The unrecognized Bix Beiderbecke #2 - Alabammy Snow

On 15 May 1929 a small contingent of the Paul Whiteman Orchestra recorded two sides for Columbia - "What A Day" and "Alabammy Snow".
The record was issued under the pseudonym "The Mason-Dixon Orchestra" but it is not clear why this was done; Okeh (a subsidiary label of Columbia) always issued recordings with a similar personnel under saxophonist Frank Trumbauer's name.
It is rumoured that "Tram" once stated that cornetist Bix Beiderbecke did not record with his orchestra after the session of two weeks earlier, 30 April 1929.
But with a slightly different personnel under another name and for another label, this one-off session may not have been under Tram's direction, nor was it perhaps organized by him.
The discographies have always named three trumpeters/cornetists for this date, Charlie Margulis, Harry Goldfield and Andy Secrest, all three Whiteman regulars and the latter known for his ability to sound like Bix, who was being featured less and less and was to leave the band permanently in September.
But at the time of the Mason-Dixon recording date, Bix was still very much with Whiteman and it would have been logical if he was present; he had done a radio show with the band the day before and recorded in the same Columbia studio with them the day after.
Still, in the discographies and books about Bix it has always been accepted that he was not present and that everything on this record that sounds like Bix was actually played by Secrest.
However, careful listening and deducting reveals that Bix can be heard on both sides.
Using the latest techniques we have newly restored both titles from a mint copy of Columbia 1861-D and identification of Bix has become quite obvious.
First of all, on both sides, Secrest is the very prominent lead cornetist and it seems that behind him there are indeed two more horns present; one of them being Bix.
On "Alabammy Snow" there seem to be two horns in the written ensembles (with Secrest again prominent) while the third, Bix, is filling in here and there - most significantly two descending phrases in the background from ca. 0:28 and another line, typical for him, in the final chorus at 2:29.
Neither of these phrases can be by Secrest who is heard simultaneously, nor do they sound anything like Margulis or Goldfield and we are confident that they are by Bix.
Note: all Bix Beiderbecke biographies that mention the session as well as "Jazz Records" name this title incorrectly as "Alabamy Snow".

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Bix
• Beiderbecke
• Paul
• Whiteman
• Frank
• Trumbauer
• Andy
• Secrest
• hot
• jazz
• swing

[drummerlead]

Who is that saying "That's all there is!"? Is that Tram or Whiteman saying that?

[harryoakley]

@drummerlead Oliver Hardy from the film "Sons Of The Desert".

[czarnikowsky]

Please note that Messrs. Evans and Dean-Myatt in the book Bix Man and Legend from Richard M. Sudhalter discusses this record and stated that "Bix does not appear on this session" (Mason-Dixon Orchestra) and goes on "This is the first Trumbauer date without Bix. From now on, all "hot" cornet work on Trumbauer sessions is by Andy

Secrest. There are no exceptions". I think these remarks should be mentioned. Otherwise this is a very fine record and I thank you that everyone now can listen to it

[harryoakley]

I know that - I have read the book. Messrs. Evans and Dean-Myatt are wrong. Please read my complete comment on the left by clicking "more info" and use your ears.

[drummerlead]

@harryoakley Thanks--I never would have guessed that!

[KawhackitaRag]

I don't agree with you about Whiteman, sorry! I think we'd have to be able to interview Bix, alive, to see what he REALLY thought about the Whiteman band. I think they swing pretty good in this arrangement! Nice arranging regardless of who is playing it, but certainly, the good musicians contribute much to the SWING of this arrangement!

[alontas]

I think it is an good recording. If it is by Bix or not, I venture a middle agreement: the syncopation and the sound sure sound close to what Bix played. I wouldn't object to say that he plays here, especially when he plays with the rest of the band: there he sound more Bix than in the rest. But, I don't think this is one of his finest recordings. I bet he had not a very good day in this recording. He is much better in other ones. But then, he is also much not better in other than this one.

[msjazzmeblues]

Doesn't anyone hear a muted cornet right after Izzy's solo at 1:20? It sounds very like the rideout to "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home?" which is ascribed to Bix.

I'm no pro, so I could be wrong!

[harryoakley]

Much as I would like it to be otherwise, to me they sound very much like the same man - Secrest.

The last note of the lead-in is identical to the first one of the solo.

[jnhobbs]

Then who is playing the 4 bar cornet leadin to the solo??

That REALLY sounds like Secrest--definitely NOT Bix. After the leadin a different cornet takes the solo--the sound of the horn is different as his relationship to the mic. It's not Bix at his best granted but sure sounds like him. I've listened to Bix for 50 years and have spent most of my life in recording studios....but I guess we'll never know for sure.....