HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

The Jazz Trumpet of Jabbo Smith

Birth of Jazz: Jabbo Smith

Jabbo Smith

Born in Pembroke, Georgia, on 24 December 1908, trumpeter, Jabbo Smith, was sent to Jenkins Orphanage in South Carolina at age six. He left there at age sixteen to begin a career in music, playing with a number of bands in various northeast cities until he went to New York City where he is thought to have made his first recording with Thomas Morris on 17 August 1926, that 'Ham Gravy' issued on Victor 20179 [DAHR]. Tom Lord's discography has Smith accompanying Eva Taylor with Clarence Williams' Blue Five in a session on February 10, 1927: 'I Wish You Would' and 'If I Could Be with You' (Okeh 8444). Smith also recorded with Duke Ellington in 1927, a session on November 10 witnessing 7 tracks of 3 titles: 'What Can a Poor Fellow Do?', 'Black and Tan Fantasy' and 'Chicago Stomp Down'. Personnel during Smith's earlier career is from the sessionography of K.B. Rau.

'Georgia Grind' Jabbo Smith (2nd trumpet) w Thomas Morris & His Seven Hot Babies

Smith's first recording to see issue

17 August 1926 in NYC Matrix BVE-36047 Victor 20180 / Frog DGF 1

Trumpet: Thomas Morris

Trombone: Geechie Fields Clarinet / alto sax: Ernest Elliott

Tenor sax: Happy Caldwell Piano / vocal: Mike Jackson

Banjo: prob Buddy Christian Bass brass: Bill Benford

Composition: Spencer Williams

'Ham Gravy' Jabbo Smith (2nd trumpet) w Thomas Morris & His Seven Hot Babies

Smith's second recording to see issue

17 August 1926 in NYC Matrix BVE-36048 Victor 20179 / Frog DGF 1

Trumpet: Thomas Morris

Trombone: Geechie Fields Clarinet / alto sax: Ernest Elliott

Tenor sax: Happy Caldwell Piano: Mike Jackson

Banjo: prob Buddy Christian Bass brass: Bill Benford

Composition: Thomas Morris

'I Wish You Would' Jabbo Smith (trumpet) w Clarence Williams' Blue Five

10 Feb 1927 in NYC Matrix 80412-A Okeh 8444

Trombone: Charlie Irvis Guitar: prob Buddy Christian Vocal: Eva Taylor

Composition: Chappie Chappelle / Juanita Stinnette

Smith toured with James Johnson until he formed his own band, the Rhythm Aces, at age 21 in 1929. It is thought his first session as a leader with his Aces was on January 29, yielding 'Jazz Battle'.

'Jazz Battle' Jabbo Smith (trumpet) and His Rhythm Aces

29 Jan 1929 in Chicago Matrix C2884 Brunswick 4244

Clarinet: Omer Simeon Piano: Cassino Simpson Banjo: Ikey Robinson

Composition: Jabbo Smith

'Take Your Time' Jabbo Smith (trumpet) and His Rhythm Aces

23 Feb 1929 in Chicago Matrix C3003 Brunswick 7061

Clarinet: Omer Simeon Piano: prob William Barbee

Banjo: Ikey Robinson Bass brass: Lawson Buford

Composition: Jabbo Smith

'Ace of Rhythms' Jabbo Smith (trumpet) and His Rhythm Aces

Label misprinted: 'Ace of Rhythms' should have been 'Aces of Rhythm'

1 March 1929 in Chicago Matrix C3027 Brunswick 7071

Clarinet / alto sax: Omer Simeon Piano: prob Cassino Simpson

Banjo: Ikey Robinson Bass brass: Lawson Buford

Composition: Jabbo Smith

'Let's Get Together' Jabbo Smith (trumpet) and His Rhythm Aces

1 March 1929 in Chicago Matrix C3028 Brunswick 7065

Clarinet / alto sax: Omer Simeon Piano: prob Cassino Simpson

Banjo: Ikey Robinson Bass brass: Lawson Buford

Composition: Jabbo Smith

'Boston Skuffle' Jabbo Smith (trumpet) and His Rhythm Aces

8 Aug 1929 in Chicago Matrix C4023 Brunswick 7101

Alto sax: George James Piano: prob Earl Frazier

Banjo: Ikey Robinson Bass brass: Lawson Buford

Composition: Jabbo Smith

'Tanguay Blues' Jabbo Smith (trumpet) and His Rhythm Aces

8 Aug 1929 in Chicago Matrix C4023 Brunswick 7101

Alto sax: George James Piano: prob Earl Frazier

Banjo: Ikey Robinson Bass brass: Lawson Buford

Composition: Jabbo Smith

In June of 1931 Smith put away a couple titles with Trombone Red and His Blue Six in New York City before trading Chicago for Milwaukee where he led a band at the Wisconsin Roof. He returned to Chicago in 1934 to perform at the Sunset, then worked in Detroit and Milwaukee again until heading for New York City again in 1936. In 1937 Smith backed the Claude Hopkins' band in New York City as well as with his own orchestra.

'Sunday' Jabbo Smith w Claude Hopkins backing Beverley White

2 Feb 1937 in NYC Matrix 61567 Decca 1153

Trumpet: Shirley Clay / Jabbo Smith / Lincoln Mills

Trombone: Floyd Brady / Fred Norman / Vic Dickenson

Clarinet / alto sax: Gene Johnson / Chauncey Haughton / Ben Smith

Clarinet / tenor sax: Bobby Sands Piano: Claude Hopkins

Guitar: Walter Jones String bass: Abe Bolar Drums: Pete Jacobs

Composition: Bennie Krueger / Chester Cohn / Jule Styne / Ned Miller

'My Kinda Love' Jabbo Smith w Claude Hopkins backing Beverley White

21 April 1937 in NYC Matrix 62143 Decca 1316

Trumpet: Shirley Clay / Jabbo Smith / Lincoln Mills

Trombone: Floyd Brady / Fred Norman / Vic Dickenson

Clarinet / alto sax: Gene Johnson / Arville Harris / Ben Smith

Clarinet / tenor sax: Bobby Sands Piano: Claude Hopkins

Guitar: Walter Jones String bass: Abe Bolar Drums: George Foster

Composition: Claude Hopkins

In spring of 1939 Smith documented a couple of unissued takes of 'I Got Rhythm' in New York City with Sidney Bechet and the New Orleans Feetwarmers before returning to Milwaukee to marry and work for the Avis car rental agency through the forties into the fifties. Though retiring from national ambitions in the music profession, he hardly put away his trumpet. He made a couple records with Albino Jones and His Ambassadors in New Jersey in 1943. Back in Milwaukee he held a residency at the Crystal Ballroom in the latter forties and the Down Under in the latter fifties. In 1961 he recorded the 'Hidden Treasure' sessions in New York City.

'These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)' 4 takes Jabbo Smith

3 June 1961 in NYC Issued on 'Hidden Treasure'

Trumpet / trombone / vocal: Jabbo Smith

Clarinet: Frank Chace Bass sax / string bass: John Dengler

Piano: Art Gronwall Drums: Bob Saltmarsh

Music: Jack Strachey Lyrics: Eric Maschwitz as Holt Marvell 1935

'Sweet Georgia Brown' Jabbo Smith

15 Oct 1961 in NYC Issued on 'Hidden Treasure'

Trumpet / trombone: Jabbo Smith

Clarinet: Frank Chace Guitar: Big Mike McKendrick

String bass: Marty Grosz Drums: White Mitchell

Music: Ben Bernie / Maceo Pinkard Lyrics: Kenneth Casey 1925

Continuing in the car rental business, Smith then held a residency at Tina's Lounge in Milwaukee in 1966. He branched out from his local scene to international upon beginning to tour Europe in the seventies. The latter seventies saw Smith recording with the Hot Dogs in Netherlands beginning with the album, 'The Hot Dogs Meet Jabbo Smith', gone down in three sessions in Almelo and Breda in December of 1976. He also performed with the South Jazz Band in Breda in December of 1976. Come the New Orleans Joymakers in Paris in 1978. Smith worked in the theatrical production of Vernel Bagneris' 'One Mo' Time' which saw recording in 1979. 'One Mo' Time' was a depiction of Black Vaudeville in the 1920s. Tom Lord traces Smith to as late as the Breda Jazz Festival in Netherlands with the Hot Antic Jazz Band in May 1983.