Happy Birthday, Bix Beiderbecke

Jazz cornetist Bix Beiderbecke (1903-1931) was born on March 10, 1903, in Davenport, Iowa. Beiderbecke was one of the first great soloists of jazz and played a sensitive, "cool" style of jazz that contrasted with the hot, hard playing of someone like Louis Armstrong. Jazz critic Terry Teachout called Beiderbecke and Armstrong "the two most influential figures in the early history of jazz."

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends The Bix Beiderbecke Story: Bix and Tram, Vol. 2 (Columbia). Unfortunately, this album is not available in CD or MP3 format, but it is available in vinyl from Amazon.com.

According to Jim Determan, who has updated the Lyons book for CD, there are two good alternatives:

• Bix Beiderbecke: Singin' the Blues, Volume 1 (Sony), which Determan says "is a better collection than [The Bix Beiderbecke Story], since it includes the best tracks from the LP, has more cuts, and includes Bix's unique piano solo, 'In a Mist.'" It is available on CD from Amazon.com.
  
• Bix Beiderbecke: Bix & Tram (JSP), which Determan claims "has superior remastering by John R. T. Davies on most tracks, and makes an excellent choice, especially for those who want more than one Beiderbecke disc." It is available on CD from Amazon.com.
  

Beiderbecke is featured in this 1927 recording of "Singin' the Blues" by Frankie Trumbauer and His Orchestra. Beiderbecke's cool, balladic cornet solo starts at 1:03.

Robert
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