HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Allan Reuss

Birth of Swing Jazz: Allan Reuss

Allan Reuss

Born on 15 June 1915 in North Hollywood, Allan Reuss began studying guitar under George Van Eps in 1933. Though largely a rhythm guitarist, Reuss did more than accompany the beat, being generally employed to provide the rhythmic drive to which bands attuned themselves. He replaced Van Eps on his first recordings in Benny Goodman's band in New York City on April 19, 1935. Those titles for were 'Japanese Sandman' / 'Always' (Victor 25024) and 'You're a Heavenly Thing' / 'Restless' (Victor 25021). Reuss' first solo measures were recorded with Goodman in 1935 ('If I Could Be With You' and 'Rosetta'). Be as may, as Reuss was a backup sessions player he is less featured on titles below (like 'Pinkin' for Patsy') than that this page is a brief journey through swing jazz from his perspective.

'Restless' Allan Reuss (rhythm guitar) w Benny Goodman (clarinet) and His Orchestra

3rd title of Reuss's 1st session

19 April 1935 in NYC Matrix 89568-1 Victor 25021

Trumpet: Nate Kazebier Trombone: Jack Teagarden

Vocal: Helen Ward Arrangement: Sped Murphy

Composition: Sam Coslow / Tom Satterfield

'Always' Allan Reuss (rhythm guitar) w Benny Goodman (clarinet) and His Orchestra

4th and final title of Reuss's 1st session

19 April 1935 in NYC Matrix 89569-1 Victor 25024

Trumpet: Nate Kazebier Trombone: Jack Teagarden

Arrangement: Horace Henderson

Composition: Irving Berlin

With Reuss nearing 400 sessions in Tom Lord's discography, it is here needful to highlight only a few: Jack Teagarden is an apt place to start. Teagarden was in the band when Reuss first recorded with Goodman and they would join one another often with the same. In the latter thirties they both recorded frequently with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, Reuss later to back Teagarden's orchestra heavily.

Among Reuss's many towering associates was drummer, Gene Krupa. They first recorded together per Lord in Goodman's Rhythm Makers on June 6, 1935, a long list of Thesaurus transcriptions leading off with 'Makin' Whoopee'. Reuss and Krupa would work side by side in Goodman's band for the next couple of decades.

Teddy Wilson was another giant name in Reuss' early career, Reuss first performing with Wilson in Goodman's band in 1936. Their first session together in Lord was with the Goodman Trio on April 24, 1936 in Chicago, recording 'China Boy', 'More Than You Know' and 'All My Life'. Gene Krupa and Helen Ward were also in on that date. Later that year Reuss backed Wilson's own orchestra in Los Angeles on August 24, 'You Came to My Rescue' the lead track among four. Lionel Hampton was in on that date as well. Reuss would see a lot of Wilson's operation and record with him frequently into the forties.

'Pennies from Heaven' Allan Reuss (rhythm guitar) w Teddy Wison (piano) and His Orchestra

19 Nov 1936 in NYC Matrix B20290-1 Brunswick 7789 / Columbia C3L21

Trumpet: Jonah Jones Clarinet: Benny Goodman as John Jackson

Tenor sax: Ben Webster Bass: John Kirby

Drums: Cozy Cole Vocal: Billy Holiday

Music: Arthur Johnston Lyrics: Johnny Burke For the 1936 film 'Pennies from Heaven'

Lionel Hampton was another big figure in Reuss' early career, first performing with Hampton in Goodman's band in 1936. Their initial session together per Lord was in Hollywood in August, yielding 'St. Louis Blues', 'Love Me Or Leave Me' and 'Bugle Call Rag'. Wilson was also in on that date. They recorded with Goodman often, upon which Reuss would back Hampton's band as well. His first session with Hampton per Lord was in New York City on February 8, 1937, recording two takes of 'My Last Affair' with three others. Krupa was in on that date as well. Hampton and Reuss co-wrote 'Shufflin' at the Hollywood' which they later recorded in 1939.

Backing up a touch, come Billie Holiday in October 1936 to record, with both Wilson and Krupa, 'Easy to Love', 'With Thee I Swing' and 'The Way You Look Tonight'. Reuss would also lay tracks with Holiday's orchestra on January 12, of 1937, two takes of 'I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm' among three others. Harry James had invaded his life only days earlier, James first recording with Reuss in Goodman's orchestra on January 6, a radio broadcast from New York City to London consisting of 'Body and Soul', 'Dinah' and 'Stompin' at the Savoy'. James and Reuss saw a lot of sessions together with Goodman, also recording with Wilson's orchestra before Reuss' first session with James' orchestra on May 25, 1944, 'Jiggers' the lead title of the AFRS 'One Night Stand' radio series that was #246. From that point onward Reuss backed James' heavily into the sixties.

'Ring Dem Bells' Allan Reuss (rhythm guitar) w Lionel Hampton (vibes) and his All Stars

18 Jan 1938 in NYC Matrix 018337-1 Victor

Trumpet: Cootie Williams Alto sax: Johnny Hodges

Baritone sax: Edgar Sampson Piano: Jess Stacy

Bass: Billy Taylor Drums: Sonny Greer

Composition: Duke Ellington / Irving Mills

Reuss had his first session with Paul Whiteman per the latter's Swingin Strings on November 15, 1938: 'Japanese Sandman', "Ragging the Scale', "Lady Be Good' and 'Liza'. Reuss would stick with Whiteman into 1939, the year Glenn Miller moved into his life per the Meadowbrook radio broadcast in Cedar Grove, New Jersey, for WOR Radio: 'Sold American', 'Please Come Out of Your Dream' and 'Poinciana'. Jimmy Dorsey featured in 1942, Red Nichols in 1958 and 1959.

'Pickin' for Patsy' Allan Reuss (guitar) w the Jack Teagarden Band

5 May 1939 in NYC Matrix WB24484-A Brunswick 8401

Composition: Teagarden / Reuss

'I Never Knew' Allan Reuss (acoustic guitar) w Peck's Bad Boys

18 Jan 1938 in NYC Matrix 018337-1 Victor

Electric guitar: Mike Widmer Steel guitar: Jimmy Smith

Bass: Leonard Corsale

Composition: Ted Fiorito

'Stardust' Allan Reuss (rhythm guitar) w Coleman Hawkins (sax) and his Orchestra

9 March 1945 in NYC Matrix 575 Capitol 15854

Trumpet: Howard McGhee Bass: Oscar Pettiford Drums: Denzil Best

Music: Hoagy Carmichael 1927 Lyrics: Mitchell Parish 1929

'Someone to Watch Over Me' Allan Reuss (rhythm guitar) w Coleman Hawkins (sax) and his Orchestra

9 March 1945 in NYC Matrix 595 Capitol 15853

Trumpet: Howard McGhee Bass: Leonard Corsale Drums: Denzil Best

Composition: Gershwin Brothers 1926

'Bye Bye Blues' Allan Reuss (rhythm guitar) w the Arnold Ross (piano) Quintet

April 1946 in Los Angeles Take 3 on matrix HL147-4 Keynote K648

Alto sax: Benny Carter Bass: Artie Bernstein Drums: Nick Fatool

Composition: Fred Hamm / Dave Bennett / Bert Lown / Chauncey Gray 1926

'Eccentric' Allan Reuss (rhythm guitar) w Red Nichols (cornet) and His Five Pennies

31 March 1959 in Los Angeles Take 3 on matrix HL147-4 Keynote K648

Trumpet: Manny Klein (cornet) / Bob Goodrich

Trombone: Moe Schneider / Pete Beilman

Clarinet: Bill Wood C melody sax: Jackie Coon

Bass sax: Joe Rushton

Other sax or clarinet: Wayne Songer / Heinie Beau

Piano: Bobby Hammack Bass: Morty Corb Drums: Rollie Culver

Composition: J. Russel Robinson

'Zorba' Allan Reuss

1968 World Pacific 77900

Composition: John Candor / Fred Ebb

Having lived in Los Angeles since 1945, Reuss didn't do quite as much recording in the sixties as he used. He supported George Burns on a couple of albums in the mid sixties before Lord loses track of him after one last session toward 'Patty Weaver Sings 'As Time Goes By'' in 1976. Reuss died on 4 June 1988 in North Hollywood,

Sources & References for Allan Reuss:

Eugene Chadbourne (All Music)

Keep It Swinging

VF History (notes)

Wikipedia

Audio of Reuss: Internet Archive YouTube

Recordings by Reuss: Catalogs: Discogs RYM

Only-known name recordings (Zorba / La Mirada / World Pacific 77900 / 1968): 45 Cat Discogs

Recordings by Reuss: Compilations: Music Brainz

Recordings by Reuss: Sessionographies:

DAHR (1935-65)

Tom Lord (393 sessions 1935-76)