Frank Trumbauer Orchestra with Bix Beiderbecke

Frank Trumbauer

Source: Jimbo Berkey

Born on 30 May 1901 in Carbondale, Illinois, part Cherokee saxophonist, Frank Trumbauer, began directing his own band in 1927. He largely played C-melody sax (between tenor and alto), alto sax, bassoon and clarinet. His first recordings were with the Gene Rodemich Orchestra sometime in November of 1920 for Brunswick, likely released the next January, among which were 'Castle of Dreams', 'Margie', 'June' and 'Treasure Isle'. Trumbauer recorded a couple unissued tracks with Joe Kayser in January of 1921 before, the same month, commencing to lay tracks with the Benson Orchestra of Chicago into latter 1923.

In 1924 Trumbauer was with the Ray Miller Orchestra, the Mound City Blue Blowers and the Arkansas Travelers before recording with Bix Beiderbecke (cornet), Rube Bloom (piano), Miff Mole (trombone), Min Leibrook (tuba) and Vic Moore (drums) in the Sioux City Six on October 10, releasing 'Flock o' Blues' and 'I'm Glad'. Mole had recorded with Trumbauer since Ray Miller on April 23, 1924 ('Lots o' Mama' and 'From One Till Two'). They'd issued titles together in the Arkansas Travelers and Sioux City Six, and set tracks together again with Ray Miller, then the Cotton Pickers. Trumbauer's relationship with Bloom was a productive one as well. They had first recorded together for Okeh Records in the Arkansas Travelers about May of 1924 ('Georgia Blues' and 'Lost My Baby Blues'). They would perform together with Ray Miller, the Sioux City Six, the Cotton Pickers and the band of Sam Lanin.

Trumbauer and Beiderbecke would be close companions in the music business. They would record again together in the orchestra of Jean Goldkette in 1926 and 1927, also working in each other's various bands that year. Trumbauer's first recordings as a leader were supported by both Beiderbecke and guitarist, Eddie Lang, on February 4 of 1927 in NYC, yielding 'Trumbology', 'Clarinet Marmalade' and 'Singin' the Blues'. Trumbauer's partnership with Beiderbecke was a busy one in 1927, they also recording together with Paul Whiteman's orchestra in November. They would appear on numberless titles under Whiteman until Beiderbecke's last tracks with that orchestra on November 13, 1929: 'Waiting at the End of the Road' and 'When You're Counting the Stars Alone'. Beiderbecke then quit Whiteman to work with Hoagy Carmichael. All titles through 1929 below feature Beiderbecke at cornet with the Trumbauer Orchestra. Personnel and recording data: Tom Lord.