Leon Gross Band - ca. 1936

Obscure footage of the highly swinging Leon Gross band with unknown personnel in a night club setting play "Dear Old Southland".
I'd like to thank "yvesfrancois" who writes:
Leon Gross, bandleader in the 1930's and early 40's, led a band in Harlem for years, semi pick-up with a core group. This clip features Bernard Flood on trumpet and is from an Oliver Micheaux flick, entitled "Swing" (from 1936 or 7). Good tenor in the Chu Berry vein (sounds like Kenneth Hollon though I doubt it), KILLER riffs, MAN!! The movie had several numbers, this is the best, equal to most bands that recorded in NYC 1936/7. Bill Coleman said that Gross' nickname was "bossman". He played with him in 1941.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• jazz
• swing
• vocal
• jive
• combo
• thirties
• vaudeville
• dixieland
• bix
• trumbauer

[jamesjazz100]

Awesome! I agree about Pazuza, have seen a couple other pics, but would never have picked up Bernard Flood. But Kenny Hollon would have been just fine also! Thanks!

[yvesfrancois]

I did some more research this morning - the tenor sax man is STANFORD "PAZUZA" SIMON, the piano is ARTHUR BOWIE. More details as I get to them - this would be Simon's first recording, that I know of ... hope this helps, Yves François

[jozefsterkens2]

Great!

[claptonfan1000000]

Do you know if there is any film of Chu? I know that this doesn't have anything to do with this film, but do you know?

This clip was great! I like the voice who sayes "That's all there is"