Frankie
Trumbauer, born in Carbondale, Illinois, in 1901, is one of the first great
jazz saxophonists. He became famous as a player of the rare C-melody saxophone,
an instrument with a pitch that falls between an alto and tenor saxophone. Trumbauer
was a saxophonist of considerable influence who is credited by many later
greats of the instrument as an inspiration. Trumbauer was often referred to by
the moniker, “Tram.”
Trumbauer
began his career with the Paul Whiteman Band in the early twenties. When he
switched to the Jean Goldkette Orchestra, he met the great cornetist Bix
Beiderbecke with whom he would later become a close friend and collaborator.
In 1927,
Trumbauer formed his own orchestra and with Beiderbecke, Eddie Lang and Jimmy
Dorsey produced some of the best jazz ever recorded. In a series of legendary
sessions, the Frankie Trumbauer Orchestra would record, “Singing the Blues,”
“Clarinet Marmalade,” “For No Reason at all in C,” “Riverboat Shuffle,” Ostrich
Walk,” and others. Bix Beiderbecke’s work on these recordings is considered to
be his best ever work. On the brilliant side, “Trumbology,” Trumbauer delivers
one of the first true saxophone tour de forces in recorded jazz. Trumbauer died
in 1956.
Trumbauer’s
recordings can be found on the “Chronological Classics” series of jazz
compilations and his recordings with Beiderbecke were considered good enough to
warrant inclusion on the venerable collection of early jazz recordings, “The
Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz” (1973).
