Jazz History Quiz #169

December 13th, 2023

photo by William Gottlieb/Library of Congress

“Wild Bill” Davison at Condon’s; New York, 1946

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Among the most popular of Dixieland trumpeters, “Wild Bill” Davison drove the car involved in the 1932 auto accident that killed the young Chicago clarinetist and alto saxophonist Frankie Teshemacher, who was a member of the Austin High School Gang, a group of young, white musicians from Chicago’s West Side who rose to prominence as pioneers of the Chicago Style in the 1920s, which was modeled on a faster version of New Orleans jazz.

The accident impacted Davison greatly. After spending the 1930’s playing in Milwaukee, he re-emerged in the early 1940s in New York, making notable recordings for Commodore Records before ultimately becoming a major player in Eddie Condon’s bands, playing at Condon’s Greenwich Village club on a nightly basis.

Scott Yanow of All Music describes Davison as having “a colorful and emotional style that ranged from sarcasm to sentimentality with plenty of growls and shakes. His unexpected placement of high notes was a highlight of his solos and his strong personality put him far ahead of the competition.” His nickname of “Wild Bill” reflected a reputation for heavy drinking and womanizing in his younger years.

Click here to visit Davison’s Wikipedia page

Click here to visit the All Music Guide’s page on Davison

Listen to the 1943 recording of “That’s a Plenty,” with Davison on trumpet [Universal Music Group]

Watch a 1964 filmed performance of Davison playing “Blue and Broken Hearted,” with Edmund Hall (clarinet); Cutty Cutshall (trombone); Hank Duncan (piano); Al Hall (bass); and George Wettling (drums)