DOWN BEAT FEATUBE Chicago, January 15, IS*

hind Harrison’s doing the eaaa thing Harrisor did it, but to Ud* day there isn’t another m n si I can employ this device with mneb effect on a trombone. Showa Bix Influence On the Chocolate Dandies 111«» ny Carter’s group) black label Co | lumbia record of Dee Bluet ju Bugle Call Rag, an excellent op­ portunity ui nroi di I anybody j» terested to notice this little trick of Chicago BY JED TOLL Jimmy’s. Of cours», his vibrato it weird, yo So far the historisms of jazz have been guilty of an unfor­ self riiight be misconstrued to be mean Ai tunate error of omission in neglecting to put on record the the «hake at the end of the ton«, I left Jo but there’« an obvious added effort ing piano tremendous part Jimmy Harrison played in influencing to­ on those tail ends. The vibrato, is. Balinese, J day’s style*- of playing jazz on a trombone. stuff they gling the -Iide. Hurt ¡son’s tone anal They cla Jame« Henry Harrison isn't so mythological that he has to vibrato came all from his lip, I irgut aboi be thought of in terms of ancient jazz lore. Big. genial Jim Claude Jone«, who worked :iiong.| the troubli side Harrison in the Henderson I tried to t- Harrison was a member of the great Fletcher Henderson band band, is sincere in his praise of thought 1 ' of the late twenties. He died July 23, 1931, leaving far too Jimmy. Jone» remember- that was ‘>ux w Jimmy helped this final kick that make any little of his work on records to be preserved in the annals of Harrison got on his notes by giving I quite obv a little boost with the index finger couldn’t c< ality of a born that on his right hand. I makes it evident at a pretty early Harrison wa» a great admirer of I ‘Krupi date that somebody had better buy Tommy Dorsey, Bix, und of Tea­ I’ll admi Charite Johnson, him a horn or u fiddle or a piano garden, and a Bixian influence I Harrison was no exception The plicated nt eemi to creep into his solo on the sorts of to “something” in his personality was Fletcher Henderson record (Col­ a sparkling, singing, jovial nature and flick 1 umbia 2453-D) of I’m Cornin’ Fir- and when that just about demanded some ve­ ginia, where Jimmy takes a muted hicle to let him pour himself out what seen choru- toward the end of the rec-1 thing like of himself. ord. On the other side is WAPcims I the new art. But a faint glimmer The family lived in Detroit when what I mt Stomp on which he takes a few I sit with n of his artistry doe» live on in the J. senior decided he’d better get four bar breaks open. The similar-1 grooves of those records of the tins fifteen-year-old sprout of nis too much a horn or something. So a horn it ity between this and Teagarden’i the Africs Fletcher Henderson band on that style is noticeable. black Columbia label, and on a was, bought out of the mcomi from in intricat couple of Clarence Williams' rec «■ restaurant that kept the family In 1922 Harrison came to New dig some ords of the middle twenties, and going. York with Fest William» for the would real that Garvin Bushel first heard the greatest hot trombonist 1 have first time. He didn’t stay with Fea* I niNiiap on a scattered few others in which Any youngster's first year or two Jimmy. Peoria. ever heard.” his work is rather obscure. on a musical instrument are pretty long, however, and left to trump­ recording where Jim was playing with some Louis Armstrong might be given eter June Clark in a little combo ai1 When Duke Ellington’s little much the same as those of any horrible beat-down crew But it get a groc heard of Washingtonians made the other youngster So was Jimmy’t credit fur some of Harrison’s stuff, Ed Small’s, then on 5th avenue at flute, dari probably payed iff, -»nd Jimmy although that wouldn’t be quite 135th. Prince Robinson was on very first of what has since turned But he played und he played, and stayed in. Smart business man ties of i after about a year he was getting fair, either, because Jimmy never tenor und a young fellow named bunch of out to be hundreds of great rec­ He kicked around from one band heard an Armstrong record, let ords, Jimmy Harrison was back himself booked on gigs around Rill Basic played piano Count toms, and to another, Detroit and out alone I-ouis in person, until late Basie today will admit readily that there pumping out a beautiful, con­ town again, never bothering much about the mains fident tone and exhibiting a flaw­ A Good Cook 1923. When he aid hear some, he “Jimmy was the best.” and they the 8f-ecks (notes). He’d laugh was elated to find a man using Mrs. Katherine Harrison, Jim sion like * less technique That was back in Jimmy developed into a uhrewd anybody off that tried to jab h>m many of the same ideas and effects 1926, the label was Gennett, the level-thaiking kid, a gangly one, about not reading music. “I’m not •ny’s widow, recalls having heard invent» a ' on trumpet which he did on trom­ Jimmy say, us far back as 1927, (though i but a young guy who seemed to worrying about the specks. Play bone. Got Those Want to Go Back Again realize the value of money. As a right “That young Bill Basie, he’s going and three However, the peculiar character­ to be something someday Yoe other sen Bluet and If You Can’t Hold That result of this he knew enough to with you.” And he was. istic shake at the end of a soulful Man. And there are a couple of take a job that would net him the wait and see, he’ll be famous” the sesaioi Knew Well« in 1923 tone that Louis gets must be ac­ dividually side» with Chick Webb, made in bettci figure over a period of time. knowledged as the influence be- (Modulate Io Page 9) 1931: Bluet in My Heart and Soft This characteristic- accounted for a It’s hard to tell about an tnflu- to the do: and Sweet or Brunswick, and career that found him, between ence liehind Jimmy prior to about there’s a Vocalion on Heebie 1916 (age 16) and 1925, kicking 1923. If he knew the colored trom Jwbia around the country a good bit, bonists Roy Palmer, one of the Mutual Admiration claying a little with one outfit, greatest of the New Orleans school, If you ask Jack Teagarden to­ then jumping off to another jr Herb Flenaning, the association day who he thinks influenced him Hii mother having died when he might be «edited with hi s develop­ most during his isarly formative wa: fourteen, and having no sister. ment. But asjfar as can lie deter­ years or after he first came to New in the family, Jimmy was sort of mined, he wasn’t familiar with 'ork back in '26, Mr. won’t ooz«d into giving a hand with the either of them. cooking in the restaurant every effect, an» hesitate long. He’ll speak rever­ Dickie Wells, on trombone trombone ently of Jimmy Harrison now. once in a while and in later years with Count Basie’s band, was one got w. that he could stir up a of the o! They all do. Jackson will remember of the first of today’s fellows, aside the jame, those* days when he used to sit in pretty good batch of anything any­ from Buschel und Johnson, to be­ one might order. Simultaneously he reeds anc a corner of Ed Small’s by the hour come acquainted with Harrison. three voc listening to this young colored guy de /elopeo a sweet tooth and an in­ “Jimmy came to Louisville, the satiable liking for rich and heavily ballads, ’ play a trombone. “T’’ will speak town where he was born, the first and Ford reverently of the day.’ when Char­ seasoned food that undoubtedly time I heard of him,” says Dickie. helped hin. along the road to the do have a lie Johnson (Charlie led the band “It must have beer about 1921 or I p'ay tn then, on piano) would allow him ulcers of the stomach which ulti­ early ’22. I was playing with a mately put an end to what many 1 play tre to sit in. church band and when I heard him the band In all fairness to Teagarden, it today agree would certainly have play I isked him to give me les­ been a brilliant career as a modern trombone must be stated here that while he sons. But he couldn’t read. Yet he ix month looked upon Harrison as a sort of could play anything in any key, demigoc, later, when Harrison Playing in and out of Detroit he could until ne was about 19, Junmy had “He used to play at Ebb’s Hotel while we heard Teagarden develop, the white sino, but boy from Texas became no jmall built a reputation around the town at 6th and Walnut in Louisville as ai- unusually good man to have for Saturday night dances, just he ished the idol of the colored boy from Louis­ as u sing* ville. in a band. And not only for his and a piano player. Later h« joined The fellows today who remember trombone playing. Endowed with a a band called Howard Jordan and In spit« Jim Harrison’s work .ire pretty colossal sense of humor that was I made it a point to catch the band able, hoi unanimous in praise not only of at the same time subtle, he early every time I could just so I could ourselves his musical virtuosity but of the acquired an almost fanatical lik­ hear Harrison. ing in hu person i' traits of character that ing for the singing-talking mono­ ’Jimmy the Gn-ateat’ The othei made of Harrison one of the most logue style of humor of the late ill, and F likeable guys the game has ever Bert Williams. “That was in 1922 and he was 1st’» chai knovT He studied Williams records the first man I ever heard play in section, i We might at well work Panas- hour on end, diligently, until he be­ that style, the style that Teagarden the trom' sie’s opinion in here. Hugue,- recog­ came, by the time he was 19, able ha? done so much with. A couple better th nized Jimmy as one of the great to do a takeoff on Bert’s stuff that 'f months 'atcr, when Jimmy got ton had influences not only of jazz trom­ would knock his friends out. to New York, everybody com­ first trur mented on the young guy who bone but of the entire American Couldn't Read Music pretty fa played trombone as though he my own art of jazz playing. Panassie de­ •JoE H. SORACE, shown with Director Tommy Hopton and hi* splendid scribes Harrison’ work in fluent He got so good ut it, that by thought it u trumpet. You 1919, when Charlie Johnson first know in those days nobody played Leedy percussion outfit, is a fine drummer who has scored notable successes ill Leu language which seems to be in­ caught hint playing with a three- spired m itself by the man’s trom­ >n awful lot of melody, let alone his work with many fine dance bands. With Tommy Hopton'* Band at Bedford As foi piece combination at the Philadel­ jam and improvise on a trombone. Glens, Cleveland; at Southern Tavern Nite Club, Cleveland; Merry Gardens, try to pl bone, his simple melodic invention, phia House, corner of Artie and his assurance, emotional expression But Jimmy felt the trombone was Chicago, and Hotel Peabody, Memphis. Featured on radio programs over WTAM. Ha possil Kentucky in Atlantic City, Jimmy just as much a hot solo instrument and admirable few note style. An exclusive Leedy user for over 12 years. He writes: "I consider Leedy instru­ brook, tl was- doubling on floor show, doing or lead instrument as a cornet or has show Needed A Hom I is little Bert Williams routine sax, and he played it that way, ments much superior and would not consider any other make.” a theatre Jimmy Harrison was born in then jumping back to get off the a»- nobody else dared to do until In these days of strenuous competition it pay* to be sure that you have the plies. W Louisville, Kentucky, on October only fine trombone that was played later. o idience 17, 1900, the youngest of three at the time. A gal by the name of advantage of the very best instruments obtainable- “I really feel that Jimmy was Leedys have been the favorite of leading profes­ thinking boys. There is no record of his Elise Young was on piano on that don’t en birth in the city's vital statistics fob und a roly-poly guy named Fat­ sional* for more than -10 year*. That * a tip yo* file . but a half brother, the Rev­ boy on drums. The way they would may find helpful. We suggest you try a new model furious 1 erend Ernest Jones, still lives in work it, Jimmy would take s Girl Wanted! Leedy now Check it* modern appearance, sturdy Louisville, and a brother, Arthur Í Rtf BOO* This i straight lead chorus on some pop construction and marvelous response «fftet, I Harrison, is living in Detroit, tune, then the gal would ramble yoaag girl singer to load a band where the Harrison family moved LHDY MIG CO., 119 Leedy Bldg., BUcher*. IndtaM half of one off, then Jimmy would take off is wonted Those interested send are pops on chorus. a photo and fall details to Carl when Jimmy was just a little quest fr shaver. His widow, Katherine, is Jimmy couldn't read music then, Cons, Mog. Editor, Down Beat, living New York now. MB S. Dearbora, Chicago. The have in in His dad, had never studied a note of it, but Border’’ Jam»- senior, died only about two according to Charlie he could whip girl selected mas« have talent yet we 1 years before Jimmy did, and his and loohs; a real opportaoity stuff off in any key just as if he ment of mother passed away when was awaits the one who faMlls r«- he were sing ng through his horn in­ dancers fourteen stead of blowing it. qairemeats best! number ’s in the person- There something It was only shortly before that will run