Spirits of Rhythm

(The) Spirits of Rhythm was an American jazz band of the 1930s and 1940s.

The members of the ensemble had previously played in bands like the Sepia Nephews, Ben Bernie's Nephews and The Five Cousins ​​; with the entrance of guitarist Teddy Bunn in the band they called Spirits of Rhythm. Recordings were made only occasionally; usually, the ensemble has performed in New York City as well as in Hollywood in the 1930s and early 1940s in the jazz clubs of the 52nd Street.

Style characteristic of the Spirits of Rhythm was the use of jazz vocalists such as Red McKenzie, Leo Watson and Ella Logan ( 1945), and the use of stringed instruments, sometimes by self-made percussion instruments and harmonica. In addition to the various conventional stringed instruments they used the tiple, a South American, the mandolin -like instrument with a deeper sound.

Despite the importance Teddy Bunn as guitarist the Spirits of Rhythm were a vocal force in the first place. The vocalist of the band sang mostly nonsense syllables or scat, and used her voice as an instrument rather than as a vehicle for lyrics. Members of the Spirits of Rhythm included the pianist Leonard Feather and Ram Ramirez, the bassist Wellman Braud and Red Callender and Douglas Daniels and Walter Daniels ( tiple, vocals), Wilson Myers ( bass), Virgil Scoggins (percussion) and Georgie Vann (drums, vocals). During the war years, the band broke up.

Known titles of the formation were "I Got Rhythm" and "I'll Be Ready".

Disco Graphical Notes

• The Spirits of Rhythm 1933-1945 ( Classics )