Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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LADNIER, Tommy

(b 28 May 1900, Florenceville LA; d 4 June '39, NYC) Trumpet; one of the finest of his generation after Louis Armstrong: it was Ladnier, not Louis, who had tuition from Bunk Johnson. Great solos on Fletcher Henderson sides '26--7: 'The Chant', 'Clarinet Marmalade', 'Snag It' (first two solos by Ladnier, third by Joe Smith), 'Stockholm Stomp' (Ladnier 16 bars, Smith 24), 'Wang Wang Blues', 'PDQ Blues', 'Goose Pimples', 'Hop Off'. He visited Europe several times with Sam Wooding, Noble Sissle etc; backed singers Lovie Austin, Alberta Hunter; with Sidney Bechet in his Feetwarmers early '30s, then times were so bad that they operated a tailor shop together. He was 'rediscovered'; made only one session under his own name, on Bluebird (about a dozen titles made late '38 with Mezz Mezzrow; four by sextet incl. Bechet issued as 'Tommy Ladnier and his Orchestra'). Played with Bechet at John Hammond's Spirituals to Swing concert Dec. '38; had heart attack in Mezzrow's flat: four days later Bechet invented 'Blues For Tommy' at Port of Harlem Jazzmen session for Blue Note. Compilation Quintessential Tommy Ladnier 1923--36 is on King Jazz.