Returning to Chicago with the nucleus of the group, Ben Pollack soon had success playing at hotels. He landed a recording contract with the Victor label, recording four numbers in December 1926. In those performances, one gets the idea of the sound that Pollack was after. He wanted to balance the artistic with the commercial, leaving room for hot solos from his key sidemen along with period vocals and melodic ensembles that included two violinists. He loved jazz but he also wanted some fame and fortune. The hottest number from these dates is “He’s The Last Word” which has a catchy vocal by the Williams Sisters plus the first significant recorded solos by Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller.
Excerpt from Ben Pollack:Profiles in Jazz, by Scott Yanow Thanks to Owen Miller and Richard Unger for the recordings on this page. |
| Title | Recording Date | Recording Location | Company |
| ‘Deed I Do (Walter Hirsch / Fred Rose) |
12-17-1926 | Chicago, Illinois | Victor 20408-A |
| He’s The Last Word (Gus Kahn / Walter Donaldson) |
12-17-1926 | Chicago, Illinois | Victor 20425 37261-2 |
| He’s The Last Word (Gus Kahn / Walter Donaldson) |
12-17-1926 | Chicago, Illinois | RCA X LX-3003 37261-3 |
| Memphis Blues (W.C. Handy) |
12-7-1927 | New York, New York | Victor 21184 41343-1 |
| Memphis Blues (W.C. Handy) |
12-7-1927 | New York, New York | Victor 21184 41343-2 |
| Singapore Sorrows (Jack Le Soir / Ray Doll) |
4-6-1928 | New York, New York | Victor unissued 43540-2 |
| Singapore Sorrows (Jack Le Soir / Ray Doll) |
4-6-1928 | New York, New York | Victor unissued 43540-3 |
| Singapore Sorrows (Jack Le Soir / Ray Doll) |
4-6-1928 | New York, New York | Victor unissued 43540-4 |
| Singapore Sorrows (Jack Le Soir / Ray Doll) |
4-26-1928 | New York, New York | Victor 21437-B 43540-6 |
| Sweet Sue – Just You (Will J. Harris / Victor Young) |
4-26-1928 | New York, New York | Victor 21437-A |
| Waitin’ For Katie (Kahn / Shapiro) |
12-7-1927 | New York, New York | Victor 21184 |
| When I First Met Mary (Little / Verges / Shay) |
12-9-1926 | Chicago, Illinois | Victor 20394 |
| You’re The One For Me (Paul Ash / Walter Donaldson) |
12-17-1926 | Chicago, Illinois | Victor 20461 |
| Artist | Instrument |
| Wayne Allen | Piano |
| Ilomay Bailey | Vocals |
| Earl Baker | Cornet |
| Franklyn Baur | Vocals |
| Al Beller | Violin |
| Ed Bergman | Violin |
| Vic Briedis | Piano |
| Bud Freeman | Tenor Saxophone |
| Benny Goodman | Clarinet |
| Harry Goodman | Brass Bass |
| Harry Greenberg | Cornet |
| Al Harris | Cornet |
| John Kurzenknabe | Banjo |
| Fud Livingston | Tenor Saxophone |
| Jimmy McPartland | Cornet |
| Glenn Miller | Trombone |
| Dick Morgan | Banjo |
| Ben Pollack | Drums, Leader, Vocals |
| Joey Ray | Vocals |
| Gil Rodin | Alto Saxophone |
| Dorothy Williams | Vocals |
| Hannah Williams | Vocals |
| Victor Young | Violin |
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