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
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor | B-26259 | 10-in. | 3/20/1922 | Kitten on the keys | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, piano, composer, leader | |
| Victor | BVE-26259 | 10-in. | 6/3/1927 | Kitten on the keys | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader, composer | |
| Victor | B-26282 | 10-in. | 3/30/1922 | Stumbling | Paul Whiteman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Victor | B-26322 | 10-in. | 4/27/1922 | I love her, she loves me | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, piano, leader | |
| Victor | B-26490 | 10-in. | 5/25/1922 | Stumbling | Billy Murray | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | composer, lyricist | |
| Victor | B-26656 | 10-in. | 6/29/1922 | Are you playing fair? | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, piano, leader | |
| Victor | B-26657 | 10-in. | 6/29/1922 | Struttin' at the strutter's ball | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, piano, leader | |
| Victor | B-26705 | 10-in. | 7/25/1922 | Tricks | Paul Whiteman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Victor | B-26742 | 10-in. | 8/30/1922 | Zenda | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, piano, leader | |
| Victor | B-26743 | 10-in. | 8/30/1922 | I'm goin' to plant myself in my old plantation home | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, piano, leader | |
| Victor | B-26791 | 10-in. | 9/22/1922 | Cow bells | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, piano, leader | |
| Victor | B-26792 | 10-in. | 9/22/1922 | True blue Sam (The traveling man) | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader, instrumentalist, piano | |
| Victor | B-26955 | 10-in. | 10/13/1922 | All muddled up | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, piano, leader | |
| Victor | B-27133 | 10-in. | 11/10/1922 | Open your arms my Alabamy | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, piano, leader | |
| Victor | B-27134 | 10-in. | 11/10/1922 | The fuzzy wuzzy bird | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, piano, leader | |
| Victor | B-27259 | 10-in. | 12/26/1922 | Dumbell | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer, instrumentalist, piano, leader | |
| Victor | B-27260 | 10-in. | 12/26/1922 | When all your castles come tumbling down | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader, instrumentalist, piano | |
| Victor | B-27447 | 10-in. | 2/1/1923 | Some little someone | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, piano, leader | |
| Victor | B-27448 | 10-in. | 2/1/1923 | Sunny Jim | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, piano, leader | |
| Victor | B-27653 | 10-in. | 3/14/1923 | Liza | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader, instrumentalist, piano | |
| Victor | B-27654 | 10-in. | 3/14/1923 | New Hampshire | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader, instrumentalist, piano | |
| Victor | B-27820 | 10-in. | 4/12/1923 | Wet yo' thumb | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader, instrumentalist, piano | |
| Victor | B-27821 | 10-in. | 4/12/1923 | Morning will come | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader, instrumentalist, piano | |
| Victor | B-28007 | 10-in. | 5/15/1923 | Oh! Harold! | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, piano, leader | |
| Victor | B-28008 | 10-in. | 5/15/1923 | Rosetime and you | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, piano, leader | |
| Victor | B-28211 | 10-in. | 6/22/1923 | Nickel in the slot | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer, leader, instrumentalist, piano | |
| Victor | B-28212 | 10-in. | 6/22/1923 | Pickles | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, piano, leader | |
| Victor | B-28270 | 10-in. | 7/11/1923 | Dusting the keys | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, piano, leader | |
| Victor | B-30355 | 10-in. | 7/3/1924 | Mississippi shiver | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer, leader, instrumentalist, piano | |
| Victor | B-30451 | 10-in. | 7/1/1924 | Greenwich witch | Zez Confrey | Piano solo | composer, instrumentalist, piano | |
| Victor | B-30452 | 10-in. | 7/1/1924 | Dizzy fingers | Zez Confrey | Piano solo | composer, instrumentalist, piano | |
| Victor | B-31437 | 10-in. | 11/21/1924 | Humorestless | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | arranger, leader, instrumentalist, piano | |
| Victor | B-31438 | 10-in. | 11/21/1924 | Charleston chuckles | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with vocal effects | composer, leader, instrumentalist, piano | |
| Victor | BVE-37523 | 10-in. | 1/7/1927 | Prudy | Zez Confrey Orchestra [i.e., Victor Orchestra] | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| Victor | BVE-38102 | 10-in. | 2/22/1927 | Dizzy fingers | Max Kortlander | Piano solo | composer | |
| Victor | BVE-39113 | 10-in. | 8/25/1927 | Polly | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| Victor | BVE-39215 | 10-in. | 6/3/1927 | Dizzy fingers | Zez Confrey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer, leader | |
| Victor | BVE-49262 | 10-in. | 12/17/1928 | Jack in the box | Zez Confrey Orchestra [i.e., Victor Orchestra] | Jazz/dance band | leader, composer | |
| Victor | BVE-49263 | 10-in. | 12/17/1928 | Jumping Jack | Zez Confrey Orchestra [i.e., Victor Orchestra] | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| Victor | BRC-72591 | 10-in. | 5/17/1932 | Buffoon | Victor Concert Orchestra | Orchestra | composer | |
| Victor | BVE-78572 | 10-in. | 11/22/1933 | Sittin' on a log (Pettin' my dog) | Hotel McAlpin Orchestra ; Sam Robbins | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Victor | BS-78856 | 10-in. | 12/15/1933 | Sittin' on a log (Pettin' my dog) | Isham Jones Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Victor | BS-80273 | 10-in. | 2/15/1934 | Grandfather's clock | Edgewater Beach Hotel Orchestra ; Harry Sosnik | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Victor | BS-034692 | 10-in. | 5/22/1939 | Buffoon | Shep Fields ; Rippling Rhythm Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Victor | BS-037741 | 10-in. | 6/21/1939 | Stumbling | Van Alexander Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Victor | D7FB-1797 | 10-in. | 10/23/1947 | Dizzy fingers | Henri René Orchestra | Instrumental ensemble | composer | |
| Victor | D7VB-1912 | 10-in. | 10/24/1947 | Dizzy fingers | Three Suns | Instrumental trio | composer | |
| Victor | D7VB-1927 | 10-in. | 10/25/1947 | Stumbling | Three Suns | Instrumental trio | composer | |
| Victor | [Trial 1921-08-26-01] | 10-in. | 8/26/1921 | Kitten on the keys | Zez Confrey | Piano solo | instrumentalist, piano, composer | |
| Columbia | 80290 | 10-in. | 4/8/1922 | Stumbling | Ray Miller Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| 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 | |
| Brunswick | 9124 | 10-in. | approximately Nov. 1922 | Greenwich witch | Isham Jones Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Brunswick | 6741-6742 | 10-in. | approximately Nov. 1921 | Coaxing the piano | Zez Confrey | Piano solo | composer, instrumentalist, piano | |
| Brunswick | 7697-7699 | 10-in. | approximately Mar. 1922 | Kitten on the keys | Carl Fenton’s Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Brunswick | 8146-8148 | 10-in. | approximately May 1922 | Stumbling | Benny Krueger’s Orchestra ; Margaret Young | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | composer, lyricist | |
| Brunswick | 8521-8523 | 10-in. | approximately July 1922 | Tricks | Isham Jones Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Brunswick | 9230-9232 | 10-in. | approximately Nov. 1922 | Dumbell | Benny Krueger’s Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Brunswick | XE30582 | 12-in. | 7/25/1929 | Brunswick brevities [program and part unknown] | Brunswick Salon Orchestra | Radio transcription disc : Jazz/dance band, with accordion solo | composer | |
| Brunswick | E20006-E20007 | 10-in. | 9/2/1926 | Dizzy fingers | Victor Arden ; Phil Ohman | Piano duet, with orchestra | composer | |
| Brunswick | E20110-E20112 | 10-in. | 9/13/1926 | Dizzy fingers | Victor Arden ; Phil Ohman | Piano duet, with orchestra | composer | |
| Brunswick | E20315-E20317 | 10-in. | 10/1/1926 | Dizzy fingers | Victor Arden ; Phil Ohman | Piano duet, with orchestra | composer | |
| Brunswick | DB66 | 10-in. | 9/25/1928 | Coaxing the piano | W. Harris | Piano solo | composer | |
| Edison | 8226 | 10-in. | 9/23/1921 | Kitten on the keys | Zez Confrey | Piano solo | composer, instrumentalist, piano | |
| Edison | 8452 | 10-in. | 5/16/1922 | Stumbling | Atlantic Dance Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Edison | 8465 | 10-in. | 5/25/1922 | Stumbling | Broadway Dance Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Edison | 8572 | 10-in. | 8/11/1922 | Tricks | Broadway Dance Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Edison | 8686 | 10-in. | 12/7/1922 | Dumbell | Broadway Dance Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Edison | 8745 | 10-in. | 7/21/1923 | Greenwich witch | Ernest L. Stevens | Piano solo | composer | |
| Edison | 8748 | 10-in. | 7/28/1923 | My pet | Ernest L. Stevens | Piano solo | composer | |
| Edison | 11977 | 10-in. | 10/22/1927 | Dizzy fingers | Magnante-Carlino-Lange Trio | Cello, banjo, and accordion | composer | |
| Arto | [Arto Cat 9147A] | 10-in. | 5/4/1922 | Stumbling | Catalina Social Seven | Jazz/dance band | composer |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Confrey, Zez," accessed April 23, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104002.
Confrey, Zez. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 23, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104002.
"Confrey, Zez." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 23 April 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
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
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
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