RED MCKENZIE

Red McKenzie was virtually jazz's only comb player, putting tissue paper on a comb and making sounds on his "instrument" similar to a kazoo. McKenzie was quite effective playing his "ax," often more so than when he sang sentimental ballads. In 1924, he formed the Mound City Blue Blowers, a trio with Jack Bland on banjo or guitar and Dick Slevin on kazoo. The group was quite popular for a few years, recording a dozen titles (two with guest Frankie Trumbauer and the last six with Eddie Lang making the group a quartet) during 1924-1925. McKenzie also recorded under his own name (as leader of the Candy Kids, the exact same quartet) during 1924-1925. The Blue Blowers name was used for two classic titles ("Hello Lola" and "One Hour") in 1929, featuring Coleman Hawkins, Pee Wee Russell, and Glenn Miller, along with the leader's comb; further Blue Blowers titles were read more...