Orie Frank Trumbauer (May 30, 1901 – June 11, 1956) was an American jazz saxophonist of the 1920s and 1930s. His main instrument was the C melody saxophone, a now-uncommon instrument between an alto and tenor saxophone in size and pitch. He also played alto saxophone, bassoon, clarinet, and several other instruments.

He was a composer of sophisticated saxophone melodies and one of the major small group jazz bandleaders of the 1920s and 1930s. His landmark recording of "Singin' the Blues", with Bix Beiderbecke and Eddie Lang in 1927, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1977. His major recordings included "Krazy Kat", "Red Hot", "Plantation Moods", "Trumbology", "Tailspin", "Singin' the Blues", "Wringin' an' Twistin', "For No Reason at All in C" with Beiderbecke and Lang, and the first hit recording of "Georgia on My Mind" in 1931.

Trumbauer was described as one of the most influential and important jazz saxophonists of the 1920s and 1930s, particularly influencing the sound of Lester Young. He is also remembered for his musical collaborations with Bix Beiderbecke, a relationship that produced some of the finest and most innovative jazz records of the late 1920s. Trumbauer and Beiderbecke also collaborated with jazz guitarist Eddie Lang.

He was featured in the 2001 documentary Jazz by Ken Burns on PBS on the topic of the first jazz soloists and as an iconic image to symbolize jazz music.

Life and career

thumb|left|Photograph of Trumbauer featured in [[Ken Burns' Jazz]]

Born of part Cherokee ancestry in Carbondale, Illinois, United States, In 1939, Trumbauer, a skilled pilot, left music (after recording a series of records for Varsity) to join the Civil Aeronautics Authority.

His life and career were documented in the biography Tram: The Frank Trumbauer Story by Philip R. Evans and Larry F. Kiner with William Trumbauer (Institute of Jazz Studies, Rutgers and Scarecrow Press Inc., 1994).

He was featured in episode 3, "Our Language", in the 2001 documentary Jazz by Ken Burns on PBS on the topic of pioneering jazz soloists. A photograph of him holding his Holton C melody saxophone was one of the images chosen by Burns to symbolize jazz. The photo is featured on all the intros and outros as well as in episode 3. His 1927 solo on "Singin' the Blues" is analyzed as well.

He was known for the double tonguing articulation technique.

Honors

"Singin' the Blues", released by Frankie Trumbauer and His Orchestra featuring Bix Beiderbecke on cornet and Eddie Lang on guitar in 1927 as Okeh 40772-B, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1977. Frankie Trumbauer played the C melody saxophone solos on the landmark jazz recording.

In 2005, his 1927 recording of "Singin' the Blues" with Beiderbecke and Lang was placed on the U.S. Library of Congress National Recording Registry.

In 2008, his recordings of "Ostrich Walk" and "There'll Come a Time" with Beiderbecke were included on the soundtrack to the Brad Pitt movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which was nominated for 13 Academy Awards, based on the F. Scott Fitzgerald short story from Tales of the Jazz Age.

Ken Burns used a photograph of him in the 2001 documentary Jazz, on PBS, on the topic of pioneering jazz soloists and as an image to represent jazz music.

Compositions

Trumbauer's compositions include:

  • "Trumbology" (1927)
  • "Plantation Moods" with David Rose
  • "Red Hot", "Wringin' an' Twistin'" with Fats Waller
  • "Barbed Wire Blues"
  • "Troubled"
  • "I Like That"
  • "Bass Drum Dan"
  • "Break it Down"
  • "I'm Glad"
  • "Choo Choo"
  • "Sun Spots"
  • "Eclipse"
  • "Meteor"
  • "Krazy Kat" with Chauncey Morehouse
  • "G Blues"
  • "Tailspin" with Jimmy Dorsey
  • "Crying All Day"
  • "Loved One"
  • "Apple Blossoms" with Joe Venuti, Lennie Hayton, and Eddie Lang
  • "Three Blind Mice" with Chauncey Morehouse
  • "The Mayor of Alabam'"
  • "Flight of a Haybag"
  • "Cinderella's Wedding Day"
  • "Runnin' Ragged"
  • "For No Reason at All in C" with Bix Beiderbecke (1927), which was released as a single 78 on Okeh and subsequently reissued on Columbia and Parlophone.

Major recordings

thumb|Okeh 78, 40772-B, "Singin' The Blues", with Bix Beiderbecke and Eddie Lang, early 1930s pressing. thumb| Columbia 78 reissue, 35667, "[[For No Reason at All in C", with Bix Beiderbecke and Eddie Lang.]]

  • "I'm Glad"/"Flock O' Blues," Sioux City Six featuring Bix Beiderbecke and Miff Mole, recorded October 11, 1924, New York, released as Gennett 5569
  • "Clarinet Marmalade"/"Singin' the Blues," recorded on February 4, 1927, in New York and released as Okeh 40772
  • "Riverboat Shuffle"/"Ostrich Walk," recorded May 9, 1927, New York, Okeh 40822
  • "I'm Coming, Virginia"/"Way Down Yonder in New Orleans", recorded on May 13, 1927, in New York and released as Okeh 40843
  • "For No Reason at All in C"/"Trumbology," recorded on May 13, 1927, in New York and released as Okeh 40871, Columbia 35667, and Parlophone R 3419
  • "Wringin' an' Twistin'," recorded on September 9, 1927, in New York and released as Okeh 40916 and Vocalion 3150
  • "Krazy Kat" recorded September 28, 1927, New York Okeh 40903
  • "Baltimore" b/w "Humpty Dumpty," recorded September 28, 1927, New York, Okeh 40926
  • "Mississippi Mud" (vocal by Bing Crosby)/"There'll Come a Time (Wait and See)," January 9, 1928, New York, Okeh 40979
  • "Ol' Man River" (From "Show Boat") recorded with Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra on January 11, 1928 in New York and released as Victor 21218-A and Victor 25249 with Bing Crosby on vocals and Bix Beiderbecke on cornet. No. 1 for 1 week
  • "Borneo"/"My Pet," recorded on April 10, 1928, in New York and released as Okeh 41039
  • "Georgia On My Mind," recorded September 24, 1931, Chicago, Illinois, Brunswick 6159
  • "Troubled"/"Plantation Moods," recorded November 20, 1934, New York, Victor 24834, HMV B.D. 158 in the UK

References

Sources

  • Evans, Philip R. and Larry F. Kiner. Tram: The Frank Trumbauer Story. Studies in Jazz ; No. 18. New Jersey: Institute of Jazz Studies - Metuchen. The Scarecrow Press, 1994.
  • Kinkle, Roger D. The Complete Encyclopedia of Popular Music and Jazz 1900-1950. (Arlington House Publishers, 1974).<!--ISSN/ISBN needed -->
  • Ward, Geoffrey C. and Ken Burns. Jazz: A History of America's Music. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2000.
  • "A Toast for Tram" by Ted Gioia at Jazz.com
  • Frankie Trumbauer 1901-1956 Red Hot Jazz Archive
  • Frank Trumbauer recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings