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 26-50 of 95 records)
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Confrey, Zez," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104002.
Confrey, Zez. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104002.
"Confrey, Zez." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 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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