Jeff Barnhart: We return this month to conclude our exploration of the remaining sides by the New Orleans-based Halfway House Orchestra, recorded between October 1927 and December 1928. (PART 1) Hal, although the tunes become more “pop” song oriented, to my ears each title has beautiful moments of hot jazz, as well as a depth of feeling that finds me often returning to these sides. From the band’s date on October 24, 1927, to the final session, alto saxist Joe Loyacano (no relation to the trombonist with the same name who appeared on the outfit’s inaugural session in 1925) is brought in to make a three-horn front line and the effect is remarkable.
The October session yielded two selections, both composed by pianist Glynn Lea “Red” Long: “When I’m Blue” and “I Want Somebody To Love.” We immediately hear the benefits of the third horn voice in the intro of “When I’m Blue.” The first four bars of the horn chorale are in 3/4 time—no pulse from the rhythm section, but the phrasing suggests a waltz—with a surprise 4/4 figure leading to a walk-up by the tuba into the tune.
The gents lay out the verse and our two reeds play the lovely pop melody of the chorus in homophonic harmony. Brunies solos, sounding a bit more like Bix than before; the only weak spot in his ride is quoting “Five Foot Two” during the second half of the bridge.
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