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Merritt Brunies & His Friars Inn Orchestra

Merritt Brunies

Merritt Brunies & His Friars Inn Orchestra

Format: CD
Label: Retrieval
UPC: 0608917906325
Catnr: RTR 79063
Release date: 29 October 2010
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2 CD
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Label
Retrieval
UPC
0608917906325
Catalogue number
RTR 79063
Release date
29 October 2010
Album
Artist(s)
Composer(s)
EN
NL
DE

About the album

Merritt Brunies. Cornet, trombone. Member of legendary New Orleans musical family. Merritt Brunies was a traditional jazz bandleader in New Orleans and Chicago from 1916 - 1918, and headed a grroup called The Original New Orleans Jazz Band. This group did not record, but it predated Jimmy Durante's New Orleans Jazz Band which was formed in New York in 1918, and The Original Dixieland Jazz Band, which played in Chicago in 1916 and became the first group to record in 1917. After his first group disbanded, Brunies played cornet and led the ensemble that replaced The New Orleans Rhythm Kings at Friar's Inn in Chicago. The New Orleans Rhythm Kings (NORK) were the finest jazz group to be on record in 1922, and the white band has served as proof that, even that early, African-Americans were not the only ones who could play jazz with individuality and integrity. Brunies returned to New Orleans in 1930 and played in various clubs. Brunies relocated to Mississippi in 1946, and played in The Brunies Brothers Dixieland Jazz Band for the rest of his career. (source:allmusic.com)

Merrit and Henry Brunies were members of a famous New Orleans musical family from the Irish Channel district of the city. Merritt got his start in the family band, playing on the front porch and on street corners. By 1918 he was leading his Original New Orleans Jazz Band with Emile Christian on trombone, playing in the tango belt, an area of cabarets and dance halls surrounding the red light district. The band was also known as the Brunies Brothers Band which indicates that from time to time one or other of his brothers also played with the group. After some years of playing in the night spots of the city, Merritt, together with brother Henry left for Los Angeles in 1923 to play at the Dome Dance Hall with New Orleans drummer Aneglo Schiro. Research by Lawrence Gushee has uncovered the fact that both Merritt and Henry Brunies deposited their transfers in the Los Angeles union local in late 1920, which may indicate that an earlier trip was contemplated or undertaken before the Schiro engagement. When the Schiro band broke up the brothers moved on to San Francisco to play at the Palais Royal Café with Chris Mann’s Band. Whether the New Orleans Rhythm Kings trombonist, youngest brother George Brunies had anything to do with the engagement of the Chriss Mann Band is conjectural but is is understood that he recommended the group to Fritzel. At the end of the Mann engagement Merritt formed his own group to continue playing at the Friars Inn and it is this group that made the records presented here. The band played there for around two years, but Merritt continued to lead after that and in October 1926 the El Patio Ballroom in Los Angeles contacted him at the Cinderella Café in Chicago to say that they were looking for a replacement band for December or January. Also, at one time he took a band down to New Orleans with the young clarinettist Danny Polo in the personnel. However, by the late 1920’s he had returned south, settling in Biloxi, Mississippi, where in addition to his musical activities he served in the Police Department. (source: part of the linernotes with the cd, written by Chris Ellis)




  • De inspiratie voor jonge jazz georiënteerde Chicagoans in de jaren 1920: muziek uit New Orleans
  • Merrit Brunies maakte deel uit van een legendarische muzikale familie uit New Orleans, was een traditionele jazz band leider en speelde zelf trompet en cornet
  • Blanke muzikanten spelen jazz met individualiteit en integriteit
  • Met zeldzame opnames!
  • Het muzikale overzicht van de invloed van de New Orleans Rhythm Kings en, in mindere mate, de King Oliver Creole Jazz Band
  • Samengesteld door Chris Ellis
Brunies (1895-1973) war Leiter der legend�ren 'Original New Orleans Jazz Band', die keine Platten aufnahm. Aber von einigen sp�teren Bands, bei denen er beteiligt war oder die er leitete, existieren in dem Fundus von Chris Ellis einige rare Tonaufnahmen.

Artist(s)

Merritt Brunies

Merritt Brunies. Cornet, trombone. Member of legendary New Orleans musical family. Merritt Brunies was a traditional jazz bandleader in New Orleans and Chicago from 1916 - 1918, and headed a grroup called The Original New Orleans Jazz Band. This group did not record, but it predated Jimmy Durante's New Orleans Jazz Band which was formed in New York in 1918, and The Original Dixieland Jazz Band, which played in Chicago in 1916 and became the first group to record in 1917. After his first group disbanded, Brunies played cornet and led the ensemble that replaced The New Orleans Rhythm Kings  at Friar's Inn in Chicago. The New Orleans Rhythm Kings (NORK) were the finest jazz group to be on record...
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Merritt Brunies. Cornet, trombone. Member of legendary New Orleans musical family. Merritt Brunies was a traditional jazz bandleader in New Orleans and Chicago from 1916 - 1918, and headed a grroup called The Original New Orleans Jazz Band. This group did not record, but it predated Jimmy Durante's New Orleans Jazz Band which was formed in New York in 1918, and The Original Dixieland Jazz Band, which played in Chicago in 1916 and became the first group to record in 1917. After his first group disbanded, Brunies played cornet and led the ensemble that replaced The New Orleans Rhythm Kings at Friar's Inn in Chicago. The New Orleans Rhythm Kings (NORK) were the finest jazz group to be on record in 1922, and the white band has served as proof that, even that early, African-Americans were not the only ones who could play jazz with individuality and integrity. Brunies returned to New Orleans in 1930 and played in various clubs. Brunies relocated to Mississippi in 1946, and played in The Brunies Brothers Dixieland Jazz Band for the rest of his career. (source:allmusic.com) Merrit and Henry Brunies were members of a famous New Orleans musical family from the Irish Channel district of the city. Merritt got his start in the family band, playing on the front porch and on street corners. By 1918 he was leading his Original New Orleans Jazz Band with Emile Christian on trombone, playing in the tango belt, an area of cabarets and dance halls surrounding the red light district. The band was also known as the Brunies Brothers Band which indicates that from time to time one or other of his brothers also played with the group. After some years of playing in the night spots of the city, Merritt, together with brother Henry left for Los Angeles in 1923 to play at the Dome Dance Hall with New Orleans drummer Aneglo Schiro. Research by Lawrence Gushee has uncovered the fact that both Merritt and Henry Brunies deposited their transfers in the Los Angeles union local in late 1920, which may indicate that an earlier trip was contemplated or undertaken before the Schiro engagement. When the Schiro band broke up the brothers moved on to San Francisco to play at the Palais Royal Café with Chris Mann’s Band. Whether the New Orleans Rhythm Kings trombonist, youngest brother George Brunies had anything to do with the engagement of the Chriss Mann Band is conjectural but is is understood that he recommended the group to Fritzel. At the end of the Mann engagement Merritt formed his own group to continue playing at the Friars Inn and it is this group that made the records presented here. The band played there for around two years, but Merritt continued to lead after that and in October 1926 the El Patio Ballroom in Los Angeles contacted him at the Cinderella Café in Chicago to say that they were looking for a replacement band for December or January. Also, at one time he took a band down to New Orleans with the young clarinettist Danny Polo in the personnel. However, by the late 1920’s he had returned south, settling in Biloxi, Mississippi, where in addition to his musical activities he served in the Police Department. (source: part of the linernotes with the cd, written by Chris Ellis)
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Composer(s)

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Play album Play album
Disc #1
01.
There?s No Gal Like My Gal
03:03
(Billy Meyers, Elmer Schoebel) Original Memphis Melody Boys
02.
Wonderful Dream
02:46
(Frank Snyder, Elmer Schoebel) Original Memphis Melody Boys
03.
Blue Grass Blues
02:55
(Billy Meyers, Elmer Schoebel) Original Memphis Melody Boys
04.
Made A Monkey Out Of Me
02:49
(Billy Meyers, Lou Black, Elmer Schoebel) Original Memphis Melody Boys
05.
Blue Grass Blues
02:57
(Billy Meyers, Elmer Schoebel) Chicago Blues Dance Orchestra
06.
House Of David Blues
02:55
(Billy Meyers, Elmer Schoebel, Irving Mills) Chicago Blues Dance Orchestra
07.
Bit By Bit You?re Breaking My Heart
02:53
(Murray Bloom) Art Kahn and His Orchestra
08.
Sobbin? Blues
02:59
(Arthur Kassell, Victor Berton) Art Kahn and His Orchestra
09.
Lots O? Mama
02:58
(Elmer Schoebel, Billy Meyers) Midway Dance Orchestra
10.
Black Sheep Blues
03:20
(Brad Baker) Midway Dance Orchestra
11.
Cotton Pickers? Ball
02:55
(Elmer Schoebel) Midway Dance Orchestra
12.
Black Sheep Blues
02:59
(Brad Baker) Midway Dance Orchestra
13.
Black Sheep Blues
02:59
(Brad Baker) Midway Dance Orchestra
14.
Lots O? Mama
02:56
(Elmer Schoebel, Billy Meyers) Midway Dance Orchestra
15.
Sobbin? Blues
03:03
Midway Dance Orchestra
16.
Buddy?s Habits
03:19
(Charley Straight, Arnett Nelson) Midway Dance Orchestra
17.
Bahama
03:01
(Harry Woods) Art Kahn and His Orchestra
18.
Blue Evening Blues
03:16
(Art Kahn, Victor Berton) Art Kahn and His Orchestra
19.
Up Jumped The Devil
02:57
(Merritt Brunies, Harry Brunies) Merritt Brunies and his Friars Inn Orchestra
20.
Follow The Swallow
02:43
(Billy Rose, Mort Dixon, Ray Henderson) Merritt Brunies and his Friars Inn Orchestra
21.
Angry
02:52
(Merritt Brunies, Harry Brunies, Jules Cassard) Merritt Brunies and his Friars Inn Orchestra
22.
I Don?t Know Why I Weep Over You
02:26
(Volly De Faut, Frank Clarke, Charley Straight) Merritt Brunies and his Friars Inn Orchestra
23.
Flag That Train (To Alabam?)
02:43
(Eddie Richmond, Lindsay McPhail, Irvine Rothschild) Merritt Brunies and his Friars Inn Orchestra
24.
Clarinet Marmalade
02:25
(Larry Shields, Henry Ragas) Merritt Brunies and his Friars Inn Orchestra

Disc #2
01.
Sugar Foot Stomp
02:34
(King Oliver) Merritt Brunies and his Friars Inn Orchestra
02.
Want A Little Lovin?
03:00
(Benny Davis, Harry Warren) Merritt Brunies and his Friars Inn Orchestra
03.
She?s Got ?Em
02:42
Merritt Brunies and his Friars Inn Orchestra
04.
Up Jumped The Devil
02:49
(Merritt Brunies, Harry Brunies) Merritt Brunies and his Friars Inn Orchestra
05.
I?m As Blue As The Blue Grass Of Kentucky
03:05
(Clinton Keithley) Merritt Brunies and his Friars Inn Orchestra
06.
When Autumn Leaves Are Falling
03:17
(Sam Coslow, Abner Silver) Merritt Brunies and his Friars Inn Orchestra
07.
Flamin? Mamie
02:51
(Fred Rose, Paul Whiteman) Merritt Brunies and his Friars Inn Orchestra
08.
Hangin? Around
03:14
(Garnder, Fred Hamm) Merritt Brunies and his Friars Inn Orchestra
09.
Up Jumped The Devil
02:45
(Merritt Brunies, Harry Brunies) Merritt Brunies and his Friars Inn Orchestra
10.
Masculine Women ? Feminine Men
03:20
(Edgar Leslie, James Monaco) Merritt Brunies and his Friars Inn Orchestra
11.
Someone?s Stolen My Sweet Baby
03:20
(Brown, Clare, Pinkard) Merritt Brunies and his Friars Inn Orchestra
12.
Steady Roll Blues
02:40
(Mel Stitzel, Charles Bates) The Bucktown Five
13.
Steady Roll Blues
02:32
(Mel Stitzel, Charles Bates) The Bucktown Five
14.
Mobile Blues
02:19
(Fred Rose, Albert Short) The Bucktown Five
15.
Really A Pain
02:44
(Art Kassell, Jimmy Sturr, Muggsy Spanier) The Bucktown Five
16.
Really A Pain
02:44
(Art Kassell, Jimmy Sturr, Muggsy Spanier) The Bucktown Five
17.
Chicago Blues
02:30
(Paul Biese, James Altiere, Walter Williams) The Bucktown Five
18.
Hot Mittens
02:48
(Mel Stitzel, Volly De Faut, Marvin Saxbe) The Bucktown Five
19.
Hot Mittens
02:49
(Mel Stitzel, Volly De Faut, Marvin Saxbe) The Bucktown Five
20.
Buddy?s Habits
02:24
(Charley Straight, Arnett Nelson) The Bucktown Five
21.
Buddy?s Habits
02:21
(Charley Straight, Arnett Nelson) The Bucktown Five
22.
Someday, Sweetheart
03:03
(Reb Spikes, John Spikes) The Bucktown Five
23.
Why Couldn?t It Be Poor Little Me
02:37
(Gus Kahn, Isham Jones) The Stomp Six
24.
Everybody Loves My Baby
02:52
(Spencer Williams, Jack Palmer) The Stomp Six
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