George James

George James (December 7, 1906, in Boggs, Oklahoma – January 30, 1995, in Columbus, Ohio) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and flautist.

James's career began late in the 1920s, in the bands of Charlie Creath and Johnny Neal. He moved to Chicago in 1928, where he played with Jimmie Noone, Sammy Stewart, Ida Marples, Jabbo Smith, and Bert Hall. Late in 1931 he toured with Louis Armstrong, and he remained in New York City at the end of the tour, where he joined the Savoy Bearcats and, later, Charlie Turner's Arcadians. Fats Waller assumed leadership of the Arcadians in the middle of the decade, and James played under him until 1937.

James finished the decade of the 1930s playing in the Blackbirds Revue. Early in the 1940s he worked with James P. Johnson, Benny Carter, Teddy Wilson, and Lucky Millinder, and led his own band in 1943-44. Later in the decade James played with Claude Hopkins and Noble Sissle. He was active both as a leader and a sideman into the 1970s, playing with Clyde Bernhardt in that decade.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 7, 1906, Died January 30, 1995

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1931 - 1948

Roles Represented in DAHR: alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, clarinet, saxophone, soprano saxophone

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 43 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-066792 10-in. 10/16/1941 Sunday Benny Carter Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-066793 10-in. 10/16/1941 Ill wind (you're blowin' me no good) Benny Carter Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-066794 10-in. 10/16/1941 Back Bay boogie Benny Carter Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-066795 10-in. 10/16/1941 [Unknown title(s)] Benny Carter Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Columbia W152086 10-in. 1/25/1932 Between the devil and the deep blue sea Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Columbia W152092 10-in. 1/27/1932 All of me Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Columbia W152093 10-in. 1/27/1932 Home Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
OKeh W152087 10-in. 1/25/1932 Kickin' the gong around Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
OKeh W404422 10-in. 4/20/1931 Walkin' my baby back home Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, baritone saxophone, alto saxophone  
OKeh W404423 10-in. 4/20/1931 I surrender, dear Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, baritone saxophone, alto saxophone  
OKeh W404424 10-in. 4/20/1931 When it's sleepy time down South Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, baritone saxophone  
OKeh W404425 10-in. 4/28/1931 Blue again Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, baritone saxophone  
OKeh W404870 10-in. 4/28/1931 Little Joe Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
OKeh W404871 10-in. 4/28/1931 I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal you Louis Armstrong Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, baritone saxophone  
OKeh W404872 10-in. 4/29/1931 Them there eyes Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone  
OKeh W404873 10-in. 4/29/1931 When your lover has gone Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, baritone saxophone, alto saxophone  
OKeh W405058 10-in. 11/3/1931 Lazy river Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
OKeh W405059 10-in. 11/3/1931 Chinatown, my Chinatown Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and talk instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
OKeh W405060 10-in. 11/4/1931 Wrap your troubles in dreams (And dream your troubles away) Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
OKeh W405061 10-in. 11/4/1931 Star dust Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
OKeh W405062 10-in. 11/5/1931 You can depend on me Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
OKeh W405063 10-in. 11/5/1931 Georgia on my mind Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
OKeh W405064 10-in. 11/6/1931 The lonesome road Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo, male vocal ensemble, and talk instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
OKeh W405065 10-in. 11/6/1931 I got rhythm Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with talk instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, clarinet  
OKeh W405154 10-in. 3/2/1932 Love, you funny thing! Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
(Results 1-25 of 43 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "James, George," accessed May 29, 2023, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111195.

James, George. (2023). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 29, 2023, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111195.

"James, George." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2023. Web. 29 May 2023.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111195

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