Early Baritone: A Followup

Bandleader, arranger and reed soloist Bill Kirchner recommended a followup to the baritone saxophone extravaganza that Ralph Miriello allowed Rifftides to link to a couple of days ago. Bill describes it as…

“…perhaps the first extended jazz baritone solo on record: ‘I Got Rhythm,’ recorded by the Casa Loma Orchestra in December 1933. The solo, a full two choruses, was played by Clarence Hutchenrider, who was perhaps best known as the band’s clarinet star. The outstanding arrangement is by Gene Gifford.”

In Lost Chords, his invaluable study of early jazz, Richard M. Sudhalter refers to Hutchenrider’s solo as, “two supple (and rather clarinet-like) choruses.” (Hutchenrider is pictured, left, in his later years—DR)