Customer Reviews

Bill Russell's American Music

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Bill Russell (1905 - 1992) was one of the first people to seriously research the history of New Orleans jazz. He was a co-author of the important 1939 "Jazzmen" book, influential in the re-discovery of Bunk Johnson, and the posthumous author of "Oh Mr. Jelly: A Jelly Rol Morton Scrapbook". He also founded American Music, an independent recording company which recorded and issued a series of seminal sessions, mostly in New Orleans in the 1940s and early 1950s. Musicians involved included Bunk Johnson, George Lewis, Wooden Joe Nicholas, Louis Delisle, Baby Dodds, Dink Johnson and St Louis ragtimer Charles Thompson. These recordings were originally released in very limited numbers, and while they have long been prized by collectors, it has only been since the late 1980s and the start of a systematic release of this music on CD by George Buck's Jazzology company, that they have been readily available to a mass audience.

This book is an account of the work of American Music. It examines the recordings on a session by session basis, drawing on Russell's diaries and subsequent recollections. There are some entertaining recollections of the difficulties Russell faced, ranging from Bunk's drinking to problems arranging recording venues to mishaps with the master discs. Full discographical details are given, and a number of rare photographs are included.

The book comes with a CD of rare or previously unissued tracks. The majority are by Bunk Johnson (from a 1943 duet with Bertha Gonsoulin through his 1944-45 band sides to an alternative take of "In the Gloaming" with Don Ewell from 1946), plus tracks by Nicholas, Delisle, Dink Johnson, Emile Barnes, Kid Thomas and Natty Dominique. Sound quality is not brilliant but is perfectly acceptable.

The book would have benefited from a more critical analytical approach to the music itself. Some discussion of the impact of the recordings and their influence on discussion of New Orleans jazz would be helpful, as would a consideration of the extent to which the recoprdings were an accurate reflection of the music played in New Orleans at the time, and an examination of the extent to which Russell influenced the repertoire and approach of the bands he recorded.

That said, this is an important book, and anyone with an interest in the New Orleans jazz revival of the 1940s should consider it a compulsory purchase. Recommended.

Bill Russell (1905-1992) was a classical violinist and avant-garde composer when he discovered jazz in 1929. During the next 10 years is pioneer research and single-minded dedication made him the leading jazz historian, writer and authority on New Orleans jazz. His discovery of the legendary Bunk Johnson was the inspiration to create his American music record label. These unique recordings introduced a new generation of jazz fans to authentic New Orleans music, and went on to influence the playing of tens of thousands of musicians all over the world.

Contents

foreword

introduction and acknowledgments

Bill Russell

American music

New Orleans 1942

San Francisco 1943

New Orleans 1944

New Orleans 1945

Los Angeles 1946

New York 1946

Pittsburgh 1947

Los Angeles 1947

St. Louis 1947

St. Louis 1948

New Orleans 1949

Montgomery 1949

St. Louis 1949

Chicago 1953

sessions not recorded by Bill Russell, issued on American music

listing of American music releases

notes

index

AM book on CD