Andy Kirk

Andy Kirk

Source: Big Band Library

Born on 28 May 1898 in Newport, Kentucky, jazz composer and band director, Andy Kirk, grew up in Denver where he received musical instruction from Wilberforce Whiteman, father of bandleader, Paul Whiteman. Kirk began his career playing saxophone and tuba in support roles for about a decade until assuming the position of a bandleader for which he is known, releasing his first recordings with his Clouds of Joy in 1929. Kirk began playing professionally in Denver with the jazz band of George Morrison in 1919. Lord's sessionography traces him with Morrison to as early as 26 March 1920 for Columbia in NYC to lay out a couple of unissued titles ('Pip-pip, Toot-toot, Goodbye-ee' and 'So long, Oo long'). Their next session on 2 April resulted in 'Royal Garden Blues' unissued and 'I Know Why' released on Columbia A2945.

'I Know Why'   George Morrison's Jazz Orchestra

Kirk: alto & bass sax   Morrison: leader & violin

Recorded 2 April 1920 in NYC   Columbia A2945

Composition: Davis / Morgan / Warshauer

Kirk married pianist, Mary Colston, in Denver in 1925, who had also been a student of Wilberforce and played in Morrison's band. Kirk and Mary left Morrison's operation for Chicago in 1925, then headed for Dallas, Texas, the same year where Kirk joined Terrence Holder's Dark Clouds of Joy. Mary with child stopped playing professionally as Kirk performed with Holder's Clouds. In 1928 Holder left the band and Kirk was elected leader. He changed the name of the Dark Clouds of Joy to the Twelve Clouds of Joy which it would remain insofar as the band consisted of twelve. Composer and pianist, Mary Lou Williams, was an original member of that band in Dallas, which soon traveled to Kansas City to perform its first gigs. She is found with Kirk on the first tracks he recorded with his Clouds of Joy in September of 1929: 'Mess-a-Stomp' (Brunswick 4694), 'Blue Clarinet Stomp' (two takes) and 'Cloudy'. Williams composed 'Mess-a-Stomp' and would collaborate with Kirk on future titles. Colston doesn't appear in the rosters of Kirk's Clouds of Joy in Lord's jazzography. She did, however, form the Mary Kirk Trio filled by Paul Gunther (drums) and Charlie Parker (sax) who is thought to have begun his professional career with Colston's group in Kansas City.

'Blue Clarinet Stomp'   Andy Kirk & His Twelve Clouds Of Joy   Vocal: Harry Lawson

Recorded c 7 Nov 1929 in Kansas City   Matrix KC592-A   Brunswick 4694 / 500162 (France)

Composition: Andy Kirk   Arrangement: Mary Lou Williams

'Cloudy'   Andy Kirk & His Twelve Clouds Of Joy

Recorded c 7 Nov 1929 in Kansas City   Matrix KC593   Brunswick 4653

Composition: Andy Kirk

'Casey Jones Special'   Andy Kirk & His Twelve Clouds Of Joy

Recorded c 8 Nov 1929 in Kansas City   Brunswick 4653

Composition: Andy Kirk   Arrangement: Mary Lou Williams

'Somepin' Slow and Low'   John Williams & His Memphis Stompers led by Kirk

Kirk: bass sax & tuba   Williams: alto & baritone sax

Recorded c 9 Nov 1929 in Kansas City   Vocalion 1453

Comp unknown   Arrangement: Mary Lou Williams

(John and Mary Lou married since Nov 1926)

'Corky Stomp'   Andy Kirk & His Twelve Clouds Of Joy

Recorded c 11 Nov 1929 in Kansas City   Matrix KC618   Brunswick 4893

Composition: Andy Kirk / Mary Lou Williams

'Froggy Bottom'   Andy Kirk & His Twelve Clouds Of Joy

Recorded c 11 Nov 1929 in Kansas City   Matrix KC619   Brunswick 4893

Composition: Mary Lou Williams

'Sophomore'   Andy Kirk & His Twelve Clouds Of Joy  Vocal: Dick Robertson

Recorded 15 Dec 1930 in NYC   Brunswick 6067

Composition: Alexander Hill / Bob Causer

'Until the Real Thing Comes Along'   Andy Kirk & His Twelve Clouds Of Joy

Vocal: Pha Terrell

Recorded 2 April 1936 in NYC   Decca 809

Composition: Sammy Cahn / Saul Chaplin / Lawrence Freeman

'Roll 'Em'   Andy Kirk & His Orchestra   Composition: Mary Lou Williams

Recorded 2 Aug 1944   US Naval Station at Hitchcock TX   Hindsight HSR 227

Instrumental (Richmond out): June Richmond is vocalist on 3 of 9 titles in this session

All titles issued on 'The Uncollected 1944'   Hindsight HSR 227   1986

'Apollo Groove'   Andy Kirk & His Orchestra   Film: 'Killer Diler'   1948

Composition: John Young

'Basie Boogie'   Andy Kirk & His Orchestra   Film: 'Killer Diler'   1948

Composition: Milton Ebbins

'Killer Diller'   Andy Kirk & His Orchestra   Film excerpts including Nat King Cole  1948

Directed by Josh Binney

Kirk recorded steadily with one version or another of his bands into latter 1946, though they issued tracks as late as 1949 and 1956. Among releases in 1956 was the album, 'A Mellow Bit of Rhythm', reissued as 'Clouds from the Southwest' the same year. Though Kirk thereafter remained professionally active he yet had to take employment as a hotel manager. Also working in real estate, he was made an NEA Jazz Master in 1991. Kirk died of Alzheimer's disease the next year on 11 Dec 1992 in NYC.