The New Orleans Feetwarmers

One can take it on blind faith that supergroups rarely stay together very long, no matter what the genre. The New Orleans Feetwarmers formed as a cooperative venture by two of the great stars of New Orleans jazz, but turned out to be no exception to this rule due to the public's changing musical tastes as well as the usual inner squabbling. Soprano saxophonist and clarinetist Sidney Bechet had already been performing for nearly two decades when he formed the Feetwarmers in 1932. He had honed his style and was making fully mature statements of incredible strength when soloing. For this reason alone, the group's sessions for Victor are treasured by jazz fans, as many feel they represent the high point of his career. He formed the band with trumpeter Tommy Ladnier, who may not retain the legendary status of Bechet, but had been one of his regular collaborators almost throughout his career, as well as leading many fine bands on his own. The two men assembled a dynamite combination of seasoned players to round out the group, including Philadelphia trombonist Teddy Nixon, who had been playing off and on with Fletcher Henderson since the early '20s. The band warmed its musical tootsies with low-profile dates in Jersey City and White Plains in the summer of 1932, then began what would be a long and prosperous residency at the Savoy Ballroom. The bill often included Fletcher Henderson, allowing Nixon a chance to blow all night long if he so desired. The blooming talent of the Mills Brothers was also part of these shows. The band went into the studio for Victor the morning after the first of these Savoy shows. Highlights of these sessions were many. Fans of avant-garde or free jazz will find a historical touchstone in the cut "Shag," as it is one of the earliest examples of jazz...