The Herb Wiedoeft/Jesse Stafford Orchestra 1922-1930
Herb Weidoeft's (sic) Famous Orchestra
PERSONNEL
Herb Wiedoeft (crn ldr); Jesse Stafford (tmb bari); Gene Rose and poss: Larry Abbott, Fred Bibesheimer (reeds); Vincent Rose (pno); Jose Secudo (bjo); Gay Wiedoeft (brass bs); Ad Wiedoeft (drms);
Herb Wiedoeft's Cinderella Roof Orchestra
TRACKS
Brunswick Label (August 1923 - January 1928)
Cinderella Blues * Oh! Peter * Chimes Blues * Stack O' Lee Blues * Beale Street Blues * Hot Stuff * Maple Leaf Rag * Hard-Hearted Hannah * Roamin' Around * He's Just A Horn-Tootin' Fool * Everything Is Hotsy Totsy Now * Deep Elm * Sad Moments * Maybe You'll Be The One Who'll Be The One To Care
PERSONEL
As per the Famous Orchestra but Joseph Nemoli (crn) added and, unknowns replace Larry Abbott and Vincent Rose
Jesse Stafford and his Orchestra (formerly Herb Wiedoeft's Orchestra)
TRACKS
Brunswick Label (July 1928 - May 1930)
Shine * Cinderella Blues * Glorianna * Doin' The Racoon * I'm Sailing On A Sunbeam (two takes)* Chinnin' And Chattin' With May (two takes)
PERSONNEL
Joseph Nemoli (crn); Jesse Stafford (tmb ldr); Clyde Lucas (tmb); Gene Rose, Fred Bibesheimer, another (reeds), unknown (pno); Jose Secudo (bjo); Gay Wiedoeft (str bs); Ad Wiedoeft (drms)
CBC 1.079 : Total time - 74.10 minutes : Timeless Historical
This Timeless Historical, sun shines three steps of progression up ‘til the year before the band in 1931 makes its final recording.
Born on 22 November 1886 of German parentage, Herbert Arthur ‘Herb’ Wiedoeft migrated to the USA and settled in Los Angeles, California with his parents who begat him a sister and at least four brothers, all, taking up a family musical career under the leadership of the father. It was prior to 1915 when Herb may have had his first orchestra.
The legendary Nordskog gramophone record label was established in 1921, it being the first of its kind on the Pacific Ocean Coast of America. The first orchestra featured was the Herb Weidoeft (sic) Famous Orchestra one on numbers Virginia Blues and Fig Leaf, about which there is invaluable information by Ate van Delden in his 20 paged booklet.
One will be aware of the variance in the sound of those two first and second tracks in contrast to the other twenty-two, and the knowledgeable who will obviously note the worthiness of the skills of Hans Eekhoff for applying here his audio restoration craft to very good effect.
Virginia Blues has its label shown on the album cover. The tune includes quotes to Carry Me Back To Old Virginny composer Isham Jones, a 1930s number, which both Louis Armstrong and Benny Carter recorded. Perhaps the Isham Jones one of which I’m not aware, and also, which one was recorded first can be heard in the CBC 1-067 with his Orchestra on the Timeless Records album.
Fig Leaf is in effect recognised as Scott Joplin’s 1899 Maple Leaf Rag, which Wiedoeft recorded in St. Louis on 21 October - two years later and, is on this album with inventive self-introductory arrangements by the Cinderella Roof Orchestra.
In 1923 or earlier, Herb got a contract to play the Cinderella Roof Ballroom, Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles, and as a result, the ballroom name became included into the new title of Wiedoeft orchestra.
Cinderella Blues, which Herb Wiedoeft had a hand in composing, became a hit tune. An interesting comparison is to listen to this Brunswick 1923 San Francisco version, with the one by Paul Biese recorded for Victor which is on Timeless - Early Chicago Jazz 1923-1928 Vol 2 CBC 1.076, and the 1928 Los Angeles version here with the Wiedoeft Orchestra led by trombonist Jesse Stafford.
Chimes Blues is of there own creation, featuring the church bells on piano by an unknown pianist. The rest of the Cinderella Roof tunes show the development through the jazz age period covering some great stuff on Hot Stuff to the swing movement as featured on Sad Moments notating the wonderful Wiedoeft musical talents in abundances.
With some added personnel under Jesse Stafford the music takes on a different perspective with jazz music being hit by an oncoming depression and the Wall Street collapse looming, we get lifted to great heights listening to the likes of Shine with its joyous dance band tempo, and the Clyde Lucas vocals on Doin’ The Raccoon a well known popular dance of the time. But for me Glorianna where a Charleston can be stomped takes the biscuit. What will be yours?
The characterised vocals make for the ethos of this album. Inter alia, sung by Lawrence Grey on the first take of I’m Sailing On A Sunbeam and, the trio members of the band sing on the first take of Chinnin’ And Chattin’ With May, whereupon there are attractive solos by the oboe, bassoon, bass clarinet reed players and the musician on the piccolo - all of them taking on a jazz tinge.
The two, second takes - on both are without vocals that were earmarked for the "foreign" markets and were found in South America - nowhere else. Both come with a slushy, crackling, background that brings nostalgia to me to what is otherwise a near perfect sound - a most enjoyable one.
Sadly, Herb Wiedoeft met with an early death at the age of 42 when he was driving to a long-distance engagement in May 1928, by his car swerving, overturning itself off the road near Ashland in thick fog. His trombonist Jesse Stafford took over as leader of the orchestra until 1937 when he died of a heart attack, bringing down the final curtain on this very fine Wiedoeft band.
A nostalgic keepsake.
Ian King
Kings Jazz Review
Saturday the 13th of September 2003