Slippin’ Around: Miff Mole, Vol. 1

RELEASE
June 23, 1998
LABEL
Frog
GENRES
Jazz, Swing, Dixieland, Early Jazz, Jazz Instrument

Album Review

One of the top trombonists of the second half of the 1920s, Miff Mole had a highly original style that featured wide-interval jumps and occasional whole-tone scales. Other than two big-band selections from 1937, all of his recordings as a leader prior to 1944 are on Slippin' Around, Vol. 1 and Slippin' Around Again, Vol. 2. Vol. 1 includes 14 numbers by Miff Mole's Molers of 1927-1928, a recording band that was basically Red Nichols' Five Pennies: cornetist Nichols, Mole, pianist Arthur Schutt, guitarist Dick McDonough, and drummer Vic Berton, plus reedist Jimmy Dorsey, Joe Tarto on tuba, drummer Ray Bauduc, Fud Livingston on reeds, bass saxophonist Adrian Rollini, and guitarist Eddie Lang on various tracks. Mole's four numbers backing stage singer Sophie Tucker (who sounds pretty strong in 1927), four cuts with Red & Miff's Stompers, two by the Red Nichols Orchestra, and a pair of test pressings from a Mole session in 1930 (with trumpeter Phil Napoleon) wrap up this intriguing set. Highlights include adventurous versions of "Hurricane," "Delirium," "Davenport Blues," "Imagination," and "Feeling No Pain."
Scott Yanow, Rovi

Track Listing

  1. Alexander's Ragtime Band
  2. Some Sweet Day
  3. Hurricane
  4. Delirium
  5. Davenport Blues
  6. Davenport Blues
  7. The Darktown Strutters' Ball
  8. A Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight
  9. After You've Gone
  10. I Ain't Got Nobody
  11. One Sweet Letter from You
  12. Fifty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong
  13. Imagination
  14. Feelin' No Pain
  15. Original Dixieland One-Step
  16. My Gal Sal
  17. Honolulu Blues
  18. The New Twister
  19. Slippin' Around
  20. Feelin' No Pain
  21. Harlem Twist
  22. Five Pennies
  23. One Step to Heaven (Windy City Stomp)
  24. Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble
  25. Navy Blues
  26. Lucky Little Devil