HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Edmond Hall

Birth of Swing Jazz: Edmond Hall

Edmond Hall

Born on 15 May 1901 in Reserve, Louisiana, virtuosic clarinet player, Edmond Hall, performed blues, swing and smooth jazz. He was a steady, clean-living musician faithful to two wives while preferring lemonade to alcohol. He had been a farmhand until beginning his musical career in New Orleans in 1920. He is thought to have first recorded in August of 1927 in Savannah, Georgia, with pianist, Alonzo Ross, and his Ross de Luxe Syncopators, Margaret Miller at vocals (Victor Records). Piano on the track below (Miller out) is by Casper Towie also spelled Casper Tower and Casker Towie.

'Believe Me, Dear' Edmond Hall w the Ross de Luxe Syncopators

Track 6 of 8 of Hall's first recording session

22 Aug 1927 in Savannah, Georgia Matrix 39828-3 Victor 21537

Trumpet: Robert "Cookie" Mason / Melvin Herbert Trombone: Eddie Cooper

Clarinet / various sax: Edmond Hall Alto sax / arrangement: Robert Cloud

Tenor sax: Earl Evans Piano: Casper Tower (Casker Towie)

Banjo: Casper Tower (Casker Towie) Tuba: Richard Fullbright Drums: Frank Houston

Composition: Robert H. Cloud / Robert Cookie Mason

In 1930 Hall began working in the band of Claude Hopkins until 1935. Playing at the Savoy Ballroom in 1930, Hall would record with Hopkins in May of 1932, 'Mad Moments' and 'Mush Mouth' among several. His last tracks with Hopkins were for the soundtrack to the film, 'By Request', three years later.

'Mush Mouth' Edmond Hall w Claude Hopkins (piano) and His Orchestra

24 May 1932 in NYC Matrix 152201-1 Columbia 2674-D

Trumpet: Albert Snaer / Sylvester Lewis / Ovie Alston Trombone: Fernando Arbello

Clarinet / various sax: Edmond Hall Alto sax: Gene Johnson

Tenor sax: Bobby Sands Banjo / guitar: Walter Jones

Tuba: Henry Turner Drums: Pete Jacobs

Composition / arrangement: Jimmy Mundy

In the latter thirties Hall played with Lucky Millinder, Zutty Singleton, Joe Sullivan and Henry Red Allen before forming the Celeste Quartet to record his first tiles as a leader on February 5, 1941. That group with Meade Lux Lewis (celeste), Charlie Christian (guitar) and Israel Crosby (bass) was good for five titles including two takes of 'Profoundly Blue'. Hall would lead a number of groups during his career but largely made his name among professionals as a solid contributor to other operations. He began his stretch in Teddy Wilson's orchestra in 1941. In 1950 he joined Eddie Condon's band, in 1955 Louis Armstrong's All Stars. Hall saw California with the All Stars in 1956 to shoot the film, 'High Society'. Among titles below, 'Blue Interval' is a representative example of smooth jazz.

'Last Mile Blues' Edmond Hall w Ida Cox and Her All Star Orchestra

20 Dec 1940 in NYC Matrix 29277-1 Okeh 6405

Trumpet: Henry "Red" Allen Trombone: J.C. Higginbotham

Clarinet: Edmond Hall Piano: Cliff Jackson

Tenor sax: Bobby Sands Banjo / guitar: Walter Jones

Bass: Billy Taylor Sr. Drums: Jimmy Hoskins

Composition: Ida Cox / Jesse Crump (married)

'Profoundly Blue' Edmond Hall Celeste Quartet

Hall's first name session as leader

5 Feb 1941 in NYC Matrix R3461 Blue Note 17

(Matrix R3461-2 issued on Blue Note BLP5206)

Clarinet: Edmond Hall Celeste: Meade Lux Lewis

Guitar: Charlie Christian Bass: Israel Crosby

Composition: Meade Lux Lewis

'Ol' Man River' Edmond Hall w (Henry) Red Allen and His Orchestra

17 April 1941 in NYC Matrix 30273-2 OKeh 6281

Trumpet / vocal: Henry Red Allen Trombone: J.C. Higginbotham

Clarinet: Edmond Hall Piano: Ken Kersey

Bass: Israel Crosby Drums: Jim Hoskins

Music: Jerome Kern Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II For the musical 'Showboat' 1927

'Blue Interval' Edmond Hall All Star Quintet

25 Jan 1944 in NYC Matrix BN909 Blue Note 31

Clarinet: Edmond Hall Piano: Teddy Wilson

Vibes: Red Norvo Guitar: Carl Kress Bass: Johnny Williams

Composition: Edmond Hall

'Where or When' Edmond Hall Quartet

11 July 1944 in NYC Matrix 4791-1 Commodore 579 B

Clarinet: Edmond Hall Piano: Teddy Wilson

Bass: Billy Taylor Drums: Arthur Trappier

Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Lorenz Hart

'Night and Day' Edmond Hall Quartet

20 July 1944 in NYC Matrix 4798-2 Commodore 579 A

Clarinet: Edmond Hall Piano: Teddy Wilson

Bass: Billy Taylor Drums: Arthur Trappier

Composition: Cole Porter

'Dardanella' Edmond Hall w Louis Armstrong and His All Stars

30 Oct 1955 at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Trumpet: Louis Armstrong Trombone: Trummy Young

Clarinet: Edmond Hall Piano: Billy Kyle

Bass: Arvell Shaw Drums: Barrett Deems

Music: Felix Bernard / Johnny Black 1919 Lyrics: Fred Fisher

'Muskrat Ramble' Edmond Hall w Louis Armstrong and His All Stars

30 April 1958 in NYC 'Timex Jazz' television broadcast by CBS

Trumpet: Louis Armstrong Trombone: Trummy Young

Clarinet: Edmond Hall Piano: Billy Kyle

Bass: Mort Herbert Drums: Danny Barcelona

Music: Kid Ory 1926 Lyrics: Ray Gilbert

'Flyin' High' Edmond Hall

From the album 'Rumpus On Rampart Street' recorded in NYC on 25 / 26 June 1959

Issued on Mount Vernon Music MVM 124 / MVS 124

Clarinet: Edmond Hall Piano: Dick Cary Guitar: Jimmy Raney

Bass: Al Hall Drums: Jimmy Crawford

Music: Benny Goodman / Lionel Hampton 1939 Lyrics: Sid Robin

Having already toured Canada, the States, Europe and Ghana (1956), Hall and his wife made a failed attempt to live in Ghana in latter 1959 as a music instructor. He is thought to have made his last studio recordings in Copenhagen in 1966. All Music and Tom Lord have Hall recording as late as February 3, 1967, contributing titles to the album, 'Edmond Hall's Last Concert' (tracks from 1964 included). That 1967 performance was Hall's last at the Governor Dummer Academy with George Poor. He died nine days later on 11 February of heart attack.