Ray Miller was the drummer of a sextet that included the legendary New Orleans trombonist Tom Brown from 1920 to 1923; they were known as his Black and White Melody Boys, recording for many labels without contributing much to recorded jazz. By 1927, however, the Ray Miller band had become a full-sized group, with considerable awareness of what jazz meant. This is particularly true of trombonist Ted Skiles, whose flexible playing is reminiscent of Miff Mole’s.

As a rule, we do not agree with editing out vocals that are out of keeping with the music surrounding them, but Ray Miller’s on “I Ain’t Got Nobody” is so appalling in its apparent attempt to emulate Ted Lewis, Al Jolson and Irving Kaufman all at once that we felt it would spoil the general picture. The band has a vigorous attack, though some may feel that the insistent bass drum and unbridled trumpet heard on “Weary Blues” are harder to take than the work of their counterparts in other units.

by Brian Rust
(from the liner notes of The Chicago Hot Bands 1924 – 1928 on Timeless Records)

If you would like to order the Timeless Records’ CD of The Chicago Hot Bands 1924 – 1928 first look to Timeless Records. Thanks to Dave Bartholomew for his help with some of the recordings on this page.

Title	Recording Date	Recording Location	Company
Blue Baby	10-2-1927	Chicago, Illinois	Brunswick 3676
I Ain’t Got Nobody (Abel Baer / Samuel Lewis / Joseph Young)	10-2-1927	Chicago, Illinois	Brunswick 3677
Is She My Girl Friend? (Jack Yellen / Milton Ager)	2-1-1928	Chicago, Illinois	Brunswick 3828
I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate (A.J. Piron)	2-1-1928	Chicago, Illinois	Brunswick 3828
My Honey’s Lovin’ Arms (Ruby Meyer)	2-1-1928	Chicago, Illinois	Brunswick 3827
Sorry (Klages / Quicksell)	2-1-1928	Chicago, Illinois	Brunswick 3827
Weary Blues (Artie Matthews)	10-2-1927	Chicago, Illinois	Brunswick 3677
Yep! ‘Long About June	10-2-1927	Chicago, Illinois	Brunswick 3676

Artist	Instrument
Sam Bird	Drums
Roland Chastain	Clarinet, Alto Saxophone
Mort Clavner	Banjo, Vocals
Connie Conrad	Piano
Bob Jones	Trumpet
Andy Mansfield	Piano
Ray Miller	Vocals, Director
Kenneth Miller	Violin, Vocals
Ted Skiles	Trombone
Cookie Trantham	Bass, Tuba, Vocals
Frank Wagner	Tenor Saxophone, Violin
Doug Wellman	Trumpet