EKE BBB Posted September 24, 2003 Report Posted September 24, 2003 I made a search and didn´t find any specific thread on BIX. One of the most appreciated treasures in my collection are the Sunbeam four box-sets (3CD each) "Bix Restored" with their marvellous sound (JRT Davis remastering). I had some Columbia releases (Bix and his Gang, Goldkette orchestra, Trumbauer Orchestra and even some Paul Whiteman), a King Jazz CD with all his Wolverines output, and a couple of mixed compilations, but these box-sets are caviar for me! You can hear the sound of his cornet like never before! I like his phrasing, his emotional quality, his unexpected notes... but what I´ve always loved is his sound, his full, "rounded" and "golden" chime-like tone. Some scholars and Bix´s friends ascribed his tone to his frequent use of the horn´s third valve, not an orthodox technique among schooled brass playerss in that era. This was highly refuted in an AAJ thread. Many Bixophiles have tried to describe his tone: Eddie condon said it was "like a girl saying yes" and Ralph Berton described his tone and beautifully clean articulation as "like shooting bullets at a bell". Again: put your thoughts on BIX here. Quote
EKE BBB Posted September 24, 2003 Author Report Posted September 24, 2003 (edited) Photograph of the Rhythm Jugglers taken on January 26, 1925 in the Gennett Recording Studios in Richmond, Indiana. From left to right: Howdy Quicksell, Tommy Gargano, Paul Mertz, Don Murray, Bix Beiderbecke, Tommy Dorsey. Edited September 24, 2003 by EKE BBB Quote
jazzbo Posted September 24, 2003 Report Posted September 24, 2003 Maybe I should go to AAJ and put my response there on this thread? Bix was a great player. I don't idolize him, but I really enjoy his music, and every time I hear someone playing in an attempted Bixian manner I realize how influential his sound and his work and the mystique has been for decades! I have all his known recorded appearances. Looking forward to the Sunbeam/Bix Records "sounds like" release. . . . Quote
EKE BBB Posted September 24, 2003 Author Report Posted September 24, 2003 (edited) Maybe I should go to AAJ and put my response there on this thread? Bix was a great player. I don't idolize him, but I really enjoy his music, and every time I hear someone playing in an attempted Bixian manner I realize how influential his sound and his work and the mystique has been for decades! I have all his known recorded appearances. Looking forward to the Sunbeam/Bix Records "sounds like" release. . . . Lon: Your knowledgeable posts are always wellcome, wherever you put them! B) What´s the Sunbeam upcoming release you mention? And regarding Bix influence... I gues we will hear PDEE again discussing it! And PDEE can be so persuasive! Edited September 24, 2003 by EKE BBB Quote
jazzbo Posted September 24, 2003 Report Posted September 24, 2003 Yeah, well I agree with PD ultimately about the influence, but it certainly was there during his lifetime and diminished in importance afterwards. Sunbeam/Bix is going to eventually, they say soon, release a single cd of tracks featuring trumpeters that were at one time or another considered to have been Bix by some collectors. Actually, I probably have most of the selections, but it will be a fun release. Quote
BERIGAN Posted September 24, 2003 Report Posted September 24, 2003 EKE BBB, cool photos!!! I thought at first I had not seen the second photo, but then as I scrolled right, it looks familiar...was Bix slightly toasted???? Do you have the Mosaic set of Bix ,Tram and Tea??? Quote
EKE BBB Posted September 24, 2003 Author Report Posted September 24, 2003 (edited) No, I don´t have the Bix, Tram and Tea Mosaic. It was in my wish-list, but when I picked those Sunbeam sets, I forgot about it... ...as far as I remember (Mosaic website is down right now) they included some sides without Bix that I don´t have (my Trumbauer without Bix is very, very, very short) ...if it´s so, I´ll put it there again! Edited September 24, 2003 by EKE BBB Quote
Matthew Posted September 24, 2003 Report Posted September 24, 2003 (edited) I'm also a big Bix fan, with the complete Sumbeam set. Bix just has a wonderful tone, and is able to have a great flow of amazing ideas coming out of his trumpet. Too bad there is also a lot of pure crap in the set. I think the one about "driving in my Cheverlot" has to one of the worst things ever on record -- and three, or is it four takes of the thing??!! All in all though, the set is a very interesting window to popular music in the 20 - early Thirties, even in those moments when Bix disappears completely in the mix in the lumbering Paul Whiteman's Orchestra (boy are those cuts an aquired taste, even though Lon enjoys them ) Edited September 24, 2003 by Matthew Quote
pryan Posted September 24, 2003 Report Posted September 24, 2003 EKE BBB, cool photos!!! I thought at first I had not seen the second photo, but then as I scrolled right, it looks familiar...was Bix slightly toasted???? Yeah, I thought that too. It looks like he's hanging on to that other guy, and that he's kind of swaying on his feet; that, plus his eyes look slightly glazed... Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted September 24, 2003 Report Posted September 24, 2003 I tend to collect stuff primarily from the 50s to the present day, but I do like Bix and Pops. My problem with these earlier recordings have to do with complaints over the sound quality. Maybe I should check out tht "Bix Restored." Have to wait till I get enough coin. How much does it go for? Quote
pryan Posted September 24, 2003 Report Posted September 24, 2003 My problem with these earlier recordings have to do with complaints over the sound quality. Maybe I should check out tht "Bix Restored." Have to wait till I get enough coin. How much does it go for? I've heard the Mosaic (Bix/Tram/Tea) is supposed to have excellent sound quality. I don't have the set myself, but maybe others will chime in with their thoughts. Quote
jazzbo Posted September 24, 2003 Report Posted September 24, 2003 The Mosaic and the Bix Restored series both have excellent sound. It's sort of apples vs. oranges as to which is best or better. . . depends on your taste and system, but both are produced with quality, accurate sound as the standard they shoot for and hit. Quote
Joe G Posted September 24, 2003 Report Posted September 24, 2003 Heard a report on ATC yesterday about a new album by Geoff Muldaur called Private Astronomy, featuring the music of Bix. Sounded really good to me. Quote
jazzbo Posted September 24, 2003 Report Posted September 24, 2003 Speaking of recent tributes or treatments of Bix items, this is a splendid cd: Quote
EKE BBB Posted March 29, 2004 Author Report Posted March 29, 2004 Sunbeam/Bix is going to eventually, they say soon, release a single cd of tracks featuring trumpeters that were at one time or another considered to have been Bix by some collectors. Actually, I probably have most of the selections, but it will be a fun release. Bix Restored, Volume 5: The Bix Beiderbecke Influence (Origin Jazz - Sunbeam) single CD is coming in summer 2004, according to their website. Quote
jlhoots Posted March 29, 2004 Report Posted March 29, 2004 I'm not a Bix completist so the 4 CD JSP set is just fine for me. Quote
jazzbo Posted March 29, 2004 Report Posted March 29, 2004 I'm a Bix completist, but I'm already complete! Quote
medjuck Posted March 29, 2004 Report Posted March 29, 2004 I have all his known recorded appearances. Looking forward to the Sunbeam/Bix Records "sounds like" release. . . . Wow. does that include all the Paul Whiteman appearances? Even if he doesn't solo? How many cds does that make? Quote
jazzbo Posted March 29, 2004 Report Posted March 29, 2004 Nine to twelve, depending on whose series you grab and how full the cds are. Quote
alejo Posted March 29, 2004 Report Posted March 29, 2004 I will be picking this last(?) disc up when it comes out. I've come this far with the Bix Restored series...I can't stop now! Speaking of Bix related music, I highly recommend Davenport Blues by Dill Jones. I have the LP but just noticed Chiaroscuro reissued the original LP + much more on a double CD. Quote
medjuck Posted March 29, 2004 Report Posted March 29, 2004 Speaking of Davenport Blues: one of my favorite versions is Gil Evans's. He playes the last refrain first-- as does Gerry Mulligan, who I presume had heard the Evans version. (Ooops I should check out the chronology-- I'm not sure Gil's version was earlier than Gerry's.) Regarding that refrain-- which begins about 1 monute before the end of Bix's version-- I've heard it on many other numbers from the era and later (usually as a coda). Did it actually originate with Bix? I don't think I've heard it on any thing recorded earlier. Quote
jazzbo Posted April 1, 2004 Report Posted April 1, 2004 Listening to that Dill Jones now. . . WOW. EXCELLENT! Quote
alejo Posted April 1, 2004 Report Posted April 1, 2004 Yes, that Dill Jones was a great pianist. This is one of those records I find myself going back to more and more often. Do you have the double CD? If so, how are the duets with Willie The Lion Smith? Quote
EKE BBB Posted April 16, 2004 Author Report Posted April 16, 2004 There´s a new Bix (& Gershwin) tribute on Arbors, by Dick Hyman & Tom Pletcher: Dick Hyman and Tom Pletcher: If Bix Played Gershwin Dick Hyman piano, Tom Pletcher cornet, Dan Levinson clarinet & C-Melody saxophone, David Sager trombone, Vince Giordano bass saxophone, Bob Leary guitar & banjo, Ed Metz Jr drums Description (from Arbors website) "Bix Beiderbecke and George Gershwin were musical geniuses. Both admired and greatly benefitted from hearing the works of the early 20th century European impressionist composers...Whole tones, the keystone of impressionis, gave jazz a very important ingredient which innovators like Bix and George used to great advantage." - Tracklist: Somebody Loves Me, Oh, Lady Be Good I Got Rhythm, But Not For Me Kongo Kate, I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’ I’ve Got a Crush On You, Rialto Ripples, The Half Of It Dearie Blues, S’Wonderful, Yankee Doodle Rhythm, Embraceable You, Sunny Diposish, In A Mist Already available through Arbors website (for $15) Quote
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