PETE CANDOLI, RED NICHOLS, AND AL HIRT DOING "HOT LIPS'

[aud8344]

I know Red didn't have the tone that Bix had. A local PBS station a long time ago had a show (Ray Smith's "The Jazz Decades", June 1986) that played Red's and Bix's versions of songs back to back. I like Red's version better in a few cases ("Sweet Sue, Just You" in particular, with a very lyrical Bud Freeman tenor solo). I like Red.

[raycookie1]

It doesn't get any better than this! Enjoyed it tremendously!

[jimmie5w]

red nichols cut the others on this one

[brassplyer]

It's hard to compare Al Hirt to anyone else because he was sort of a style unto himself. I don't think I've ever heard anyone who sounded like him. l'd love to know how he came up with the concept for how he threw in all those super-tasty, rapid-fire embellishments. But even if you played the exact notes he played - assuming you had the chops to do it - you probably still wouldn't sound like him.

[rwille53]

@acfinney

Agreed. Red Nichols was also a great improvisor.

[Sfrey000]

Pete and Red really have text book embouchures. I can't speak for Al; cant see through that beard.

[brassplyer]

@Sfrey000 I think Al had a pretty textbook embouchure as well, though it was very upstream. Probably his only "weakness" was he didn't have a super range. The highest I've ever heard him hit was a G but he could play solidly and with facility through all of his range, which might've created the illusion he had more range than he actually did.

[tripleJ1955]

Fantastic video, just fantastic.

[Machi74005]

My dad has a number of Hirt's records from the 60s......love it. The "Round Mound of Sound".

[Tony7840]

I was a friend of "Jumbo's," since the '60's. One of the most UNDERATED musicians, EVER!!! We became good friends in 1966, when I first appeared at "The Bistro," in NOLA, with the Ronnie Dupont Quartet. Ronnie, was Jumbo's longtime pianist, until Ronnie, decied to form his own group. Ronnie's replacement with "Jumbo"; Ellis Marsalis. The last time that we saw one another, was in 1996/7, at the Baltimore, Inner Harbor, when he appeared with Pete and the "Dukes of Dixiland."

[hswatnik]

a real gem- thnx-

[BrunaoJazzistico]

What a great video. You know that Al Hirt is the guy that gave Wynton his very first trumpet and thats when he start playing it by the age of six.

[Tony7840]

@BrunaoJazzistico How true!!!!!

[RicardoDowridge]

@acfinney it seems Al was playing the role as a bridge between Pete and Red's solos. Hence the reason he soloed so much in this piece ! it is possible age could have also played a factor too in terms of endurance...clearly Al was at his peak at the time of this recording

[Visionsla]

@RicardoDowridge .....So was Pete!!!! I believe Horace Heidt was a mentor of Al Hirt, which explains the arrangement. By the way Al and Pete were close friends and when he had heart surgery, he asked Pete to come to New Orleans to cover him in this nightclub.  Pete never hesitated and what there for several weeks while Al was recuperating...that is what Pete told me.....they loved each other, great respect...

[RicardoDowridge]

@Visionsla a thnx for the info I loved them all as trumpeters......BTW do u have any more footage of Jumbo ..

[rdangelo]

Superman! Trumpet players will know who I mean...

[orichalcum1]

100% fabulous.... love all the bling too! great great great playing...

[DRWJD]

bar none Al Hirt was the best All around trumpet player....from Dixieland to jazz to Symphony....He is and was the KING....Long live the king Al Hirt.!!

[philperson]

This can't be long before Red's death. He died on 6/28/65. They all sound great.

[RicardoDowridge]

oh my god three trumpet greats AL "the king Hirt" is truly the greatest ! this was a wonderful post...do you have anymore with AL???

[Visionsla]

@RicardoDowridge They were ALL GREAT!!!

[slices1]

I N C R E Ï B L E|.

[nukechem57]

I abstain for voting a favorite. They all cooked in my trumpet lover's oven.