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Charlie Irvis made a strong impression early on but faded away by the '30s. He started out as a youth playing in a local boy's band. Irvis was with Lucille Hegamin's Blue Flame Syncopators (1920-1921), gigged with Willie "The Lion" Smith, and what was then the very early Duke Ellington Orchestra (1924-1926). He preceded Tricky Sam Nanton and teamed up with trumpeter Bubber Miley (a childhood friend) to begin the tradition of "jungle music" by inventing a lot of unusual tonal effects via mutes. By 1927 he had left Ellington to play with Charlie Johnson's Paradise Ten (1927-1928), he often toured with Jelly Roll Morton (1929-1930), and appeared on recordings with Clarence Williams (1923-1927). However, after playing with Bubber Miley's short-lived band (1931) and with Elmer Snowden, Irvis largely faded away from the jazz scene. Charlie Irvis (who never led his own record date) is on Duke Ellington's earliest recordings and, in addition to the fine sessions with Williams, he recorded with Fats Waller (1927 and 1929). ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
