Jimmie Lunceford—”Uptown Blues” (1939)

New York’s Harlem is located in North-Manhattan, in what you call “Uptown.” “Uptown Blues” is a fine composition by Mississippi-born Jimmy Lunceford, which he recorded with his orchestra in New York City on December 14, 1939. The soloist are alto saxophonist Willie Smith, who was working on building a reputation like Johnny Hodges and Benny Carter, and 20-year old trumpet player Snooky Young, who had just joined the band.

Jimmy Lunceford and his Orchestra: Paul Webster, Gerald Wilson and Snooky Young-trumpets; Trummy Young, Russell Bowles and Elmer Crumbley-trombones; Willy Smith and Ted Buckner-altos saxes; Joe Thomas and Dan Crissom-tenor saxes; amd Jock Carruthers-bariton sax. Lunceford’s five saxophone section had a sonority which Duke Ellington sax section would only achieve years later, even though the Duke's section had a greater number of star soloists.

Lunceford’s rhythm section was formed by pianist Edwin Wilcox, guitarist Al Norris, double bass player Mose Allen and drummer Jimmy Crawford.

James Melvin Lunceford (1902-1947), that Southern son of Ida and James Riley Lunceford, originally played alto saxophone before he became a full-time bandleader and composer. In July 1947, Jimmy Lunceford and his Orchestra would play a one-night engagement at River Park in Seaside, Oregon. Preceding that Lunceford, said he was not feeling well, but went to a local record store for an autograph session anyway. While in the music shop he was suddenly stricken and he collapsed. A few minutes after Jimmy was on his way to the hospital this “warm friend of humanity” -- as one obituary described him -- died in the ambulance, just one month after his 45th birthday.