HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Big Sid Catlett

Birth of Modern Jazz: Big Sid Catlett

Big Sid Catlett

Launching the HMR Project in the drumming section of modern jazz is Big Sid Catlett who was born on 17 January 1910 in Evansville, Indiana. Catlett's career preceded swing and extended to involvement in the creation of bebop. He began to play professionally in 1928 with Darnell Howard and was a member of the Chocolate Dandies. Among his first recordings was with the Creole Jazz Band, Lord tracing him to as early as 2 October 1928 in Chicago for 'Down by the Levee' with vocals by Punch Miller (Vocalion 1220) and 'She's Crying for Me' (Vocalion 1252):

'Down By the Levee' Big Sid Catlett backing Punch Miller w Albert Wynn's Creole Jazz Band

Recorded 2 Oct 1928 in Chicago Vocalion 1220

Composition: Albert Wynn

Come Albert Wynn and His Gut Bucket Five on October 9 for 'Crying My Blues Away' (Vocalion 1218) and 'Parkway Stomp' (Vocalion 1220) w Punch Miller identified on the latter. Come another date in Chicago on 13 February 1929 in support of Frankie Half Pint Jaxon on 'Let's Knock a Jug'/'Can't You Wait Til I Get You Home' (Vocalion 1285). Lord has Catlett supporting Elmer Snowden's Smalls Paradise Orchestra in 1932 in Brooklyn on tracks for the film, 'Smash Your Baggage', premiereing in 1933. He sat in Benny Carter's orchestra for sessions in NYC in 1932 and '33 before Spike Hughes and His Negro Orchestra on 18 April 1933 to come up w 'Nocturne'/Someone Stole Gabriel's Horn' (Decca F3563) and 'Pastorale'/'Bugle Call Rag' (Decca F3606).

One of Catlett's most important partner in swing would be Louis Armstrong with whom he first recorded per Lord on 24 April of 1933 toward such as 'Honey Don't You Love Me Any More?' (Victor 24335) and 'Dusty Stevedore' (Victor 24320). Catlett later joined Armstrong's operation in 1938, they to record together countlessly throughout the forties. Lord shows their last occasion to record together per NBC television for 'The Eddie Condon Floor Show' on 11 June 1949. Such as 'Them There Eyes' and 'Sweethearts on Parade' saw issue on the Italian label Queen Q-010 on an unknown date. Another major name in swing with whom Catlett worked extensively for several years was Benny Goodman, with whose orchestra he first recorded on 11 June 1941 in NYC. In the meantime he also worked in other orchestra's like Lionel Hampton's, recording with the latter in 1939 and 1944:

'Haven't Named It Yet' Big Sid Catlett w Lionel Hampton

Recorded 12 Oct 1939 in NYC Vocalion 26476

Composition: Charlie Christian / Lionel Hampton

'Roll 'Em' Big Sid Catlett w Benny Goodman

Recorded 16 Sep 1941 in Cedar Grove, NJ Honeysuckle Rose HR5004/5005

Composition: Mary Lou Williams

'You Rascal You' ('I'll Be Glad When You're Dead') Big Sid Catlett w Louis Armstrong Film

Performed 20 April 1942 in Los Angeles Issued on Privateer 105 (France)

Composition: Sam Theard 1929

'Just a Riff' Big Sid Catlett Quartet

Recorded 18 March 1944 in NYC Commodore 1515

Tenor Sax: Ben Webster Piano: Marlowe Morris Bass: John Simmons

Composition: Sidney Catlett

'Rose Room' Big Sid Catlett w the Esquire All Stars

From 'The Famous Esquire Jazz Concert 1945' SR International 30 180 4 issued 1980

Clarinet: Barney Bigard Piano: Art Tatum Bass: Oscar Pettiford

Composition: Art Hickman / Harry Williams

Though Catlett's story is for the major part one of the swing period, he collaborated in early bebop with Dizzy Gillespie in 1945, and recorded excursions like 'Boff Boff' with Coleman Hawkins.

'Salt Peanuts' Big Sid Catlett w Dizzy Gillespie & His All Star Quintet

Recorded 11 May 1945 in NYC Matrix G565-A1 Guild 1003

Alto sax: Charlie Parker Trumpet: Dizzy Gillespie

Piano: Al Haig Bass: Curley Russell

Composition: Dizzy Gillespie / Kenny Clarke