James Dugald McPartland (March 15, 1907 – March 13, 1991)
was an American cornetist. Better known as Jimmy McPartland, he worked with Eddie Condon, Art Hodes, Gene
Krupa, Benny Goodman, Jack Teagarden, Tommy Dorsey, often leading his own
bands. He was married to pianist Marian McPartland.
Austin High School Gang |
McPartland was a member of the Austin High School Gang
with Bud Freeman (tenor sax), Frank Teschemacher (clarinet), his brother Dick
McPartland (banjo/guitar), brother-in-law Jim Lanigan (bass, tuba and violin),
Joe Sullivan (piano), and Dave Tough (drums) in the 1920s. They studied and
tried to duplicate what they heard on recordings by the New Orleans Rhythm
Kings and others, and would frequently visit Louis Armstrong, who was a few
years their senior, and King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band.
After playing through high school, their first musical
job was under the name the Blue Friars. In 1924, at age 17, McPartland went to
New York City to take Bix Beiderbecke's place in the Wolverines band.
Beiderbecke sat at the back of the club during the audition. They became
friends and roomed together while Bix gave McPartland pointers. At that time,
Bix picked out a cornet for McPartland that he then played throughout his
career.
From 1926 to 1927, McPartland worked with Art Kassel.
Also in 1927, he was a part of the McKenzie-Condon's Chicagoans recording
session that produced "China Boy" and "Nobody's
Sweetheart". Finally, in 1927 he joined Ben Pollack's band for two years,
and was one of the main soloists (with Benny Goodman, Bud Freeman, Jack
Teagarden and Glenn Miller). McPartland played on the 1928 recording of
"Room 1411". He also moonlighted in Broadway pit bands. McPartland
then went to New York City, and played with a number of small combos. He
co-wrote the song "Makin' Friends" with Jack Teagarden.
Royal
Garden Blues by Jimmy McPartland Dixieland Band (1949) featuring Marian
McPartland (as Marian Page) on piano.
In 1930, McPartland moved back to Chicago, working with his
brother Dick, in a group called the Embassy Four. He was then a
bandleader, singer, and master-of-ceremonies at the Three Deuces
nightclub. He worked with Russ Columbo (1931–1932) and the Harry Reser band (1933–1935). During this period, he married singer Dorothy Williams, who along with her sister Hannah (who later married boxer Jack Dempsey), performed as the Williams Sisters, and they had a daughter, Dorothy. They soon divorced and McPartland spent time in South America.
bandleader, singer, and master-of-ceremonies at the Three Deuces
nightclub. He worked with Russ Columbo (1931–1932) and the Harry Reser band (1933–1935). During this period, he married singer Dorothy Williams, who along with her sister Hannah (who later married boxer Jack Dempsey), performed as the Williams Sisters, and they had a daughter, Dorothy. They soon divorced and McPartland spent time in South America.
During 1936–1941, McPartland led his own bands and joined
Teagarden's Big Band until he was drafted into the army during World War II
(1942–1944). After participating in the invasion of
Normandy, he met his future wife in Belgium, the English pianist Margaret Marian Turner, who became better known as jazz pianist Marian McPartland. They married in Aachen, Germany and moved back to Chicago, where McPartland appeared on Windy City Jamboree before settling in New York City. Soon, he was part of the Willie 'The Lion' Smith band with Jimmy Archey, Pee Wee Russell, George 'Pops' Foster, and George Wettling. The band won a Grammy Award for the soundtrack to the 1954 film After Hours.
Normandy, he met his future wife in Belgium, the English pianist Margaret Marian Turner, who became better known as jazz pianist Marian McPartland. They married in Aachen, Germany and moved back to Chicago, where McPartland appeared on Windy City Jamboree before settling in New York City. Soon, he was part of the Willie 'The Lion' Smith band with Jimmy Archey, Pee Wee Russell, George 'Pops' Foster, and George Wettling. The band won a Grammy Award for the soundtrack to the 1954 film After Hours.
McPartland's outgoing personality and stage presence led
him to try acting, resulting in a featured role in The Alcoa Hour episode
"The Magic Horn" in 1956 with Sal Mineo, Ralph Meeker, and other jazz
musicians. He also later performed in a production of Show Boat. In 1961, he appeared
on a DuPont Show of the Month musical extravaganza called Chicago and All That
Jazz, featuring Gene Krupa, Jack Teagarden, Eddie Condon, Pee Wee Russell, and
Lil Armstrong.
McPartland performed as guest star with many bands and at
festivals during the 1970s in the US and out of the country. The McPartlands
divorced in 1970. They continued to work together, remained friends, and
remarried a few weeks before Jimmy's death.
He died of lung cancer in Port
Washington, New York in 1991, two days before his 84th birthday. In 1992, Jimmy
McPartland was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame. (Edited from Wikipedia)
Here's "Blues in Bb" -- Jimmy McPartland 1954.
Here's "Blues in Bb" -- Jimmy McPartland 1954.
Basically
an incredible scene. Just a gig for the pro's at the New York scene,
Trumpetplayer/leader Jimmy McPartland must have just waited for the arrival of
the latecomers.
Clarinetist
Pee Wee Russel and trombonist Jimmy Archey arrive by taxicab and walk into the
dancehall and Jimmy, obviously relieved can now start the show by introducing
his stars.
Some of
the very best in their field: George Wettling on drums, Pops Foster on bass and
Willie "The Lion" Smith on piano.
Also
these all stars obviously played the local scenes like any other ordinary
professional musician.
For us
it is just wonderful to get a glimpse of how it went in those earlier days.
2 comments:
For “Jimmy McPartland And His Dixieland Band
- Jimmy McPartland's Dixieland (1957)” go here:
https://www.upload.ee/files/9701284/Jimmy_McPartland_-_Dixieland.rar.html
1. Oh, Didn't He Ramble 3:05
2. Third Street Blues 4:00
3. Sugarfoot Strut 2:58
4. Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me 2:50
5. The Albatross 3:25
6. Whistle Stop 3:08
7. Lackadaisy Lazy 3:16
8. Ballin' The Jack 2:36
9. The Basin Street Stomp 2:57
10. Original Dixieland One-Step 3:53
11. Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble 2:40
12. They'll Be Some Changes Made
Thanks, Bob - glad to see this!
Post a Comment