Johnny Blowers is on drums. He was my drum teacher in the 1970's. I was fortunate to attend the last show he performed with the Harlem Blues and Jazz Allstars. Video taped the event!! RIP
Bobby Hackett played for several NJ Jazz Society events in the 1970s. He was famous for never saying anything bad about anyone. To test him someone asked What do you think of Hitler? He thought a minute then replied "Best in his field".
This video has been around since I frist started playing trombone. I'm glad to see it's still right here where I left it. I love being able to hear how Mr. Brunies could play!
harryoakley The hard driving happy drummer was Johnny Blowers (April 21, 1911 - July 17, 2006), born in Spartanburg, South Carolina. "He recorded with Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Sidney Bechet, Billie Holiday, Bobby Hackett, Don Byas, Red Norvo, Perry Como, Bunny Berigan, Bud Freeman, Dave Newcomb, Clyde Newcomb, Judy Garland, Eddie Fisher, Mel Torme, Teddy Wilson, Eddie Condon, Artie Shaw, Woody Herman, Paul Whiteman, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, who chose Blowers to be his drummer in 1943." His first real break was with Bobby Hackett’s small band at Nick’s in Greenwich Village, performing with such luminaries as Eddie Condon and Pee Wee Russell, which is when this video was shot, although the video doesn't give the exact date, and it might have been early in 1938. "Nick’s was the place to be seen in 1937 and by April 1938 he had joined Bunny Berigan’s big band and later in 1938 he recorded with Teddy Wilson (“Don’t Be That Way”) and also performed with Jan Savitt and Ben Bernie." He was the drummer that helped make Judy Garland’s, “On The Atchison, Topeka and Sante Fe,” Buddy Clark’s, “Linda,” Louis Armstrong’s, “Blueberry Hill,” or Perry Como’s, “Prisoner of Love” such big hits. He continued as staff musician for CBS, NBC and ABC through television’s early days in the 1950’s. "He spent nearly a year at Eddie Condon’s Jazz Club in 1947 and briefly owned his own club, the Club Blowers, in Queens, New York that same year. In the 1970’s the renewal of interest in traditional jazz and swing music led to many gigs at festivals and clubs. He spent a number of years in the Broadway show “Follies” as one of the musicians who performed on stage with a small jazz band. Johnny Blowers recorded an album (“Those Giants of Jazz”) in 1991, with the band that he founded in 1948 "Johnny Blowers Giants of Jazz", while he was touring with Frank Sinatra . He continued touring the world with the Harlem Blues and Jazz Band, which he joined in 1986 and spent the next 20 years with the band until 2005 when he became too ill to continue." Johnny Blowers' autobiography is “Back Beats And Rim Shots,” published by Scarecrow Press, Inc. (1997). I just ordered it from Barnes & Noble ! Johnny Blowers was one helluva drummer !!! RIP
Thanks so much for this bio of a great drummer. It really adds to the enjoyment of the music to know how so many musicians of his calibre worked and played together and how their collaborative efforts produced this wonderful chapter in American music.
This is almost "Punk" Jazz... This is the Jazz equivalent of Billy Haley & the Comets... This is amazing. (Incidentally, Condon, in the back, is not playing banjo, he's playing hard-swinging, acoustic, rhythm GUITAR.)
this was always early swing... back then there were no amps, but if there were the gain knob would be set to zero and the 'feel good' knob was maxed.. ya dig??
A soundie? A news reel bit? George Brunies was with the New Orleans Rhythm Kings and recorded 'Tin Roof Blues' back in '23. Just about the first solo-oriented band recording in jazz.
Georg Brunies on trombone Is a natural talent, full of explosive white aggressive swing, good technique, unique style. Besides, here he shows a clownesque capability that marches... with Laurel & Hardy (which I love). Per Wee is a great and he wanted to play exactly the way he played, was new and unique. Hackett in that early period was imitating ( Impossible job..) Bix . And Bix is the greatest. With Louis. No doubt for me. Followed by Bechet.
As Mr. Audio says: A five-string banjo is mainly used for bluegrass. Tuned g-D-G-B-D, no plectrum but fingerpicking. The name "plectrum banjo" is indeed often used but incorrect. Sudhalter too has got it wrong. If you look carefully at Condon's left hand fingers, you'll see out he uses chord fingerings for tenor banjo, tuned like a viola; C-G-D-A.
@altoalto1 To be a bit of a pedant, it's a plectrum guitar. Four strings like a tenor but longer scale and tuned CGBD. That is a closer tuning than the tenor's CGDA. It was a natural choice for Condon who had previously played the plectrum banjo.
Harry, see "We Called It Music" (Condon's autobiography) and also the footnote on page 519 of Richard Sudhalter's "Lost Chords": Condon played a four-string "plectrum" guitar, tuned C-G-B-D, as distinct from the tenor guitar (and banjo) tuning of C-G-D-A. The "plectrum" name was derived from the plectrum banjo, which originally had five strings.
To be a bit of a pedant about things, it's a Plectrum guitar. Similar to the tenor guitar but with a longer scale and tuned CGBD, a much closer tuning than the tenor guitar's CGDA. It was a natural move for Condon because he had previously played the plectrum banjo.
Johnny Blowers is on drums. He was my drum teacher in the 1970's. I was fortunate to attend the last show he performed with the Harlem Blues and Jazz Allstars. Video taped the event!! RIP
ed b he’s great, why isn’t he more famous?!
Bobby Hacket..sweetest guy,sweetest tone.nobody has played ballads more beautifully in my opinion.
Bobby Hackett played for several NJ Jazz Society events in the 1970s. He was famous for never saying anything bad about anyone. To test him someone asked What do you think of Hitler? He thought a minute then replied "Best in his field".
This video has been around since I frist started playing trombone. I'm glad to see it's still right here where I left it. I love being able to hear how Mr. Brunies could play!
harryoakley The hard driving happy drummer was Johnny Blowers (April 21, 1911 - July 17, 2006), born in Spartanburg, South Carolina. "He recorded with Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Sidney Bechet, Billie Holiday, Bobby Hackett, Don Byas, Red Norvo, Perry Como, Bunny Berigan, Bud Freeman, Dave Newcomb, Clyde Newcomb, Judy Garland, Eddie Fisher, Mel Torme, Teddy Wilson, Eddie Condon, Artie Shaw, Woody Herman, Paul Whiteman, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, who chose Blowers to be his drummer in 1943."
His first real break was with Bobby Hackett’s small band at Nick’s in Greenwich Village, performing with such luminaries as Eddie Condon and Pee Wee Russell, which is when this video was shot, although the video doesn't give the exact date, and it might have been early in 1938. "Nick’s was the place to be seen in 1937 and by April 1938 he had joined Bunny Berigan’s big band and later in 1938 he recorded with Teddy Wilson (“Don’t Be That Way”) and also performed with Jan Savitt and Ben Bernie."
He was the drummer that helped make Judy Garland’s, “On The Atchison, Topeka and Sante Fe,” Buddy Clark’s, “Linda,” Louis Armstrong’s, “Blueberry Hill,” or Perry Como’s, “Prisoner of Love” such big hits. He continued as staff musician for CBS, NBC and ABC through television’s early days in the 1950’s.
"He spent nearly a year at Eddie Condon’s Jazz Club in 1947 and briefly owned his own club, the Club Blowers, in Queens, New York that same year.
In the 1970’s the renewal of interest in traditional jazz and swing music led to many gigs at festivals and clubs. He spent a number of years in the Broadway show “Follies” as one of the musicians who performed on stage with a small jazz band.
Johnny Blowers recorded an album (“Those Giants of Jazz”) in 1991, with the band that he founded in 1948 "Johnny Blowers Giants of Jazz", while he was touring with Frank Sinatra . He continued touring the world with the Harlem Blues and Jazz Band, which he joined in 1986 and spent the next 20 years with the band until 2005 when he became too ill to continue."
Johnny Blowers' autobiography is “Back Beats And Rim Shots,” published by Scarecrow Press, Inc. (1997). I just ordered it from Barnes & Noble !
Johnny Blowers was one helluva drummer !!! RIP
Thanks so much for this bio of a great drummer. It really adds to the enjoyment of the music to know how so many musicians of his calibre worked and played together and how their collaborative efforts produced this wonderful chapter in American music.
@@tomslover7512 Well said.
I was fortunate enough to get to know Johnny in the mid 70's & 80's in & around NYC! - What a sweetheart of a guy!!!
vintage bobby hackett classic at hes peak.
Lovely piece and the infectious look of joy on the drummer's face, brilliant!
Dave Bowman on piano. One of my heroes.
I can look this movie over and over again. What a band!
Eddie Condon indeed plays the tenor-guitar in this movie. Hackett is great, but Brunies also is. Thanks for posting this Harry
That trombone player has fly dance moves
That was legendary trombonist George Brunies from the NORK.!
Good! 日本は戦争に入ろうかってころなのに、この陽気さはたまらない。特にトロンボーン奏者は最高。
Thanks! I wish I had had a grandfather who played jazz!
Beautifull Dixieland!!!!
Many thanks for the information - it has been a mystery who this excellent drummer was.
*Top Cats with Top Hats*
Doesn't get any better than this.
Marvellous! They sure set the bar high.
Nice to see Brunies!
Eddie Condon did play Banjo, sometimes. But mostly a four-string tenor guitar, as on this take.
This is almost "Punk" Jazz...
This is the Jazz equivalent of Billy Haley & the Comets...
This is amazing.
(Incidentally, Condon, in the back, is not playing banjo, he's playing hard-swinging, acoustic, rhythm GUITAR.)
this was always early swing... back then there were no amps, but if there were the gain knob would be set to zero and the 'feel good' knob was maxed.. ya dig??
A soundie? A news reel bit? George Brunies was with the New Orleans Rhythm Kings and recorded 'Tin Roof Blues' back in '23. Just about the first solo-oriented band recording in jazz.
Georg Brunies on trombone Is a natural talent, full of explosive white aggressive swing, good technique, unique style. Besides, here he shows a clownesque capability that marches... with Laurel & Hardy (which I love). Per Wee is a great and he wanted to play exactly the way he played, was new and unique. Hackett in that early period was imitating ( Impossible job..) Bix . And Bix is the greatest. With Louis. No doubt for me. Followed by Bechet.
Another great one - I'm glad to see it again. Thanks!
Bravo !!!!
very fantastic !!! I like
Oh man! Are they ever on their game? Sweet!! Especially liked Brunies, rockin' it up!
great footage and performance, thanks for posting
That's a Ball that I'd like to have been at.
Exactly!
Thanks for posting this.
As Mr. Audio says: A five-string banjo is mainly used for bluegrass. Tuned g-D-G-B-D, no plectrum but fingerpicking. The name "plectrum banjo" is indeed often used but incorrect.
Sudhalter too has got it wrong. If you look carefully at Condon's left hand fingers, you'll see out he uses chord fingerings for tenor banjo, tuned like a viola; C-G-D-A.
Drums: Johhny Blowers (definitely: a relative of his has confirmed this)
Bass: Clyde Newcombe (probably)
Thanks! that explians why it sounds more like a real guitar and not like wooden- or dobro banjo.
Marvellous. Martin Schmidt-Hahn with his warm clarinet-sound would have fit as well
Condon played 4 string plectrum banjo in his early years.
See the UA-cam 1929 video of him playing "Nobody's Sweetheart Now," along with Red Nichols.
No, in that film he plays what is called a "Vega Lute".
@altoalto1
To be a bit of a pedant, it's a plectrum guitar. Four strings like a tenor but longer scale and tuned CGBD. That is a closer tuning than the tenor's CGDA. It was a natural choice for Condon who had previously played the plectrum banjo.
Swinging!!!
Harry, see "We Called It Music" (Condon's autobiography) and also the footnote on page 519 of Richard Sudhalter's "Lost Chords": Condon played a four-string "plectrum" guitar, tuned C-G-B-D, as distinct from the tenor guitar (and banjo) tuning of C-G-D-A. The "plectrum" name was derived from the plectrum banjo, which originally had five strings.
And I like Pee Wee too - although he doesn't know how to play along with the sound track!
i wonder if this clip inspired the firehouse five plus two?
Yes, indeed it`s fuel for your bones
@HuangFeiHongofYoutub Everybody does. "At The Jazzband Ball" of course...
To be a bit of a pedant about things, it's a Plectrum guitar. Similar to the tenor guitar but with a longer scale and tuned CGBD, a much closer tuning than the tenor guitar's CGDA. It was a natural move for Condon because he had previously played the plectrum banjo.
the Scarecrow, the Lion & the Tin Man
Yeah I don't know what song is called?
Did you see my posting of Bobby Hackett with Ted Easton, I suppose you, as a Hackett fan were there that night in 1973.
Isn’t that “At the Jazzman’s Ball” they’re playing?
A 4 string guitar tuned like a tenor banjo; but indeed a guitar.
George Brunies - read the text above for (almost) full personell.
harryoakley Brunies’ dancing 😎😎😎
The tromboneplayer organized the gig I think
Definitely not. This was organized by Eddie Condon.
Ok greatings Louis
GrEEtings to you too!
como se llama este tema??? es geniaaaal!
+daiana baldini At the Jazz Band Ball (El baile de la Orquesta de Jazz).
harryoakley Great film ! Do you know who the drummer was?
"At the Jazz Band Ball" with a "B", correct?
John Fisher No idea what you mean....
You inadvertently show it as "At the Jazz And Ball". "And" should be "Band".
anyone know who the bass/drums are?
I see and hear a tenor guitar.
great video, thanks!
who's that on trombone?
Do you know the name of the song?
notice how Brunies has tried to play with his leg. But he was too old for to do this trick as he did in 1920s.
Condon plays guitar, not banjo.
you need a doctor if you don't like this one
an _undertaker_ rather
White guys trying to sound like Black guys. The Good thing is that Pee Wee Russell, Bobby Hackett, and Eddie Condon are really important musicians