HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Roy Eldridge

Birth of Swing Jazz: Roy Eldridge

Roy Eldridge

Born on 30 January 1906 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, high-energy trumpeter, Roy Eldridge ("Little Jazz") got expelled from school in ninth grade, whence he began working in traveling shows of little renown. Back in Pittsburgh at age twenty, he led a band billed as Roy Elliott and his Palais Royal Orchestra, after which he joined various bands, among them those directed by Horace Henderson (brother of Fletcher Henderson) and Speed Webb. He finally made it to New York in 1930. Wikipedia has Eldridge inspired by saxophonists, Coleman Hawkins and Benny Carter. He would experiment after the manner of Louis Armstrong for a brief time, but in passing, having his own way to blow.

It is said that Eldridge once said that his recording career began with Clarence Williams and his Jazz Kings in New York City. Such may have included a date in November of 1929 followed by a few in April, June and July of 1930. Such would have included titles gone down on June 23, 1930, like 'High Society Blues' / 'Lazy Levee Loungers' on Columbia 14555-D [Lord / Discogs]. But upon listening to said records trumpet is missing. Eldridge more certainly recorded sometime early in 1932 in Elmer Snowden's Smalls Paradise Orchestra toward the soundtrack for 'Smash Your Baggage'.

'Smash Your Baggage' Roy Eldridge Film

Early 1932 in Brooklyn toward release on 29 October 1932

Elmer Snowden's Smalls Paradise Orchestra:

Trumpet: Roy Eldridge / Red Harlan / Leonard Davis

Trombone: Dicky Wells / George Washington

Reeds: Otto Hardwick / Wayman Carver / Al Sears

Piano: Don Kirkpatrick Banjo: Elmer Snowden

Bass / tuba: Richard Fullbright Drums: Sidney Catlett Vocal: Mabel Scott

IMDb Wikipedia

Eldridge began featuring in trumpet solos with Teddy Hill in 1935, that session on February 26 in NYC to yield 'Lookie, Lookie, Lookie', 'Got Me Doin' Things', 'When the Robin Sings His Song Again' and 'When Love Knocks at Your Heart'. Come Putney Dandridge on June 25, 1935, before his first issues with Teddy Wilson and his Orchestra in July, among them 'What a Little Moonlight Can Do'. Along with Eldridge on trumpet and Wilson at piano, members of that outfit included Benny Goodman (clarinet), Ben Webster (tenor sax), John Trueheart (guitar), John Kirby (bass), Cozy Cole (drums) and Billie Holiday on vocals. Eldridge and Goodman would find themselves working together frequently in coming years. In the meantime he hung with the Wilson orchestra into 1939, though he and Wilson would be frequent partners throughout their careers.

'Got Me Doing Things' Roy Eldridge w Teddy Hill and his Orchestra

26 Feb 1935 in NYC Matrix 16924-1 Perfect 16093

Trumpet: Bill Dillard (vocal) / Roy Eldridge / Bill Coleman

Trombone: Dicky Wells Clarinet / alto sax: Russell Procope

Alto sax: Howard Johnson Tenor sex: Teddy Hill / Chu Berry

Piano: Sam Allen Guitar: John Smith

Bass: Richard Fullbright Drums: Bill Beason

Composition: Mack Gordon

'Miss Brown to You' Roy Eldridge w the Teddy Wilson Orchestra

2 July 1935 in NYC Matrix B17768-1 Brunswick 7501

Trumpet: Roy Eldridge Clarinet: Benny Goodman

Tenor sex: Ben Webster

Piano: Teddy Wilson Guitar: John Trueheart

Bass: John Kirby Drums: Cozy Cole Vocal: Billie Holiday

Music: Richard Whiting / Ralph Rainger Lyrics: Leo Robin

Eldridge released his first title as leader in 1936: 'Christopher Columbus' from a session in Chicago on 5 February. That same month he made his first recordings with Gene Krupa's band, 'I Hope Gabriel Likes My Music', 'Mutiny in the Parlor', 'I'm Gonna Clap My Hands' and 'Swing Is Here'. Eldridge swung with Krupa until the latter was arrested for cannabis possession in 1943, the band dissolved. Krupa had been jailed and fined on a previous occasion when he picked a fight with a restaurant manager who didn't wish to serve Eldridge because he was black. Be as may Eldridge and Krupa would work together often in the fifties. Their last recordings together are thought to have been live at Philharmonic Hall with Lionel Hampton's Orchestra in 1972.

'Mutiny in the Parlor' Roy Eldridge w Gene Krupa's Swing Band

29 Feb 1936 in Chicago Matrix 100013-1 Victor 25263

Trumpet: Roy Eldridge Clarinet: Benny Goodman

Tenor sex: Chu Berry

Piano: Jess Stacy Guitar: Allan Reuss

Bass: Israel Crosby Drums: Gene Krupa Vocal: Helen Ward

Music: Vee Lawnhurst Lyrics: Edward Heyman

Another big name in Eldridge's circle was Fletcher Henderson with whom he put down tracks in March of 1936, another rendition of 'Christopher Columbus' among other titles. Backing countless significant names during his career, he first recorded with Count Basie while with Coleman Hawkins' outfit at the Make Believe Ballroom in NYC for WNEW Radio on June 14, 1940 to put away 'Body and Soul', 'Ad Lib Blues' and 'King Porter Stomp'. Basie and Eldridge would record together often in years to come in various orchestras including Basie's. Eldridge last recorded with Basie at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland in 1977 in Basie's operation.

'Christopher Columbus' Roy Eldridge w the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra

27 March 1936 in Chicago Matrix C-1331-1 Vocalion 3211

Trumpet: Dick Vance / Joe Thomas / Roy Eldridge

Trombone: Fernando Arbello / Ed Cuffee

Clarinet / alto sax: Buster Bailey Alto sax: Scoops Carey

Tenor sex: Elmer Williams / Chu Berry

Piano: Horace Henderson (arrangement) Guitar: Bob Lessey

Bass: John Kirby Drums: Sidney Catlett

Composition: Leon "Chu" Berry / Andy Razaf

'Blue Lou' Roy Eldridge w the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra

27 March 1936 in Chicago Matrix C-1333-1 Vocalion 3211

Trumpet: Dick Vance (arrangement) / Joe Thomas / Roy Eldridge

Trombone: Fernando Arbello / Ed Cuffee

Clarinet / alto sax: Buster Bailey Alto sax: Scoops Carey

Tenor sex: Elmer Williams / Chu Berry

Piano: Horace Henderson Guitar: Bob Lessey

Bass: John Kirby Drums: Sidney Catlett

Composition: Edgar Sampson

'Wabash Stomp' Roy Eldridge Orchestra

23 Jan 1937 in Chicago

1 of 2 takes issued on either Vocalion 3479 or Meritt 8 / Columbia C2-38033

Trumpet: Roy Eldridge Alto sax: Scoops Carey / Joe Eldridge (arrangement)

Tenor sex: Dave Young

Piano: Teddy Cole Guitar: John Collins

Bass: Truck Parham Drums: Zutty Singleton

Composition: Roy Eldridge

'Where the Lazy River Goes By' Roy Eldridge Orchestra

28 Jan 1937 in Chicago Matrix: C-1796-1 Vocalion 3458

Trumpet: Roy Eldridge Alto sax: Scoops Carey / Joe Eldridge

Tenor sex: Dave Young

Piano: Teddy Cole Guitar: John Collins

Bass: Truck Parham Drums: Zutty Singleton Vocal: Gladys Palmer

Composition: Jimmy McHugh / Harold Adamson

'After You've Gone' Roy Eldridge w Gene Krupa and his Orchestra

5 June 1941 in NYC

1 of 2 takes issued on either OKeh 6278 or Columbia C2-38033

Trumpet: Ray Triscari / Gordon Boswell / Don Fagerquist / Roy Eldridge / John Bello

Trombone: Walt Robertson / Herb Randel / Frank Rosolino / Frank Rehak

Alto sax: Lenny Hambro / Kenny Pinson

Tenor sex: Buddy Wise / Carl Friend Bass sax: Dale Keever

Piano: Joe Cohen Guitar: Ralph Blaze

Bass: Don Simpson Drums: Gene Krupa Percussion: Hernando Bravo / Ramon Rivera

Composition: Turner Layton / Henry Creamer

'Rockin' Chair' Roy Eldridge w Gene Krupa and his Orchestra

2 July 1941 in NYC Matrix 30830-1 OKeh 6352

Trumpet: Roy Eldridge / Norman Murphy / Torg Halten / Graham Young

Trombone: John Grassi / Jay Kelliher / Babe Wagner

Alto sax: Mascagni "Musky" Ruffo

Tenor sex: Sam Musiker (clarinet) / Walter Bates Baritone sax: Sam Listengart

Piano: Milt Raskin Guitar: Ray "Remo" Biondi

Bass: Ed Mihelich Drums: Gene Krupa

Composition: Hoagy Carmichael

Eldridge recorded frequently with Billie Holiday to as late as 1957 for CBS television among its 'Sound of Jazz' series, that being 'Fine and Mellow'. He also backed vocalist, Anita O'Day, on a number of occasions in 1941-42, 1950, 1952 and 1956. Per the Soundie below, Soundie 16 mm films were made for the Panoram, a sort of film jukebox into which one slipped a dime to watch a brief film of a few minutes. The Panoram which held a projector to play the film of one's choice first appeared in Hollywood in September of 1941. The Mills Novelty Company sold three million dollars worth of Panorams (Soundie machines) for either $695 or $1000 during its first week of sales, and they remained popular for six or seven years before television saw to their demise [Wikipedia].

'Let Me Off Uptown' Roy Eldridge w Gene Krupa and his Orchestra

Soundie filmed 18 Dec 1941

Drums: Gene Krupa Vocal: Anita O'Day

IMDb Jazz on the Tube Letterboxd Library of Congress

'Thanks for the Boogie Ride' Roy Eldridge w Gene Krupa and his Orchestra

Soundie filmed 18 Dec 1941

Drums: Gene Krupa Vocal: Anita O'Day

IMDb Library of Congress

'Dear Old Southland' Roy Eldridge w the Metronome All-Star Band

31 Dec 1941 in NYC

1 of 3 takes issued on either Phontastic NOST7620 or CBS SONP-50419

Trumpet: Roy Eldridge / Cootie Williams / Harry James

Trombone: J.C. Higginbotham / Lou McGarity

Alto sax: Benny Carter / Toots Mondello

Tenor sex: Tex Beneke / Vido Musso

Piano: Count Basie Guitar: Freddie Green

Bass: Doc Goldberg Drums: Gene Krupa

Composition: Turner Layton / Henry Creamer

'Fish Market' Roy Eldridge Orchestra

13 Oct 1944 in NYC Matrix: 72430-A Decca 2338

Trumpet: Roy Eldridge / Sidney De Paris / Paul Cohen / Robert Mason / Pinky Savitt

Trombone: Wilbur De Paris / Sandy Williams / Vic Dickenson / George Stevenson

Alto sax: Joe Eldridge / Curby Alexander

Tenor sex: Franz Jackson / Hal Singer Bass sax: Dave McRae

Piano: Ted Brannon Guitar: Snags Allen

Bass: Billy Taylor Drums: Cozy Cole

Composition: Roy Eldridge

Eldridge also recorded with Artie Shaw's orchestra in 1944-45.

'Lady Day' Roy Eldridge w the Artie Shaw Orchestra

23 or 24 Nov 1944 in Hollywood Matrix: 4VB 1053-1 Victor 20-1620

Trumpet: Roy Eldridge / Ray Linn / Jimmy Pupa / George Schwartz

Trombone: Ray Conniff / Harry Rogers / Pat McNaughton / Skip Morr

Clarinet: Artie Shaw Alto sax: Les Clarke / Les Goldberg / Tom Mace

Tenor sex: Jon Walton / Herbie Steward Baritone sax: Chuck Gentry

Piano: Dodo Marmarosa Guitar: Barney Kessel

Bass: Morris Rayman Drums: Lou Fromm Arrangement: Jimmy Mundy

Composition: Jimmy Mundy

'Little Jazz Boogie' Roy Eldridge Orchestra

5 March 1945 in NYC Matrix: 72756-B Decca 23471

Trumpet: Roy Eldridge / Andy Ferretti / Bill Graham / Yank Lawson / Jimmy Maxwell

Trombone: Will Bradley / Hal Matthews / Fred Ohms / Ward Silloway

Alto sax: Ray Eckstrand / Mike Doty

Tenor sex: Don Purviance / Hank Ross Baritone sax: Ernie Caceres

Piano: Dave Bowman Guitar: Mike Bryan

Bass: Ted Sturgis Drums: Cozy Cole Arrangement: Buster Harding

Composition: Buster Harding

'Watch Out!' Roy Eldridge w Gene Krupa and his Orchestra

9 May 1949 in Hollywood Matrix: HCO3751-1N Columbia 38590

Trumpet: Roy Eldridge / Don Fagerquist / Gordon Boswell / Ray Triscari / John Bello

Trombone: Frank Rosolino / Herb Randel / Frank Rehak / Walter Robertson

Alto sax: Larry Hambro / Kenny Pinson

Tenor sex: Buddy Wise / Carl Friend Baritone sax: Dale Keever

Piano: Joe Cohen Guitar: Ralph Blaze

Bass: Don Simpson Drums: Cozy Cole Vocal: Delores Hawkins

Composition: Dave Jacobs / Sy Oliver

Ella Fitzgerald was another important vocalist whom Eldridge backed during sessions in 1949, 1953, 1957 and numerously from 1963 into the seventies, including Jazz at the Philharmonic (JATP) performances. Touring to Europe in 1950 and 1951 included Eldridge recording piano solos in Paris in 1950: 'Improvisation', 'Boogie Roy', 'Just Fooling' and 'List Blues'. Touring to Europe in 1950 and 1951 included Eldridge recording piano solos in Paris in 1950: 'Improvisation', 'Boogie Roy', 'Just Fooling' and 'List Blues'. In the meantime he established a residency at the Birdland in NYC.

'It Don't Mean a Thing' Roy Eldridge w Jazz at the Philharmonic

28 April 1957 in Stockholm Matrix: HCO3751-1N See Tax CD 3703-2 1988

Trumpet: Roy Eldridge Violin: Stuff Smith

Piano: Oscar Peterson Guitar: Herb Ellis

Bass: Ray Brown Drums: Papa Jo Jones

Music: Duke Ellington 1931 Lyrics: Irving Mills

'Sunday' Roy Eldridge Television pilot 1961

Tenor sax: Coleman Hawkins Piano: Johnny Guarnieri Guitar: Barry Gailbraith

Bass: Milt Hinton Drums: Cozy Cole

Composition: Chester Conn / Benny Krueger / Nathan Ned Miller / Jule Styne

IMDb Library of Congress Library of Congress Jonathan Rosenbaum

In 1969 Eldridge began a residency of several years at Jimmy Ryan's in Manhattan. In 1970 he joined Francois Guin et Les Swingers in Juan-les-Pins, France, for titles like 'Saturday Night Fish Fry', 'When It's Sleepy Time' and 'Une Petite Laitue'.

'Saturday Night Fish Fry' Roy Eldridge w Francois Guin's Swingers

1970 in Juan-les-Pins, France

Trumpet: Roy Eldridge / Xavier Chambon Trombone: Francois Guin

Tenor sax: Gérard Badini Piano: Gérard Gambus

Bass: Ricardo Galeazzi Drums: Teddy Martin

Composition: Louis Jordan / Ellis Lawrence Walsh 1949

Roy had been associating with trumpet rival, Dizzy Gillespie, since the early forties. Lord has them paired together as early as May 1947 for a JATP concert in NYC. They performed together in numerous JATP presentations from 1953 to 1958. Both performed in Duke Ellington's 'All Star Timex Jazz Show' in 1959 also featuring Louis Armstrong (trumpet) and Bobby Hackett (cornet). They had also recorded the album, 'Roy And Diz', in 1954, 'The Trumpet Kings Meet Joe Turner' in 1974, 'Jazz Maturity...Where It's Coming From' in June 1975 and 'The Trumpet Kings: Montreux' in July 1975. 'Diz And Roy' saw release in 1977 consisting of tracks gone down in 1954 and 1955. Roy's last recordings as a bandleader are thought to have been at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland in 1977 in a quartet with Oscar Peterson (piano), Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen (bass) and Bobby Durham (drums).

'Jazz Maturity ... Where It's Coming From' Roy Eldridge w Dizzy Gillespie Album

3 June 1975 in NYC Pablo 2310-816

Piano: Oscar Peterson

Bass: Ray Brown Drums: Mickey Roker

A heart attack in 1980 forced Eldridge to cease performing on trumpet, though he continued to play piano and sing on occasion. He sang 'Let Me Off Uptown' at Carnegie Hall toward Anita 'O'Day's album, ''SS' Wonderful Big Band Concert 1985'. He performed at piano and sang one last time during a PBS broadcast with Marian McPartland on 18 August 1986 toward her album, 'Piano Jazz'. He died on 26 February 1989 in Valley Stream, New York.

Sources & References for Roy Eldridge:

All About Jazz

Brew Lite's Jazz Tales (piano solos in Paris 1950)

Browse Biography

Christopher Popa (Big Band Library)

Jeffrey Taylor (alt)

VF History (notes)

Wikipedia

Scott Yanow

Audio of Eldridge: Internet Archive

Eldridge in Film: IMDb

Recordings: Catalogs: 45 Worlds Discogs RYM SHS Wikipedia