goin' Nuts' Teddy Bunn w the Six Jolly Jesters
Recorded 29 Oct 1929 in NYC Matrix E31371-A Vocalion 15843
Trumpet: Freddy Jenkins / Cootie Williams
Trombone: Joe Tricky Sam Nanton Alto sax: Johnny Hodges
Piano: Ellington Guitar: Bunn Banjo: Fred Guy
String bass: Wellman Braud Drums: Sonny Greer
Washboard: Bruce Johnson Kazoo / vocals: Harold Randolph
'Oklahoma Stomp' Teddy Bunn w the Six Jolly Jesters
Recorded 29 Oct 1929 in NYC Matrix E31372-A Vocalion 1449
Trumpet: Freddy Jenkins / Cootie Williams
Trombone: Joe Tricky Sam Nanton Alto sax: Johnny Hodges
Piano: Ellington Guitar: Bunn Banjo: Fred Guy
String bass: Wellman Braud Drums: Sonny Greer
Washboard: Bruce Johnson Kazoo / vocals: Harold Randolph
'It's Sweet Like So' Teddy Bunn w Spencer Williams
Recorded 7 April 1930 in NYC Matrix 59739-1 Victor 38592
Piano: Clarence Profit Composition: Spencer Williams
Excepting 1938, Bunn played with the Spirits of Rhythm from 1932 to 1941. During that stretch his last recording of 1937 was in December with the Jimmie Noone Orchestra, beginning 1938 in January with Johnny Dodds and ending it in December with Mezz Mezzrow. Bunn recorded numerously for a couple years with Sidney Bechet from 1938 with Trixie Smith into 1940, the same year he worked with Lionel Hampton. It was 1940 when he traded acoustic for electric guitar. Come spots with Hadda Brooks in 1948, 1950 and 1952. Lord traces Bunn to as late as a session on 27 August of 1952 with vocalist, Duke Henderson.
'I Got Rhythm' Teddy Bunn w the Five Spirits of Rhythm
Recorded 24 Oct 1933 in NYC Matrix 14095-C Columbia KG31564
Leo Watson (lead) / Wilbur Daniels / Douglas Daniels
Bass: Wilson Myers Percussion: Virgil Scroggins
Composition: George & Ira Gershwin
'Ain't Gonna Give Nobody None of My Jelly-Roll'
Teddy Bunn w the the Mezzrow/Ladnier Quintet
Recorded 19 Dec 1938 in NYC Matrix 030452-1 Bluebird B10090
Trumpet: Wilson Myers Clarinet: Mezz Mezzrow
Bass: Pops Foster Guitar: Bunn Drums: Manzie Johnson
Composition: Clarence Williams / Spencer Williams
'If You See Me Comin''
Teddy Bunn w the the Mezzrow/Ladnier Quintet
Recorded 19 Dec 1938 in NYC Matrix 030453-1 Bluebird B10087
Trumpet: Wilson Myers Clarinet: Mezz Mezzrow
Bass: Pops Foster Guitar / vocal: Bunn Drums: Manzie Johnson
Composition: Mezzrow / Bunn
'King Porter Stomp' Teddy Bunn
Recorded 28 March 1940 in NYC Matrix RS-713-A Blue Note 503
Composition: Jelly Roll Morton
'Blues Without Words' Teddy Bunn
Recorded 28 March 1940 in NYC Matrix RS-715-B Blue Note 504
'I'm Still In Love' Teddy Bunn w Hadda Brooks
Recorded 14 Jan 1952 in Los Angeles Matrix RHC010093 Okeh 6886
Piano / vocal: Hadda Brooks
Composition: Jimmy Lewis
'Remember' Teddy Bunn w Hadda Brooks
Recorded 14 Jan 1952 in Los Angeles Matrix RHC010095 Okeh 6886
Piano / vocal: Hadda Brooks
Composition: Irving Berlin
'Hello Baby' Teddy Bunn w Duke Henderson Last known session
Recorded 27 Aug 1952 in Los Angeles Matrix FL142 Flair 1018
Piano: Jay McShann Guitar: Bunn
Bass: Bill Davis Drums: Al "Cake" Wichard Vocal: Henderson
Composition: Henderson
Bunn spent the latter years of his career performing with R&B bands, including Louis Jordan's, until he fell ill for the last eight years of his life due to stroke in 1970. He died on 20 July 1978 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Sources & References for Teddy Bunn:
arwulf arwulf (All Music)
VF History (notes)
Musical Associates:
Spirits of Rhythm: Marv Goldberg Vocal Group Harmony
Audio of Bunn: Internet Archive
Recordings by Bunn: Catalogs: Discogs RYM
Recordings by Bunn: Compilations:
The Spirits of Rhythm (Gardenia 4009 / 1983)
Teddy Bunn 1929-1940 (Document Records / 1994)
Recordings by Bunn: Sessions:
DAHR (Teddy Bunn / 1929-1940)
DAHR (Walter Pichon / 1926-1956)
Tom Lord: leading 5 of 86 sessions 1929-1952
Further Reading: Jazz Lives
Authority Search: VIAF
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