Swan Records (jazz label)
Swan Records (aka Swan Recording Co. Inc.) was an American record company and label that was founded in 1946 and closed the same year. Sometime before 1959, Swan went out of business. In 1950, Mercury acquired 16 masters once owned by Swan, all being of Phil Napoleon.[1] In 1946, Swan listed its address at 1600 Broadway, Room 1003, New York, New York.
History
The Jazz Discography by Tom Lord lists 18 recording sessions that took place from January to April 1946. Les Schriber, Sr., who had founded Black & White Records in 1943 and sold it in 1945, went to work for Swan, but left sometime around October 1946.[2] Sometime around November 1946, Swan appointed Jesse J. Trilling as Secretary-Treasurer of Swan.[3]
Artists
Emperors of Jazz
- Tony Spargo (1897–1969) (director)
- Phil Napoleon (1901–1900) (trumpet)
- Lou McGarity (1917–1971) (trombone)
- Joe Dixon (1917–1998)
- Peanuts Hucko (1918–2003) (clarinet)
- Frank Signorelli (1901–1975) (piano)
- Chuck Wayne (1923–1997) (guitar)
- Felix Giobbe (double bass)
Sal Franzella Quintet
- Sal Franzella (de) (1915–1968) Quintet
- Tony Mottola (1918–2004) (guitar)
- Buddy Weed (1918–1997) (piano)
Napoleon Emperors
- Phil Napoleon (1901–1900) (trumpet)
- Vernon Brown (1907–1979) (trombone)
- Sal Franzella (de) (1915–1968) (clarinet)
- Frank Signorelli (1901–1975) (piano)
- Chuck Wayne (1923–1997) (guitar)
- Felix Giobbe (1914–1985) (double bass)
- Tony Spargo (1897–1969) (drums)
Don Redman and His Orchestra
- Hot Lips Page (1908–1954) (trumpet)
- Dick Vance (1915–1985) (trumpet)
- Harold Johnson (1918–1978) (trumpet)
- Henry Glover (1921–1991) (trumpet)
- Henderson Chambers (1908–1967) (trombone)
- Don Redman (1900–1964) (alto saxophone)
- Burnie Peacock (alto saxophone)
- Don Byas (1912–1972) (tenor saxophone)
- Bob Wyatt (piano)
- Cozy Cole (1909–1981) (drums)
Rhythmaires
- Ben Roberson (piano)
- Aaron Smith (guitar)
- George Duvivier (1920–1985) (double bass)[4]
Selected extant discography
Don Redman and His Orchestra
- 7501, Studio recording, January 1, 1946, New York City
- 7502, Studio recording, January 1, 1946, New York City
Rhythmaires
- 7503
- Side A: "On The Level"
- Side B: "Russian Lullaby"
- 7504
- Side A: "Say, Old Man, Watcha Ya Doin'?"
- Side B: "I Got Rhythm"
- 7505
- Side A: "Sweet Lorraine"
- Side B: "Just Jammin'"
Emperors of Jazz
- 7506
- 7507 (1946)
- 7508 (1946)
- 7509 (1946)
Phil Napoleon's Emperors
- 7510 (1946)
- Side A: "I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate"
- Side B: "I'll Never Be The Same"
See also
- Les Schriber, Sr. of Black & White Records
- List of record labels
References
- ^ "Merc Takes Swan Disks for LP's," Billboard, July 8, 1950, pg. 13
- ^ "Music – As Written: New York," Billboard, October 12, 1946, pg. 34
- ^ "Music – As Written: New York," Billboard, November 30, 1946, pg. 32
- ^ Bassically Speaking: An Oral History of George Duvivier, by Edward Berger, Institute of Jazz Studies (1993), pps. 238 & 462; OCLC 28587065
- ^ a b "Don Byas — Part 1:" (of 2) "American Recordings 1938–1946," by Cornelis Jan "Kees" Hazevoet, PhD, (University of Lisbon), September 17, 2010; (second source: "Don Redman January 29, 1946," Discography J-Disk, Center for Jazz Studies at Columbia University)
- ^ Luck's In My Corner: The Life and Music of Hot Lips Page, by Todd Bryant Weeks, Routledge (2008); OCLC 241305198