HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Hot Lips Page

Birth of Swing Jazz: Hot Lips Page

Hot Lips Page

Born on 27 January 1908 in Dallas, trumpeter and vocalist, Hot Lips Page (Oran Thaddeus Page), began his musical career as a teenager performing at circuses and minstrel shows. He would soon back blues singers such as Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith and Ida Cox.

Tom Lord begins his sessionography of Page in Dallas, Texas, on October 24, 1929, per seven tracks with Eddie and Sugar Lou's Hotel Tyler Orchestra including two takes of 'Eddie and Sugar Lou Stomp' with one issued on Vocalion 1514.

'K.W.K.H. Blues' Eddie and Sugar Lou's Tyler Hotel Orchestra

Possibly Page's first recording

24 Oct 1929 in Dallas Matrix DAL-447-A Vocalion 1445

10 Nov 1929 in Kansas City Matrix KC-612 Vocalion 1463

Trumpet: Henry Thompson or Stanley Hardee / Hot Lips Page

Trombone: Albert Mitchell

Alto / baritone sax: Adrian Kenney

Piano: Charles Sugar Lou Morgan Banjo / arrangement: Eddie Fennell

Drums: Lee Scott

Composition: Eddie Fennell

'Yo Yo Blues' Eddie and Sugar Lou's Tyler Hotel Orchestra

24 Oct 1929 in Dallas Matrix DAL-449-A Vocalion 1445

10 Nov 1929 in Kansas City Matrix KC-612 Vocalion 1463

Trumpet: Henry Thompson or Stanley Hardee / Hot Lips Page

Trombone: Albert Mitchell

Alto / baritone sax: Adrian Kenney

Piano: Charles Sugar Lou Morgan

Banjo / vocal / arrangement: Eddie Fennell

Drums: Lee Scott

Composition: Eddie Fennell

In November 1929 Page blew trumpet on a couple tracks by Walter Page's Blue Devils: 'Blue Devil Blues' and 'Squabblin'. There is no relation between Hot Lips and Walter Page. The two would also contribute to Bennie Moten's organization, and Walter would back Hot Lips' band in the latter forties and early fifties.

'Blue Devil Blues' Walter Page and His Blue Devils

10 Nov 1929 in Kansas City Matrix KC-612 Vocalion 1463

Trumpet: James Simpson / Hot Lips Page

Trombone: Dan Minor

Alto sax: Buster Smith (clarinet) / Ted Manning

Tenor sax: Reuben Roddy

Piano: Charlie Washington

Guitar: Reuben Lynch or Thomas Owens

Tuba: Walter Page Drums: Alvin Burroughs Vocal: Jimmy Rushing

Composition: Jewell Babe Stovall

As mentioned, Page worked with Bennie Moten from 1930 through 1932:

'Won't You Be My Baby' Bennie Moten and his Kansas City Orchestra

27 Oct 1930 in Kansas City Matrix KC-612 Vocalion 1463

Trumpet: Ed Lewis / Hot Lips Page / Booker Washington

Trombone: Eddie Durham (valve / guitar) / Thamon Hayes

Clarinet / sax: Harlan Leonard / Woody Walder / Jack Washington

Piano: Count Basie / Ira Buster Moten (accordion)

Banjo: Leroy Buster Berry

Tuba: Vernon Page Drums / vibes: Willie McWashington Vocal: Jimmy Rushing

Music: Bennie Moten Lyrics: Jimmy Rushing

'Somebody Stole My Gal' Bennie Moten and his Kansas City Orchestra

31 Oct 1930 in Kansas City Matrix 62927-1 Victor 23028-B

Piano / vocal: Count Basie

Composition: Leo Wood

'Blue Room' Bennie Moten and his Kansas City Orchestra

13 Dec 1932 in Camden NJ Matrix 74848-1 Victor 24381

Trumpet: Hot Lips Page / Joe Keyes / Prince Dee Stewart

Trombone: Dan Minor / Eddie Durham (valve / guitar / arrangement)

Reeds: Eddie Barefield / Jack Washington / Ben Webster (tenor)

Piano: Count Basie Banjo: Leroy Buster Berry

Bass: Walter Page Drums: Willie McWashington

Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Lorenz Hart

Page began to record vocals along with trumpet while performing with Chu Berry's Stompy Stevedores in 1937. The also worked together in Teddy Wilson's Orchestra that year. Page backed Berry's Jazz Ensemble later in 1941.

'Too Marvelous for Words' Chu Berry and his Stompy Stevedores

23 March 1937 in NYC 1 of 2 takes issued on either Variety 532 or Swing 358

Trumpet / vocal: Hot Lips Page Trombone: George Matthews

Clarinet: Buster Bailey Tenor sax: Chu Berry

Piano: Horace Henderson Guitar: Lawrence Lucie

Bass: Israel Crosby Drums: Cozy Cole

Music: Richard Whiting Lyrics: Johnny Mercer

'Limehouse Blues' Chu Berry and his Stompy Stevedores

23 March 1937 in NYC 1 of 2 takes issued on either Variety 587 or Merritt 12

Trumpet / vocal: Hot Lips Page Trombone: George Matthews

Clarinet: Buster Bailey Tenor sax: Chu Berry

Piano: Horace Henderson Guitar: Lawrence Lucie

Bass: Israel Crosby Drums: Cozy Cole

Music: Philip Braham Lyrics: Douglas Furber

Page worked in Barney Rapp's Orchestra before backing Teddy Wilson's operation per above in 1937. Page and Wilson reunited variously in the early forties.

Page also formed his own band to play at Small's Paradise in Harlem in 1937. His first issues as a leader, also at trumpet and vocals, were from a session held on March 10, 1938: 'Good Old Bosom Bread', 'He's Pulling His Whiskers', 'Down on the Levee' and 'Old Man Ben'.

'He's Pulling His Whiskers' Hot Lips Page and His Band

10 March 1938 in NYC Matrix 63394-A Decca 7451

Trumpet / vocal: Hot Lips Page Clarinet / alto sax: Ben Smith

Tenor sax: Sam Simmons

Piano: Jimmy Reynolds Guitar: Connie Wainwright

Bass: Wellman Braud Drums: Alfred Taylor

Composition: Page

Lord has Page recording with both Eddie Condon and Mezz Mezzrow for the first time during a radio broadcast from the St. Regis Hotel in New York City in November of 1938. Condon and Page worked together with Fats Waller in 1942 before Page joined Condon's band in 1944 and 1949. Page recorded with Mezzrow's Septet in July of 1945.

'St. Louis Blues' Hot Lips Page

Radio broadcast from the St. Regis Hotel in NYC on 5 Nov 1938

Jazz Panorama LP9 1967

Trumpet: Hot Lips Page Clarinet: Mezz Mezzrow

Tenor sax: Bud Freeman

Piano: Jess Stacy Guitar: Eddie Condon

Bass: Artie Shapiro Drums: Zutty Singleton

Composition: WC Handy

Page initially backed famous vocalist, Billie Holiday, in 1939 and 1940, working with her again on a few occasions in the forties.

'Long Gone Blues' Billie Holiday and her Orchestra

21 March 1939 in NYC Matrix W24249-1 Columbia 37586

Trumpet: Hot Lips Page Alto / soprano sax: Tab Smith

Tenor sax: Kenneth Hollon / Stanley Payne

Piano: Kenny Kersey Guitar: Jimmy McLin

Bass: Johnny Williams Drums: Eddie Dougherty

Composition: Tab Smith / Holiday

'Gone with the Gin' Hot Lips Page and His Band

23 Jan 1940 in NYC Matrix 67094-A Decca 7714

Trumpet: Hot Lips Page Alto / soprano sax: Tab Smith

Tenor sax: Kenneth Hollon / Stanley Payne

Piano: Kenny Kersey Guitar: Jimmy McLin

Bass: Johnny Williams Drums: Eddie Dougherty

Composition: Tab Smith / Holiday

'Lafayette' Hot Lips Page and His Band

11 Nov 1940 in NYC Matrix 68334-A Decca 18124

Trumpet: Hot Lips Page Clarinet / alto sax: Eddie Barefield

Alto sax: Don Stovall Tenor sax: Don Byas

Piano: Pete Johnson Guitar: John Collins

Bass: Abe Bolar Drums: A.G. Godley

Composition: Count Basie / Eddie Durham

Artie Shaw employed Page in his orchestra from 1941 into 1942.

'St. James Infirmary Blues' Artie Shaw and His Orchestra

12 Nov 1941 in NYC Matrix 68334-A Decca 18124

Trumpet: Lee Castle / Steve Lipkins / Max Kaminsky / Hot Lips Page (vocal)

Trombone: Ray Conniff / Jack Jenney / Morey Samuel

Clarinet: Artie Shaw Alto sax: Les Robinson / Chuck DiMaggio

Tenor sax: Georgie Auld / Mickey Folus Baritone sax: Artie Baker

Piano: Johnny Guarnieri

Violin:

Leo Pevsner / Raoul Poliakin / Bernard Tinterow / Leonard Posner

Alex Beller / Irving Raymond / Bill Ehrenkranz / Truman Boardman

Guitar: Mike Bryan

Viola: Morris Kohn / Leonard Atkins / Max Berman / Sam Rosenblum

Cello: Fred Goerner / George Pollakin / Edgardo Sodero

Upright Bass: Eddie McKinney Drums: Dave Tough

Arrangement: David Mendelsohn

Composition: Wikipedia

'Rockin' at Ryans' Hot Lips Page and His Orchestra

8 March 1944 in NYC 1 of 2 takes issued on either Commodore 7004 or Commodore 571

Trumpet: Hot Lips Page

Tenor sax: Lem Johnson-Eli / Lucky Thompson

Piano: Ace Harris Bass: John Simmons Drums: Sidney Catlett

Composition: Page

'Uncle Sam's Blues' Hot Lips Page and His Swing Seven

14 June 1944 in NYC Matrix S5463-3 Savoy 520-A

Trumpet / C melody sax / vocal: Hot Lips Page

Alto sax: George Johnson / Floyd Horsecollar Williams Tenor sax: Don Byas

Piano: Clyde Hart Bass: John Simmons Drums: Sidney Catlett

Composition: Page

'You Need Coachin'' Hot Lips Page and His Orchestra

29 Sep 1944 in NYC

1 of 2 takes issued on either Commodore 558 or Commodore 6.24058AG

Trumpet / vocal: Hot Lips Page

Alto sax: Earl Bostic / Butch Hammond Tenor sax: Don Byas

Piano: Clyde Hart Bass: Al Lucas Drums: Jack The Bear Parker

Composition: Page

'Fish for Supper' Hot Lips Page and His Orchestra

29 Sep 1944 in NYC Matrix CA4817-2 Commodore 558

Trumpet / vocal: Hot Lips Page

Alto sax: Earl Bostic / Butch Hammond Tenor sax: Don Byas

Piano: Clyde Hart Bass: Al Lucas Drums: Jack The Bear Parker

Composition: Al Cooper / Cootie Williams / Joe Guy

'The Sheik of Araby' Hot Lips Page and His V-Disc All Stars

6 Dec 1944 in NYC Matrix VP1073 V-Disc 198

Cornet: Bobby Hackett Trumpet / vocal: Hot Lips Page

Trombone: Jack Teagarden / Lou McGarity

Clarinet: Ernie Caceres Tenor sax: Nick Caiazza

Piano: Johnny Guarnieri Guitar: Herb Ellis

Bass: Al Hall Drums: Specs Powell

Music: Ted Snyder Lyrics: Francis Wheeler / Harry Smith

Among titles composed by Page was 'Bloodhound' which he recorded on 7 September 1945 with his Sextet. He and Roy Eldridge wrote 'They Raided the Joint' which Page and his orchestra recorded the same day.

'They Raided the Joint' Hot Lips Page and His Orchestra

7 Sep 1945 in NYC Matrix W3399 Continental C6017

Trumpet: Hot Lips Page (vocal) / Buck Clayton

Trombone: Benny Morton / J.C. Higginbotham / Sandy Williams

Alto sax: Earl Bostic Tenor sax: Don Byas / Ben Webster

Piano: Rufus Webster Drums: Buford Oliver

Music: Ted Snyder Lyrics: Francis Wheeler / Harry Smith

Page worked with bluesman, Lonnie Johnson, from 1947 into 1949. In 1952 he put away 'Last Call for Alcohol' in Paris. In the sample below, curator, Heath Wilson, has set 'Last Call for Alcohol' to the earlier 1941 film, 'Hellzapoppin''. Page had naught to do with that film which otherwise features the Lindy Hop dance performed by Whitey's Lindy Hoppers. The Lindy Hop had earlier been invented from out of the Charleston at a dance marathon in Manhattan in July of 1928 by Shorty George Snowden and partner, Mattie Purnell. It isn't clear if Snowden named the Lindy Hop, which refers to the pilot, Charles Lindbergh, but white folk who danced the Lindy Hop were called jitter bugs, thus arriving the Jitterbug dance of the swing jazz period.

'Friendless Blues' Hot Lips Page and His Orchestra

23 Dec 1947 in Cincinnati OH Matrix K5323 Federal 12376

Trumpet: Hot Lips Page Trombone: Joe Britton

Alto sax: Vincent Bair-Bey Tenor sax: Hal Singer / Tom Archia

Piano: Earl Knight Guitar / vocal: Lonnie Johnson

Bass: Carl Flat Top Wilson Drums: Bobby Donaldson

Music: Ted Snyder Lyrics: Francis Wheeler / Harry Smith

'Baby It's Cold Outside' Hot Lips Page w Pearl Bailey

23 June 1949 in NYC Matrix CO40903-1 Harmony Records 1049

Trumpet: Hot Lips Page Trombone: Joe Britton

Alto sax: Vincent Bair-Bey Tenor sax: Hal Singer / Tom Archia

Piano: Raymond Tunia Guitar: Tony Mottola

Bass: Al Hall Drums: Specs Powell

Composition: Frank Loesser

'Last Call for Alcohol' Hot Lips Page w Ruby Richards

29 Oct 1952 in Paris Matrix K9197 King 4584

Trumpet / vocal: Hot Lips Page / Marcel Bornstein / Pierre Dervaux

Trombone: Jean-Louis Durand

Clarinet: Andre Reweliotty Tenor sax: Jean-Claude Fohrenbach

Piano: Yannick Singery

Bass: Zozo d'Halluin Drums: Michel Pacout

Composition: Frank Loesser

Film: 'Hellzapoppin'' of 1941 Synced with but unrelated to Page

Whitey's Lindy Hoppers perform the Lindy Hop aka Jitterbug

Page documented several tracks with the Marian McPartland Trio in May of 1953. Jan Evensmo traces Page to as late as January of 1954 in Creve Coeur, Missouri, toward, 'It Had to Be You', a couple takes of 'Struttin' with Some Barbecue' and three other tracks. This is thought to be his final recording occasion.