Zez Confrey

Edward Elzear "Zez" Confrey (3 April 1895 – 22 November 1971) was an American composer and performer of novelty piano and jazz music. His most noted works were "Kitten on the Keys" and "Dizzy Fingers." Studying at the Chicago Musical College and becoming enthralled by French impressionists played a critical role in how he composed and performed music.

Birth and Death Data: Born April 3, 1895 (Peru), Died November 22, 1971 (Lakewood Township)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1921 - 1947

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, piano, leader, lyricist, songwriter, arranger

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 51-75 of 95 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 80337 10-in. 5/5/1922 Stumbling Frank Crumit Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Columbia 80480 10-in. 7/29/1922 Kitten on the keys Jack Austin ; Frank E. Banta Piano duet composer  
Columbia 80484 10-in. 7/31/1922 Tricks Eddie Elkins' Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 80664 10-in. 11/10/1922 Dumbell Happy Six Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 80700 10-in. 12/4/1922 You tell 'em ivories Frank Westphal Piano solo composer  
Columbia 80707 10-in. 12/6/1922 Greenwich witch Frank Westphal Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 80710 10-in. 12/7/1922 Coaxing the piano Frank Westphal Piano solo composer  
Columbia W140979 10-in. 9/17/1925 Dizzy fingers Art Kahn Piano solo composer  
Columbia W141653 10-in. 2/9/1926 Dizzy fingers Art Kahn Piano solo composer  
Columbia W144452 10-in. 7/9/1927 Jay walk Art Kahn Piano solo composer  
Columbia 145504 10-in. 1/11/1928 Jack in the box Arthur Schutt Piano solo composer  
Columbia W152542 10-in. 10/27/1933 Sittin' on a log (Pettin' my dog) Fran Frey and his Orchestra [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
OKeh S-70583 10-in. Apr. 1922 Kitten on the keys Larry Briers ; Okeh Trio ; Harry Reser Instrumental trio composer  
OKeh S-70639 10-in. Apr. 1922 Stumbling Hotel Pennsylvania Orchestra ; Vincent Lopez Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh S-70811 10-in. Aug. 1922 Tricks Hotel Pennsylvania Orchestra ; Vincent Lopez Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh S-71082 10-in. Dec. 1922 Dumbell Hotel Pennsylvania Orchestra ; Vincent Lopez Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh S-72024 10-in. 11/9/1923 Nickel in the slot Willie Eckstein Piano solo composer  
OKeh S-72379 10-in. Mar. 1924 Dizzy fingers Willie Eckstein Piano solo composer  
Brunswick 5061 10-in. approximately Feb. 1921 Kitten on the keys Zez Confrey Piano solo composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick 5092 10-in. approximately Feb. 1921 My pet Zez Confrey Piano solo composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick 5601 10-in. approximately May 1921 Poor buttermilk Zez Confrey Piano solo composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick 5813 10-in. approximately June 1921 You tell 'em, ivories Zez Confrey Piano solo composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick 5830 10-in. approximately June 1921 You tell 'em, ivories Zez Confrey Piano solo composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick 6219 10-in. approximately Aug. 1921 Greenwich witch Zez Confrey Piano solo instrumentalist, piano, composer  
Brunswick 7920 10-in. approximately Apr. 1922 Stumbling Benny Krueger’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
(Results 51-75 of 95 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Confrey, Zez," accessed April 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104002.

Confrey, Zez. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104002.

"Confrey, Zez." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104002

External Sources

Wikipedia: Zez Confrey

Discogs: Zez Confrey

Allmusic: Zez Confrey

Grove: Zez Confrey

IMSLP: Zez Confrey

IMDb: Zez Confrey

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Confrey, Zez, 1895-1971 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n82216205

Wikidata: Zez Confrey - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q2263974

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/10042841

MusicBrainz: Zez Confrey - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/29fa57fe-26de-4249-9e85-5d41f760b252

FAST: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/104603

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