Adrian Rollini - Swing Low (2024)

Here is a great portrait of the master of the bass saxophone, Adrian Rollini (1904-1956), giving a hugely enjoyable cross-section of his many classic jazz recordings from the 20s and 30s. Rollini was a prodigious talent (he gave a Chopin concert at the age of four!); he became a composer, arranger, bandleader and a multi-instrumentalist playing vibraphone, goofus, hot fountain pen, cello and piano – but he is famous as the man who put the huge bass saxophone on the map as a jazz instrument.

“Swing Low” is a showcase for Rollini’s unique talents. The first 16 tracks show him as a soloist with various top bands of the 20s and 30s that comprised the cream of white jazz greats: The California Ramblers (with whom he established his reputation), Red Nichols’ Five Pennies, Miff Mole’s Molers, Joe Venuti’s Blue Four, Bix Beiderbecke’s Gang and The Dorsey Brothers’ Orchestra. In the course of these, Rollini is heard on most of the instruments mentioned, including goofus and hot fountain pen, but especially on his uniquely uncumbersome-sounding brass monster sax. He was also a member of Spanish-Filipino pianist Fred Elizalde’s band (Dixie, Arkansas Blues).

From late 1933 Rollini led his own groups, and the final 10 tracks are from this source, latterly with his vibes becoming more prominent (played with four mallets). The band boasted such stars as Benny Goodman, Bunny Berigan, Wingy Manone, Jack Teagarden (the wonderful Davenport Blues), and cornettist Bobby Hackett, sounding sublime on the final two quintet tracks.