Mezz Mezzrow

about

Milton Mesirow, better known as Mezz Mezzrow (November 9, 1899 – August 5, 1972) was an American jazz clarinetist and saxophonist from Chicago, Illinois. Mezzrow is well known for organizing and financing historic recording sessions with Tommy Ladnier and Sidney Bechet. Mezzrow also recorded a number of times with Bechet and briefly acted as manager for Louis Armstrong. He is equally well remembered, however, for being a colorful character, as clearly portrayed in his autobiography Really The Blues, as for his music. The book, which takes its title from a Bechet musical piece, was co-written by Bernard Wolfe and first published in 1946. Mezzrow organized and took part in recording sessions involving black musicians in the 1930s and 1940s including Benny Carter, Teddy Wilson, Frankie Newton, Tommy Ladnier and Sidney Bechet. Mezzrow's 1938 sessions for the French jazz critic Hugues Panassie involved Bechet and Ladnier and helped spark the 'New Orleans revival'. In the mid-1940s Mezzrow started his own record label, King Jazz Records, featuring himself in groups that usually included Sidney Bechet and, often, trumpeter Oran 'Hot Lips' Page. Mezzrow also can be found and heard playing on six recordings by Fats Waller. He appeared at the 1948 Nice Jazz Festival. Following that, he made his home in France and organized many bands that included French musicians like Claude Luter, as well as visiting Americans such as Buck Clayton, Peanuts Holland, Jimmy Archey, Kansas Fields and

top songs

albums

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Americans Swinging in Paris

Blue In Disguise

Complete Jazz Series 1936 - 1939

The Ultimate Jazz Archive 6 (3 Of 4)

Complete Jazz Series 1928 - 1936

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Flashbacks - Blue & Lonely

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All that Jazz, Vol. 60 - Mezz Mezzrow, Sidney Bechet: Brothers in Blues (Remastered 2016)

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Really Blues

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That Devilin' Tune: A Jazz History (1895-1950)

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Archive Of American Popular Music 1934-1945

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The Chronological Classics: Mezz Mezzrow 1951-1953

Complete Jazz Series 1951 - 1953

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