Leon “Bix” Beiderbecke Birthday: Born March 10, 1903
At the very dawn of jazz recording, with echoes of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band still in the air, very few musicians were able to capture a fresh new sound until the flood gates opened with the blossoming of Louis Armstrong. Naturally, there were exceptions like Sidney Bechet or Earl Hines, but, for the most part, it was the powerful virtuosic display of Armstrong that made the Roaring 20s the era of “hot jazz”. It wasn’t long, however, before another highly individual talent emerged.
On February 18, 1924, less than a year after Armstrong cut his first records, a young cornetist from Davenport, Iowa named Bix Beiderbecke made his recording debut. By the late twenties he had ushered in a striking new approach to the jazz solo concept by making it cool. His improvisations were more relaxed, melodic, and graced with inspirations from impressionistic and modern tonal composers including Ravel, Debussy, Stravinsky and the lesser-known Eastwood Lane. His tone has been likened to that of a bell or a mallet on a chime; Eddie Condon said Bix’s tone was like a girl saying “yes”.
His brief and troubled life became legendary and emblematic, inspiring a best-selling novel and a full-length motion picture. What’s important is that Bix remains one the most musically brilliant figures of any period in jazz.
- Alan Goodman, Mosaic Records Brochure
Follow: Mosaic Records Facebook Tumblr Twitter
Read MoreA Piece Of History: The Only Footage Of Bix With Sound
A Fox Movietone newsreel clip from May 1928, showing Paul Whiteman tearing up his old contract with Victor (he would sign with Columbia) and conducting “My Ohio Home” which was never recorded by the Whiteman band. But of great importance here is the only footage we have of Bix with sound and the first appearance of Bing Crosby on film. This clip is shown twice: once with a wide angle and the other as a close-up. At the start watch for Bing Crosby as he waves Al Rinker and Harry Barris into camera range.
-Scott Wenzel
Follow: Mosaic Records Facebook Tumblr Twitter
View Video
A Source For Bixophiles
Certainly one of the outstanding websites dedicated to a musician is that of BixBeiderbecke.com. Launched in 1999, the website’s host is Albert Haim and he does an outstanding job of presenting Bix that bring awareness to this pure genius and legend in a vast array of settings: a virtual radio station WBIX, a highly informative forum (which I have participated in), photo gallery, discographies, recorded interviews of musicians who knew and played with Bix and so much more. It’s a trip worth taking and once there you’ll be back again and again.
-Scott Wenzel
Visit And Listen To WBIX… Follow: Mosaic Records Facebook Tumblr Twitter
Read More
Bix Lives
The Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Society’s webpage is a fine site dedicated to preserving the memory of Bix via their outstanding yearly festival, the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival held in Bix’s hometown of Davenport, Iowa. Thirteen magnificent bands from around the world will meet August 1st through the 4th in what will be the 42nd annual.
-Scott Wenzel
Visit Site… Follow: Mosaic Records Facebook Tumblr Twitter
Read MoreThe Real Deal
The difference between a band of today just playing a jazz or dance band arrangement from the 1920s and actually re-creating it is perfectly demonstrated via The Nighthawks led by bassist / vocalist Vince Giordano. A collector of original charts from this period, Vince’s choice of musicians who intimately know this music is a magic aspect of the Nighthawk’s success – not only do you need to know how to play your chart properly but you need to solo in this genre as well. An example shown here is from a Frankie Trumbauer / Bix Beiderbecke recording of 1928: “Borneo”.
-Scott Wenzel
Follow: Mosaic Records Facebook Tumblr
View Video
