The Halfway House Orchestra

78er from Okeh Records of the Halfway House Orchestra: "Pussy Cat Rag", recorded January 22, 1925

The Halfway House Orchestra was an American jazz band specializing in New Orleans jazz . It existed from 1919 to 1928.

Band history

The Halfway House Orchestra was one of the first bands of the New Orleans Jazz era and one of the few bands that made recordings during this period. The founder of this house band of the Halfway House club was the cornetist Albert "Abbie" Brunies (1900–1978), who came from a famous New Orleans family of musicians; he directed the orchestra from 1919 to around 1928. In 1925, the first recordings were made for the Okeh Records label . Other musicians who played in this formation were also members of the New Orleans Rhythm Kings such as Charlie Cordella , Mickey Marcour , Leon Rappolo , Bill Eastwood , Joe Loyacano and Leo Adde . In 1928 further recordings were made for Columbia , in which the clarinetist Sidney Arodin appeared as a soloist.

Discographic notes

• The Halfway House Orchestra: The Complete Recordings in Chronological Order (Jazz Oracle, 1925–1928)

literature

• Richard Cook , Brian Morton : The Penguin Guide of Jazz on CD . 6th edition. Penguin, London 2002, ISBN 0-14-051521-6 .

Web links

• Portrait and discography at redhotjazz.com
• Albert Brunies in the All Music Guide

Remarks

1. ↑ The name "Halfway" referred to the middle of the route between the city of New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain .