Mezz Mezzrow

Mezz Mezzrow

Milton Mesirow (November 9, 1899 – August 5, 1972), better known as Mezz Mezzrow, was an American jazz clarinetist and saxophonist from Chicago, Illinois. He is remembered for organizing and financing recording sessions with Tommy Ladnier and Sidney Bechet. He recorded with Bechet as well and briefly acted as manager for Louis Armstrong. Mezzrow is equally known as a colorful character, as portrayed in his autobiography, Really the Blues (which takes its title from a Bechet composition), co-written with Bernard Wolfe and published in 1946.

Birth and Death Data: Born November 9, 1899 (Chicago), Died August 5, 1972 (Paris)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1946

Roles Represented in DAHR: clarinet, leader, composer, tenor saxophone, session supervisor, songwriter, C-melody saxophone, traps, arranger

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	BVE-48345	10-in.	2/8/1929	I'm gonna stomp Mr. Henry Lee	Eddie's Hot Shots	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, C-melody saxophone
Victor	BVE-48346	10-in.	2/8/1929	That's a serious thing	Eddie's Hot Shots	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter, instrumentalist, C-melody saxophone
Victor	BS-82392	10-in.	5/7/1934	Old fashioned love	Mezz Mezzrow Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	leader
Victor	BS-82393	10-in.	5/7/1934	Apologies	Mezz Mezzrow Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	composer, leader
Victor	BS-82394	10-in.	5/7/1934	Sendin' the vipers	Mezz Mezzrow Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	leader, composer
Victor	BS-82395	10-in.	5/7/1934	35th and Calumet	Mezz Mezzrow Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	leader, songwriter
Victor	BS-84417	10-in.	9/28/1934	Serenade for a wealthy widow	Fats Waller and his Rhythm	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and talk	instrumentalist, clarinet
Victor	BS-84418	10-in.	9/28/1934	How can you face me?	Fats Waller and his Rhythm	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and talk	instrumentalist, clarinet
Victor	BS-84419	10-in.	9/28/1934	Sweetie pie	Fats Waller and his Rhythm	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, clarinet
Victor	BS-84420	10-in.	9/28/1934	Mandy	Fats Waller and his Rhythm	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, clarinet
Victor	BS-84421	10-in.	9/28/1934	Let's pretend there's a moon	Fats Waller and his Rhythm	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, clarinet
Victor	BS-84422	10-in.	9/28/1934	You're not the only oyster In the stew	Fats Waller and his Rhythm	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, clarinet
Victor	BS-99772	10-in.	3/12/1936	A melody from the sky	Mezz Mezzrow Swing Band ; Lucille Steward	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	leader
Victor	BS-99773	10-in.	3/12/1936	Lost	Mezz Mezzrow Swing Band	Jazz/dance band (take 1); with female vocal solo (take 2)	leader
Victor	BS-99774	10-in.	3/12/1936	Mutiny in the parlor	Mezz Mezzrow Swing Band	Jazz/dance band	leader
Victor	BS-99775	10-in.	3/12/1936	The panic is on	Mezz Mezzrow Swing Band	Jazz/dance band	leader
Victor	BS-99776	10-in.	3/12/1936	I'se a-muggin'	Mezz Mezzrow Swing Band ; Willie Smith	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal ensemble	leader
Victor	BS-99777	10-in.	3/12/1936	I'se a-muggin'	Mezz Mezzrow Swing Band ; Willie Smith	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal ensemble	leader
Victor	BS-07792	10-in.	4/14/1937	Buzzin' 'round with the bee	Lionel Hampton Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, clarinet
Victor	BS-07793	10-in.	4/14/1937	Whoa babe	Lionel Hampton Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, clarinet
Victor	BS-07794	10-in.	4/14/1937	Stompology	Lionel Hampton Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, clarinet
Victor	BS-010569	10-in.	6/14/1937	Blues in disguise	Mezz Mezzrow Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	leader, composer
Victor	BS-010570	10-in.	6/14/1937	That is how I feel today	Mezz Mezzrow Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	leader, composer
Victor	BS-010571	10-in.	6/14/1937	Hot Club stomp	Mezz Mezzrow Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	leader, instrumentalist, clarinet, composer
Victor	BS-010572	10-in.	6/14/1937	The swing session's called to order	Mezz Mezzrow Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	leader, instrumentalist, clarinet
Victor	BS-028988	10-in.	11/21/1938	Revolutionary blues	Mezz Mezzrow Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, clarinet, composer, leader
Victor	BS-028989	10-in.	11/21/1938	Comin' on with the come on	Mezz Mezzrow Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	composer, leader, instrumentalist, clarinet
Victor	BS-028990	10-in.	11/21/1938	Comin' on with the come on	Mezz Mezzrow Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	composer, leader, instrumentalist, clarinet
Victor	BS-028991	10-in.	11/21/1938	Swingin' for "Mezz"	Mezz Mezzrow Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	composer, leader, instrumentalist, clarinet
Victor	BS-030318	10-in.	11/28/1938	Ja-da	Tommy Ladnier Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Victor	BS-030319	10-in.	11/28/1938	Really the blues	Tommy Ladnier Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	composer, instrumentalist, clarinet
Victor	BS-030320	10-in.	11/28/1938	When you and I were young, Maggie	Tommy Ladnier Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	arranger, instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Victor	BS-030321	10-in.	11/28/1938	Weary blues	Tommy Ladnier Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, clarinet
Victor	BS-030450	10-in.	12/19/1938	Royal Garden blues	Mezzrow-Ladnier Quintet	Jazz/dance band	leader, instrumentalist, clarinet
Victor	BS-030451	10-in.	12/19/1938	Everybody loves my baby	Mezzrow-Ladnier Quintet	Jazz/dance band	leader, instrumentalist, clarinet
Victor	BS-030452	10-in.	12/19/1938	Ain't gonna give nobody none of my jelly-roll	Mezzrow-Ladnier Quintet	Jazz/dance band	leader, instrumentalist, clarinet
Victor	BS-030453	10-in.	12/19/1938	If you see me comin'	Teddy Bunn ; Mezzrow-Ladnier Quintet	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	leader, instrumentalist, clarinet, songwriter
Victor	BS-030454	10-in.	12/19/1938	Gettin' together	Mezzrow-Ladnier Quintet	Jazz/dance band	leader, instrumentalist, clarinet, composer
Victor	BS-031460	10-in.	1/13/1939	Rosetta	Frankie Newton Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, clarinet
Victor	BS-031461	10-in.	1/13/1939	Minor jive	Frankie Newton Orchestra ; Hugues Panassié	Jazz/dance band	composer, instrumentalist, clarinet
Victor	BS-031462	10-in.	1/13/1939	The world is waiting for the sunrise	Frankie Newton Orchestra ; Hugues Panassié	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, clarinet
Victor	BS-031463	10-in.	1/13/1939	Who?	Frankie Newton Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, clarinet
Victor	BS-031464	10-in.	1/13/1939	The blues my baby gave to me	Frankie Newton Orchestra ; Hugues Panassié	Jazz/dance band	composer, instrumentalist, clarinet
Victor	BS-031465	10-in.	1/13/1939	Romping (Romping at Victor)	Frankie Newton Orchestra ; Hugues Panassié	Jazz/dance band	composer, instrumentalist, clarinet
Victor	D6VB-2792	10-in.	9/5/1946	Epistrophy	52nd Street Boys ; Kenny Clarke	Jazz/dance ensemble	session supervisor
Victor	D6VB-2795	10-in.	9/5/1946	Royal roost	52nd Street Boys ; Kenny Clarke	Jazz/dance ensemble	session supervisor
OKeh	W82082	10-in.	12/16/1927	Nobody's sweetheart	McKenzie and Condon's Chicagoans	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, traps
OKeh	W82083	10-in.	12/16/1927	Liza	McKenzie and Condon's Chicagoans	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, traps
Decca	64970	10-in.	2/1/1939	I'm tired of fattenin' frogs for snakes	Rosetta Crawford		instrumentalist, clarinet
Decca	64971	10-in.	2/1/1939	Stop it Joe	Rosetta Crawford		instrumentalist, clarinet
Decca	64972	10-in.	2/1/1939	My man jumped salty on me	Rosetta Crawford		instrumentalist, clarinet
Decca	64973	10-in.	2/1/1939	Double crossin' Papa	Rosetta Crawford		instrumentalist, clarinet

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Mezzrow, Mezz," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105289.

Mezzrow, Mezz. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105289.

"Mezzrow, Mezz." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.