Hal Smith: When we finished our last article for The Syncopated Times, Jeff kindly offered to let me choose the subject for our next collaboration. I chose “Some Jazzy Western Swing records by Bob Wills.” Hopefully the sides we discuss will provide good examples of just how much hot jazz this iconic Western Swing band was capable of playing.
Jeff, the Texas Playboys’ very first recording, “Osage Stomp” (1935) was based on a “race record” by the Memphis Nighthawks called “Rukus Juice Shuffle” and recorded three years earlier. On this side, we get samples of Bob Wills’ Texas country fiddle, Jesse Ashlock’s jazz fiddle, Leon McAuliffe’s hot steel guitar, Johnnie Lee Wills’ driving banjo, Son Lansford’s slapped bass and drummer Smokey Dacus whacking out the rhythm with a stick on his trap case and a brush on the snare drum.
We also hear trombonist Art Haines in the ensembles and a solo by Zeb McNally on tenor sax. This is a pretty raucous start to the Texas Playboys discography! What do you think of this one, Jeff?
Jeff Barnhart: Hal, I’m so excited to be exploring this hybrid style with you; you’ve had a good amount of experience performing this style as well as listening to a LOT of it over the years. I’m a total newbie, so I’ll most likely play the role of asking questions more than making learned observations, but I welcome the opportunity
