DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #138: Minor Jive

This article was originally published on http://shuffleprojects.com

It's time again for a fast Balboa tune. Let's bring back David Roy Eldridge (Jan. 30, 1911 – Feb. 26, 1989).

Roy “Little Jazz” Eldridge

Roy Eldridge started out playing trumpet and drums in carnival and circus bands. With the Nighthawk Syncopators he received a bit of attention by playing a note-for-note re-creation of Coleman Hawkins‘ tenor solo on “The Stampede.”

Inspired by the dynamic playing of Jabbo Smith (Eldridge would not discover Louis Armstrong for a few years), Eldridge played with some territory bands and in New York (where he arrived in 1931) he worked with Elmer Snowden (who nicknamed him “Little Jazz”), McKinney's Cotton Pickers, and most importantly Teddy Hill (1935).

Eldridge's recorded solos with Hill, backing Billie Holiday and with Fletcher Henderson (including his 1936 hit “Christopher Columbus”) gained a great deal of attention.

In 1937 he appeared with his octet (which included brother Joe on alto) at the Three Deuces Club in Chicago and recorded some outstanding selections as a leader including “Heckler's Hop” and “Wabash Stomp.” By 1939 Eldridge had a larger group playing at the Arcadia Ballroom in New York.

With the decline of Bunny Berigan and the increasing predictability of Louis Armstrong, Eldridge was arguably the top trumpeter in jazz during this era.

Source: allmusic

Minor Jive

This tempo in this clip is actually slower than on the stated album!

[easyazon-image align=”left” asin=”B000W1TJV8″ locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51%2BgOHgLPwL._SL160_.jpg” width=”160″]Title: [easyazon-link asin=”B000W1ZG06″ locale=”us”]Minor Jive[/easyazon-link]
Artist: Roy Eldridge
Recorded: November 16, 1943
Album: [easyazon-link asin=”B000W1TJV8″ locale=”us”]After You've Gone[/easyazon-link]
Tempo: 272 bpm
Dance: Balboa

Click the link to download the song from: iTunes ･ [easyazon-link asin=”B000W1ZG06″ locale=”us”]Amazon[/easyazon-link] ･ [easyazon-link asin=”B005JKAYOI” locale=”de”]Amazon DE[/easyazon-link] ･ [easyazon-link asin=”B005JNPGZ2″ locale=”uk”]Amazon UK[/easyazon-link]

You can find all the songs of the series also on my Spotify playlist or on 8tracks.
Official hashtag of the series: #djcsotw

How you like Roy Eldridge's trumpet style? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!