Miff Mole

Miff Mole had a warm and gentlemanly way of handling the trombone. More austere than Kid Ory, shyer perhaps than Jack Teagarden, Miff's inventive and personable slip-horn mannerisms still sound marvelous. Miffology, Living Era's Miff Mole tribute album, is a fine and upstanding salute to a master of traditional jazz. Mole's magnificence is demonstrated in 24 well-chosen tracks, beginning with his original composition "Slippin' Around." Most of the material presented here was recorded in New York by Miff Mole's Molers between 1927 and 1930. Instrumental highlights include the flashy drumming and occasional "harpophone" (i.e., vibraharp or vibraphone) manipulations of Vic Berton, Adrian Rollini's bass saxophone, Joe Tarto's tuba, and the presence of reedmen Pee Wee Russell, Fud Livingston, and Jimmy Dorsey. Many of Mole's very best recordings are featured here; "Some Sweet Day," "Davenport Blues," and "Feelin' No Pain" are milestone East Coast variations on "the Chicago style" of classic New Orleans-inspired jazz, performed by bands peppered with players who hailed from way out west along the southern shores of Lake Michigan. Chief among these was Eddie Condon -- banjoist, guitarist, and eventual guiding light for this kind of music. The final six tracks document Mole's participation in Condon's ongoing traditional jazz movement during the first half of the 1940s. "A Good Man Is Hard to Find," part three of a four-part jam version for Commodore, features a mature Mole as well as several other fine soloists. "Ballin' the Jack" comes from a series of sides cut for World Broadcasting Systems on February 9, 1944. Although the rowdy "Ballin' the Jack" is high-powered Dixieland entertainment, perhaps "How Come You Do Me Like You Do?" would have been a more movingly appropriate choice for inclusion in this portrait album. The chronological survey ends with four excellent examples of "Nicksieland" jazz, the house specialty at Nick's Tavern at West 10th Street and Seventh Avenue in New York from 1937 to 1963. Present are many of Miff's best running buddies, including Pee Wee Russell, Bobby Hackett, Muggsy Spanier, Ernie Caceres, and Eddie Condon. "Peg o' My Heart" was Miff's specialty, and the version heard here is a gem. ~ arwulf arwulf, All Music Guide