Paul Howard (musician)
Encyclopedia
Paul Leroy "Ox Blood" Howard (September 20, 1895, Steubenville, Ohio
– February 18, 1980, Los Angeles
) was an American jazz
saxophonist and clarinetist.
Howard began on cornet
, and also played oboe, bassoon, flute, and piano, but concentrated on tenor sax. After moving to Los Angeles
in 1911, he got early professional experience with Wood Wilson's Syncopators in 1916, Satchel McVea's Howdy Band, and Harry Southard's Black and Tan Band. Howard played in the bands of both King Oliver and Jelly Roll Morton
when they toured California
. He first recorded with the Quality Four in 1922-23, then played with Sonny Clay
in 1925 before forming his own group, the Quality Serenaders, later that year. Among his sidemen were Lionel Hampton
(playing drums) and Lawrence Brown. They played at Sebastian's Cotton Club from 1927 to 1929 and recorded for Victor Records before disbanding in 1930, when Les Hite
picked up some of the members. Howard subsequently played with Ed Garland
, Freddie Washington
, Lionel Hampton
again in 1935, Eddie Barefield
(1936-37), Charlie Echols, and his own ensembles, including one that held a residence at Virginia's in Los Angeles from 1939 to 1953.
Howard's band participated in only 6 recording sessions, but all of them are first rate:
April 16, 1929, Hollywood
50830-1-2 Overnight Blues - Victor rejected
50831-1-2-3 Quality Shout - Victor rejected
April 28, 1929, Culver City
50868-1 The Ramble - Victor V-38068 and Bluebird B-5804
50869-2 Moonlight Blues - Victor V-38068
50870-2 Charlie's Idea - Victor V-38070 and Victor 22001
April 29, 1929, Culver City
50830-4 Overnight Blues - Victor V-38070 and Victor 22001
50831-5 Quality Shout - Victor V-38122
50877-1 Stuff - Victor V-38122 and Bluebird B-5804
October 21, 1929, Culver City
54477-1-2 Harlem - Victor rejected
54478-1-2 Cuttin' Up - Victor rejected
February 3, 1930, Culver City
54477-3 Harlem - Victor 23354
54478-3 Cuttin' Up - Victor 23420
54585-1 New Kinda Blues - Victor 22660
54586-2 California Swing - Victor 23354
June 25, 1930, Hollywood
54847-3 Burma Girl - Victor rejected (released on a Victor LPM-10117 LP)
54848-1 Gettin' Ready Blues - Victor 23420
Steubenville, Ohio
Steubenville is a city located along the Ohio River in Jefferson County, Ohio on the Ohio-West Virginia border in the United States. It is the political county seat of Jefferson County. It is also a principal city of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area...
– February 18, 1980, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
) was an American jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
saxophonist and clarinetist.
Howard began on cornet
Cornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
, and also played oboe, bassoon, flute, and piano, but concentrated on tenor sax. After moving to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1911, he got early professional experience with Wood Wilson's Syncopators in 1916, Satchel McVea's Howdy Band, and Harry Southard's Black and Tan Band. Howard played in the bands of both King Oliver and Jelly Roll Morton
Jelly Roll Morton
Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe , known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American ragtime and early jazz pianist, bandleader and composer....
when they toured California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He first recorded with the Quality Four in 1922-23, then played with Sonny Clay
Sonny Clay
William Rogers Campbell "Sonny" Clay was an American jazz pianist, drummer, and bandleader, who had an unusual impact on the development of Australian jazz....
in 1925 before forming his own group, the Quality Serenaders, later that year. Among his sidemen were Lionel Hampton
Lionel Hampton
Lionel Leo Hampton was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, bandleader and actor. Like Red Norvo, he was one of the first jazz vibraphone players. Hampton ranks among the great names in jazz history, having worked with a who's who of jazz musicians, from Benny Goodman and Buddy...
(playing drums) and Lawrence Brown. They played at Sebastian's Cotton Club from 1927 to 1929 and recorded for Victor Records before disbanding in 1930, when Les Hite
Les Hite
Les Hite was an American jazz bandleader.Hite attended the University of Illinois and played saxophone with family members in a band in the 1920s. Following this, he played with Detroit Shannon and then the Helen Dewey Show, but when this group disbanded abruptly, Hite relocated to Los Angeles...
picked up some of the members. Howard subsequently played with Ed Garland
Ed Garland
Edward Bertram Garland was a New Orleans jazz string bass player. He was commonly known as "Ed Garland", and sometimes "Montudie Garland" ....
, Freddie Washington
Freddie Washington
Freddie Washington was an American jazz pianist.Washington moved to California around the year 1918, where he joined Kid Ory's band in 1921. He recorded with Ory's band, and it is for his role in these sessions that he is primarily known. He led his own band in the 1920s and 1930s, in addition to...
, Lionel Hampton
Lionel Hampton
Lionel Leo Hampton was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, bandleader and actor. Like Red Norvo, he was one of the first jazz vibraphone players. Hampton ranks among the great names in jazz history, having worked with a who's who of jazz musicians, from Benny Goodman and Buddy...
again in 1935, Eddie Barefield
Eddie Barefield
Eddie Barefield was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist and arranger most noteworthy for his work with Bennie Moten, Fletcher Henderson, Don Redman, Coleman Hawkins, Sammy Price, Bernie Young, and Ben Webster...
(1936-37), Charlie Echols, and his own ensembles, including one that held a residence at Virginia's in Los Angeles from 1939 to 1953.
Howard's band participated in only 6 recording sessions, but all of them are first rate:
April 16, 1929, Hollywood
50830-1-2 Overnight Blues - Victor rejected
50831-1-2-3 Quality Shout - Victor rejected
April 28, 1929, Culver City
50868-1 The Ramble - Victor V-38068 and Bluebird B-5804
50869-2 Moonlight Blues - Victor V-38068
50870-2 Charlie's Idea - Victor V-38070 and Victor 22001
April 29, 1929, Culver City
50830-4 Overnight Blues - Victor V-38070 and Victor 22001
50831-5 Quality Shout - Victor V-38122
50877-1 Stuff - Victor V-38122 and Bluebird B-5804
October 21, 1929, Culver City
54477-1-2 Harlem - Victor rejected
54478-1-2 Cuttin' Up - Victor rejected
February 3, 1930, Culver City
54477-3 Harlem - Victor 23354
54478-3 Cuttin' Up - Victor 23420
54585-1 New Kinda Blues - Victor 22660
54586-2 California Swing - Victor 23354
June 25, 1930, Hollywood
54847-3 Burma Girl - Victor rejected (released on a Victor LPM-10117 LP)
54848-1 Gettin' Ready Blues - Victor 23420