nourishing obscurity

1924 Charlie Davis/Walter Melrose hit “Copenhagen,” allegedly named after the popular chewing tobacco brand. Probable California Ramblers personnel includes Frank Cush and Bill Moore, tpt; Lloyd Olsen, tb; Bobby Davis, Arnold Brilhart, and Freddy Cusick, reeds; Adrian Rollini, bass sax; Irving Brodsky, piano; Ray Kitchingman, banjo, and Stan King, drums. A tuba also appears to be included on this performance. Recorded October 23, 1924 in New York:

A great band,never dull.In 6 months Rollini,Bobby Davis (the distinct tone alto sax) and Red Nichols influenced Chelsea Quealey would set sail for London and the Savoy hotel,thus marking the zenith of the bands quality.The band,though good,did perhaps suffer from a slightly loose rhythm section,but on this record the rhythm tightens up and propels the band along,giving the record a hard driving sound.Their manager Ed Kirkby had a pleasant voice and takes the vocals here.Coleman Hawkins who played bass sax on a number of Fletcher Henderson records in the mid 1920s,before stopping on that instrument,was asked in retirement,why he had stopped playing the bass sax.He replied because he had heard Adrian Rollini play the instrument:

When Erastus Plays His Old Kazoo- July 15, 1927:

January 19, 1927, Adrian Rollini bass sax solo:

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