Mezz Mezzrow
Mezz Mezzrow ( born November 9, 1899 in Chicago as Milton Mesirow; † August 5, 1972 in Paris, France ) was an American jazz clarinetist and saxophonist.
Life and work
Mezzrow had an embossed by the social circumstances of childhood and youth, which in 1917 led him to prison. There he learned to play by some inmates clarinet, so he played as a member of the white jazz scene in the band " Austin High School Gang" in Chicago in the 1920s, at times was a member of the " Chicago Rhythm Kings " and the " Jungle Kings ' records recorded. 1 927 Mezzrow moved to New York where he performed with Eddie Condon. 1929 he stayed for a short time in Paris, where he met Hugues Panassie. During the 1930s he recorded with his own band, "The Disciples of Swing "and others for the label Swing, and took with Tommy Ladnier his composition" Really the Blues " on. Famous is his recording with Sidney Bechet and cousin Joe, Weary Blues. Between 1945 and 1947 he had his own record company, the King jazz label, appeared in the recordings of Sidney Bechet, among others. Besides his musical career and his commitment to the rights of blacks in the U.S., he was in the 1940's known as marijuana supplier.
Mezz Mezzrow in 1948 emigrated to France, where he appeared in 1949 at the Nice Jazz Festival. From his residence in Paris, he undertook many tours in France, with many U.S. musicians who visited Europe. Records he took, inter alia in France on with Lee Collins and Buck Clayton. Mezzrows clarinet style is described as earthy and intense.
In 1946 Mezzrow 's autobiography Really the Blues, which is considered excellent account of the Chicago and New York milieu during the Prohibition era and the economic crisis.
Writings
- Mezz Mezzrow: Jazz Fever, Frankfurt / M. [ inter alia ]: Ullsteinhaus, 1986, ISBN 3-548-36527-2
- Mezz Mezzrow: The bag and the whistle, noise Edition customer, Löhrbach, ISBN 978-3-930442-13-3