JIGSAW PUZZLE BLUES (1933) by the Joe Venuti/Eddie Lang Blue Five

This tune done by Fleetwood Mac was originally performed by the Venuti/Lang Blue Five 35 years earlier and clearly infuenced it (see also my video of Fleetwood Mac's version on my channel). As well as Joe Venuti on violin and Eddie Lang on acoustic guitar, the Blue Five comprised of Jimmy Dorsey (trumpet, clarinet and alto sax), Adrian Rollini (bass sax and vibes) and Phil Wall (piano).

The tune was written by Venuti and Rollini and was recorded in New York City on 28 February 1933 (around a month before Eddie Lang died of complications during surgery). Check out Jimmy Dorsey's clarinet solo at around the two minute mark to see how Danny Kirwan adapted these lines for the electric guitar in the terrific Fleetwood Mac version.

I have put together a slideshow for this tune incorporating images of the Blue Five (other than Phil Wall who I could not find any photos of). As always, comments are invited.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• jazz
• jigsaw puzzle blues
• eddie lang
• joe venuti
• jimmy dorsey
• fleetwood mac
• Blue Five
• danny kirwan
• thirties
• sixties

[invention13]

Was the bass sax and vibes player Adrian Rollini?

[wilsonmcphert]

@invention13

Yes. See background info above. 

[psychoprosthetic]

Thanks for this. Didn't know this band at all, but I know Django admired Eddie Lang, so it's a history lesson for me.

[cactusblue60]

@toti4: Bix on this record would have been beyond words.

[63rdwho]

I am not normally a lover of jazz, but this is beautiful..

[MrJimmienoone]

What beautiful bass sax playing!!! Why did this instrument fall out of favor with musicians? Possibly, because nobody can hope to come close to Adrian Rollini.

[sirjuandabicho]

Magnífico, gracias por compartirlo.

[quicktothe4]

Amazing!!!

[toti4]

can you imagine if Bix Beiderbecke would have lived long enough to play on this song

[Galericulus]

For my money this original version should have been called "Jigsaw Puzzle Jazz". It's probably a generation thing, but I hate arrangements like this. In my opinion, Danny Kirwan did a fantastic job of picking out the best section of it and constructing a proper "Jigsaw Puzzle Blues" out of it. Considering what he was working from, Danny did a tremendous job. I have always loved his version. Now I view it with respect as well. Wonderful job Danny.