I first heard of snoozer Quinn in 1990 when Leo Kottke told a story about him in a performance. There was no internet yet, so I had to remember the name and ask anybody I could, but for years I had only a humorous anecdote by a semi-obscure guitar player to go by. Finally I can hear what all the fuss was about.
Thanks for that. You can read more at this recent article about Quinn and reviewing the book. If you’re a guitarist recall there’s a batch of tablature lead sheets in the book carefully transcribed from the Wiggs session. syncopatedtimes.com/restoring-edward-snoozer-quinn-to-the-jazz-guitar-pantheon/ You should be able to access at least one free ST article before the publication paywall.
I'd never heard of him until now, but he has great natural swing and a very full concept of the guitar, almost sounding as if he's got a bass accompanying him in places.
Hello. This is very kind that you would put this up of Snoozer Quinn. You did this video very well. I am a friend of Katy Hobgood Ray. Another look into his personality was his gentlemanly-quality. He never said no to playing for people to people up in New York City that would come all the time to interrupt his sleep, so that played a part in his reluctance to return to the center of the business where everything was happening. Bandleaders I heard really wanted him. If you listen to his recordings with Jimmie Davis, you will hear an extra dark bassy string. That was maybe 1932. If you listen to that death bed album, you will hear these big bass sounds again. I was able to transcribe a lot for years, and it makes sense. We do not know what happened to his other guitars. There's only one. Anyhow, I suspect he may have jumped on the boat of the 7 string guitar before George Van Eps. Even Peck Kelly remarked their styles were incredibly similar.
Thanks JCB. May I assume you’ve seen syncopatedtimes.com/restoring-edward-snoozer-quinn-to-the-jazz-guitar-pantheon/ And jazzhotbigstep.com/70001.html Etc? Best, Dave R
Snoozer was an extraordinary musician. I suppose, then, that even given the adverse conditions under which this recording was made, we can't be surprised that he was still able to coax beautiful sounds out of a guitar. We can hear, even without benefit of the hospital photo, that he's playing a flat top, rather than the L-5, with which he is most closely associated. This treatment of one of our most lovely standards is marvelous -- many thanks for the vid!
Wow. Beautiful playing. Oh how life can take us in a myriad of directions. Eddie Lang was a fan? He died too young, but made a zillion recordings. Ya just never know, I guess.
1907 to 1949. At 42 he died so young, like so many other Jazz players of that time. WTF was up back in those day where every great musician died so goddamn young? Was it the dirty prohibition booze? Or the epidemic of good old pure heroin? Crazy how all the greats died all so soon. Yet, still we love them for what they gave.
A lot of it, was heroin especially in jazz circles , TB, appendicitis, sometimes poisoned (that was a thing back then) and just poor health conditions. People waited things out (mistake) and used home remedies back then.
Heavily doubt it because the album could only be produced so much in number. A lot of what he was covering were jazz standards. I heard that George Van Eps may have carried his style tradition but perhaps not in the same way, and other players probably built off of Van Eps over time. He also had a similar rhythm style to Big Bill Broonzy, and a lot of them were familiar with his records. The syncopation was similar but Broonzy used his thumb to keep it going. I suspect Quinn mainly did that sound with a pick.
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I first heard of snoozer Quinn in 1990 when Leo Kottke told a story about him in a performance. There was no internet yet, so I had to remember the name and ask anybody I could, but for years I had only a humorous anecdote by a semi-obscure guitar player to go by. Finally I can hear what all the fuss was about.
Thanks for that.
You can read more at this recent article about Quinn and reviewing the book.
If you’re a guitarist recall there’s a batch of tablature lead sheets in the book carefully transcribed from the Wiggs session.
syncopatedtimes.com/restoring-edward-snoozer-quinn-to-the-jazz-guitar-pantheon/
You should be able to access at least one free ST article before the publication paywall.
Thank you David! I knew a bit about "Snoozer" perhaps from one of your books. 🎶🎺🎶
Thanks for this piece of history. He needs to be remembered.
Sometimes I wonder how many other extraordinary musicians have been missed by historians. Then I remember that we can't know everything.
I like his sound!
Thanks so much - I had never heard of him - Certainly was great tremendous musician.
Thank you for this. Great playing and a "classic" jazz name!
I was today's years old when I heard about Snoozer Quinn. I'd like to hear some of his stuff.
Thanks. Here’s more:
syncopatedtimes.com/restoring-edward-snoozer-quinn-to-the-jazz-guitar-pantheon/
Artista interessantissimo, grazie per la scoperta 🍀🎶🎸😉
I'd never heard of him until now, but he has great natural swing and a very full concept of the guitar, almost sounding as if he's got a bass accompanying him in places.
All over the world there are great singers, great musicians who are only known in the area or small community in which they live.
Here’s more: syncopatedtimes.com/restoring-edward-snoozer-quinn-to-the-jazz-guitar-pantheon/
Hello. This is very kind that you would put this up of Snoozer Quinn. You did this video very well. I am a friend of Katy Hobgood Ray. Another look into his personality was his gentlemanly-quality. He never said no to playing for people to people up in New York City that would come all the time to interrupt his sleep, so that played a part in his reluctance to return to the center of the business where everything was happening. Bandleaders I heard really wanted him.
If you listen to his recordings with Jimmie Davis, you will hear an extra dark bassy string. That was maybe 1932. If you listen to that death bed album, you will hear these big bass sounds again. I was able to transcribe a lot for years, and it makes sense. We do not know what happened to his other guitars. There's only one. Anyhow, I suspect he may have jumped on the boat of the 7 string guitar before George Van Eps. Even Peck Kelly remarked their styles were incredibly similar.
Thanks JCB. May I assume you’ve seen
syncopatedtimes.com/restoring-edward-snoozer-quinn-to-the-jazz-guitar-pantheon/
And
jazzhotbigstep.com/70001.html
Etc? Best,
Dave R
Fantastic !
Thank you! Cheers!
Find more
syncopatedtimes.com/restoring-edward-snoozer-quinn-to-the-jazz-guitar-pantheon/
Very cool!
Very interesting!!
Snoozer was an extraordinary musician. I suppose, then, that even given the adverse conditions under which this recording was made, we can't be surprised that he was still able to coax beautiful sounds out of a guitar. We can hear, even without benefit of the hospital photo, that he's playing a flat top, rather than the L-5, with which he is most closely associated. This treatment of one of our most lovely standards is marvelous -- many thanks for the vid!
Thanks. More at syncopatedtimes.com/restoring-edward-snoozer-quinn-to-the-jazz-guitar-pantheon/
Wow. Beautiful playing. Oh how life can take us in a myriad of directions. Eddie Lang was a fan? He died too young, but made a zillion recordings. Ya just never know, I guess.
He was a big fan.
3:42 great idea for this photo-whose idea I wonder
I can tell you I've read stuff about this. Apparently Louis Armstrong was hiding from the mob. Quinn spent the day with him.
1907 to 1949. At 42 he died so young, like so many other Jazz players of that time. WTF was up back in those day where every great musician died so goddamn young? Was it the dirty prohibition booze? Or the epidemic of good old pure heroin? Crazy how all the greats died all so soon. Yet, still we love them for what they gave.
A lot of it, was heroin especially in jazz circles , TB, appendicitis, sometimes poisoned (that was a thing back then) and just poor health conditions. People waited things out (mistake) and used home remedies back then.
sound a lot like a beatle songwhere i cannot get my head around right now - but it looks like they knew about him too
Heavily doubt it because the album could only be produced so much in number. A lot of what he was covering were jazz standards. I heard that George Van Eps may have carried his style tradition but perhaps not in the same way, and other players probably built off of Van Eps over time. He also had a similar rhythm style to Big Bill Broonzy, and a lot of them were familiar with his records. The syncopation was similar but Broonzy used his thumb to keep it going. I suspect Quinn mainly did that sound with a pick.