egroj world: Elmer Snowden • Harlem Banjo!

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Elmer Snowden • Harlem Banjo!

Review
by Scott Yanow
Banjoist Elmer Snowden only led two albums in the LP era, and his OJC CD reissue is his best showcase. Snowden, who is joined by pianist Cliff Jackson, bassist Tommy Bryant, and drummer Jimmy Crawford, is the lead voice throughout the dozen standards, all of which date from the 1920s or '30s. Snowden's banjo style is a lost art, and this is his definitive recording.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/harlem-banjo-mw0000319372

Biography
by Scott Yanow
A fine banjo player, Elmer Snowden was the original leader of the Washingtonians, a group that would become the Duke Ellington Orchestra; a dispute over money in the mid-'20s soon found him "at liberty." Snowden had met Ellington in 1919 and before that he had worked with Eubie Blake in Baltimore. He was quite active in the 1920s as a businessman, agent, and musician, running several bands and recording occasionally. But, although he worked steadily in the 1930s, '40s, and '50s, he was essentially a minor figure during those years. In 1963, Snowden moved to California to teach at Berkeley, he toured Europe with George Wein in 1967, and made a few final recordings.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/elmer-snowden-mn0000177953/biography

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Reseña
por Scott Yanow
El banjoista Elmer Snowden sólo dirigió dos álbumes en la era del LP, y su reedición en CD de la OJC es su mejor escaparate. Snowden, al que acompañan el pianista Cliff Jackson, el bajista Tommy Bryant y el batería Jimmy Crawford, es la voz principal a lo largo de la docena de estándares, todos ellos de los años veinte o treinta. El estilo del banjo de Snowden es un arte perdido, y ésta es su grabación definitiva.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/harlem-banjo-mw0000319372

Biografía
por Scott Yanow
Excelente intérprete de banjo, Elmer Snowden fue el líder original de los Washingtonians, grupo que se convertiría en la Orquesta de Duke Ellington; una disputa por dinero a mediados de los años 20 pronto le encontró "en libertad". Snowden había conocido a Ellington en 1919 y antes había trabajado con Eubie Blake en Baltimore. Estuvo bastante activo en la década de 1920 como hombre de negocios, agente y músico, dirigiendo varias bandas y grabando ocasionalmente. Pero, aunque trabajó de forma constante en los años 30, 40 y 50, fue esencialmente una figura menor durante esos años. En 1963, Snowden se trasladó a California para dar clases en Berkeley, realizó una gira por Europa con George Wein en 1967 e hizo unas últimas grabaciones.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/elmer-snowden-mn0000177953/biography

Tracks:
1 - It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) - 2:43
2 - Doin' The New Lowdown - 3:30
3 - Runnin' Wild - 3:27
4 - Diga Diga Doo - 2:23
5 - Them There Eyes - 2:50
6 - Tishimingo Blues - 4:09
7 - C-Jam Blues - 2:55
8 - Sweet Georgia Brown - 3:21
9 - Alabamy Bound - 2:06
10 - Twelfth Street Rag - 3:35
11 - Bugle Call Rag - 3:56
12 - Dear Old Southland - 2:42

Credits:
    Banjo – Elmer Snowden
    Bass – Tommy Bryant
    Cover, Design – Ken Deardoff
    Drums – Jimmy Crawford
    Mastered By – Jack Matthews
    Piano – Cliff Jackson
    Producer, Sleeve Notes – Chris Albertson
    Recorded By, Engineer – Ray Fowler

Note:
Recorded in New York, December 9, 1960

Label: - Riverside Records – RLP 348
Released: - 1960
Genre: - Jazz
Style: - Swing
https://www.discogs.com/release/3234875-The-Elmer-Snowden-Quartet-Harlem-Banjo