Durham’s arrangement of The Blue Room – 2020

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There have only been a handful of jazz artists who are equally skilled on brass and reed instruments.

One thinks of Benny Carter, Ira Sullivan, Glenn Zottola, Scott Robinson, and just a few others.

Andy Schumm is best-known as a hot cornetist who is inspired by Bix Beiderbecke but, as this remarkable one-man band version of Eddie Durham’s classic arrangement of “The Blue Room” shows, calling him just a great cornetist does not begin to describe his talents.

Except for the sousaphone (which is played by Dave Bock), Schumm plays all of the instruments and recreates the 1932 Bennie Moten recording of “The Blue Room” through overdubbing.

He transcribed the arrangement and recorded himself on three trumpets, two trombones and four saxophones plus rhythm guitar, piano and drums; 12 parts in all.

While he performs the same arrangement as Moten, the solos are new with Schumm taking spots on trumpet (where his playing here is a cross between Hot Lips Page and Buck Clayton), tenor, clarinet, and piano.

This is a remarkable and very musical performance by Andy Schumm, sounding very much like an early swing band from 1932.

-Scott Yanow
 

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