Song:Buffalo Blues
Album:Cornet Blues
Johnny Dunn was the top cornetist in jazz before Louis Armstrong arrived in New York in 1924. He is known for creating the "wah wah" trumpet effect. Unfortunately he didn't update his playing style after Armstrong and Dunn moved to Europe and died prematurely. He was born Feb. 19, 1897 in Memphis. Dunn attended Fisk University in Nashville and he was playing Memphis clubs when W.C. Handy hired him in 1917. In his three years in that band, Dunn was featured on what became known as Bugle Call Rag. He then recorded and toured with Mamie Smith's vaudeville troupe. Then he started his own band Original Jazz Hounds. They recorded and backed up singer Edith Wilson. He also toured Europe with Will Vodery's Plantation Orchestra and the revue Dover To Dixie. Dunn's problem was once Armstrong arrived in New York, Dunn's style was instantly passe and he never adjusted for the times. Dunn's final recordings in 1928 were for Columbia and then Vocalion. Buffalo Blues was for Columbia. Jelly Roll Morton wrote the song and also plays piano. Other musicians are Gavin Bushell on clarinet, Herb Fleming on trombone, Harry Hull on tuba, John Mitchell on banjo and Mort Perry on drums. Dunn recorded four songs with Morton and then he recorded two songs for Vocalion featuring Fats Waller and James P. Johnson. And then Dunn moved to Europe and he died from tuberculosis on Aug. 20, 1937 at age 40 in Paris. All of Dunn's recordings as a leader are on this CD from the British label Frog. Here's a video for Buffalo Blues by Johnny Dunn.
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