1922 in Jazz

Image Credentials: Image Title: 1922 in Jazz Source: (sora.chatgpt) Date: June 2025  Attribution: Created by AI-generated imagery (sora.chatgpt), it does not depict a real-world scene.

The year 1922 marked a significant period in the evolution and global spread of jazz. The genre was gaining substantial popularity across the United States, particularly in cities such as Chicago and New York, while also beginning to take root internationally, including in the Soviet Union. This period also saw the emergence of several prominent jazz musicians who would later become influential figures in the genre.

Jazz Scene

By 1922, the Jazz Age was in full swing, especially in major urban centers like Chicago and New York City. These cities quickly became hubs for jazz innovation, performance, and recording. The burgeoning jazz industry began to attract large audiences and generate substantial income. Notably, Paul Whiteman, a pioneering bandleader and entrepreneur, managed 28 different jazz ensembles on the East Coast and earned over $1 million in 1922 alone.

Despite its growing commercial success, jazz was still viewed skeptically by some segments of society. Critics like Anne Faulkner disparaged it as “a destructive dissonance,” famously asking whether jazz had “put the sin in syncopation.” Similarly, Henry van Dyke derided jazz as “an unmitigated cacophony, a species of music invented by demons for the torture of imbeciles.”

Chicago

Chicago was a vibrant focal point for jazz development in 1922. Notably, Joe “King” Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band played at the Lincoln Gardens, and on August 8, the young Louis Armstrong joined the band. Additionally, the Austin High Gang, featuring musicians like Frank Teschemacher, Jimmy and Richard McPartland, and Bud Freeman, began performing at the Friar’s Inn, laying the groundwork for the Chicago style of jazz.

New York

In New York, jazz flourished through performances and recordings. Duke Ellington arrived in the city with Sonny Greer and Elmer Snowden, where he met his idol James P. Johnson, alongside Fats Waller and Willie “The Lion” Smith. Another key development was the early career of Coleman Hawkins, who joined Mamie Smith’s Jazz Hounds and was later hired by Fletcher Henderson, solidifying New York’s importance in the jazz world.

International Jazz

Jazz began to find audiences outside of the United States. In the Soviet Union, the “First Eccentric Orchestra of the Russian Federated Socialist Republic,” led by Valentin Parnakh, introduced Soviet listeners to jazz, marking the genre’s early global spread.

Jazz Standards

Notable jazz standards published in 1922 include:

• “Bugle Call Rag”

• “Farewell Blues”

These compositions would go on to become staples in the jazz repertoire.

January

• 3 – Geezil Minerve, Cuban-born alto saxophonist and flautist (died 1992).
• 4
  • Arvid Gram Paulsen, Norwegian saxophonist and trumpeter (died 1963).
  • Frank Wess, American saxophonist and flautist (died 2013).
• 15 – Thelma Carpenter, American singer and actress (died 1997).
• 16 – Lina Romay, Mexican-American actress and singer (died 2010).
• 18 – Johnny Costa, American pianist (died 1996).
• 20 – Ray Anthony, American bandleader, trumpeter, songwriter, and actor.
• 25 – Jimmy Wyble, American guitarist (died 2010).
• 26 – Page Cavanaugh, American pianist and singer (died 2008).
• 29 – Jack Sels, Belgian saxophonist (died 1970).

February

• 6 – Conrad Gozzo, American trumpeter (died 1964).
• 11 – Bob Carter, American bassist and arranger (died 1993).
• 14 – Pauline Braddy, African-American drummer, International Sweethearts of Rhythm (died 1996).
• 19 – Martin Slavin, British composer (died 1988).
• 22
  • Joe Wilder, American trumpeter (died 2014).
  • Virtue Hampton Whitted, American singer and bassist (died 2007).
• 23 – John Carisi, American trumpeter and composer (died 1992).

March

• 2
  • Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, American tenor saxophonist (died 1986).
  • Joe Morris, American trumpeter (died 1958).
• 19 – David “Buck” Wheat, American bassist (died 1975).
• 20 – Larry Elgart, American band leader (died 2017).
• 24 – King Pleasure, American singer (died 1982).

April

• 1 – Duke Jordan, American pianist (died 2006).
• 8 – Carmen McRae, American singer, pianist, and composer (died 1994).
• 17 – Paul Smith, American pianist (died 2013).
• 19 – Glauco Masetti, Italian jazz reedist (died 2001).
• 21 – Mundell Lowe, American guitarist, composer, and conductor (died 2017).
• 22
  • Charles Mingus, American upright bassist and pianist (died 1979).
  • Lou Stein, American pianist (died 2002).
• 24 – Aaron Bell, American upright bassist (died 2003).
• 26 – Dorothy Donegan, American pianist (died 1998).
• 27 – Tale Ognenovski, Macedonian multi-instrumentalist (died 2012).
• 29 – Toots Thielemans, Belgian and American harmonica player and guitarist (died 2016).

May

• 1 – Floyd “Candy” Johnson, American saxophonist (died 1981).
• 4 – King Fleming, American pianist and bandleader (died 2014).
• 5 – Monica Lewis, American singer and actress (died 2015).
• 12 – Gerald Wiggins, pianist and organist (died 2008).
• 15 – James Buffington, American hornist (died 1981).
• 16 – Eddie Bert, American trombonist (died 2012).
• 18 – Kai Winding, Danish-born American trombonist (died 1983).
• 19 – Terry Devon, British singer (died 2013).
• 29 – Bubba Brooks, American tenor saxophonist (died 2002).

June

• 5 – Specs Powell, drummer (died 2007).
• 7 – Beryl Booker, American swing pianist (died 1978).
• 9 – Gösta Theselius, Swedish arranger, composer, film scorer, pianist, and saxophonist (died 1976).
• 15 – Jaki Byard, American multi-instrumentalist (died 1999).
• 19
  • David van Kriedt, saxophonist (died 1994).
  • Mousey Alexander, American drummer (died 1988).
• 24 – Manny Albam, baritone saxophonist (died 2001).
• 25 – Johnny Smith, American guitarist (died 2013).
• 29 – Ralph Burns, American pianist, composer, and arranger (died 2001).

July

• 5 – Bruce Turner, English saxophonist, clarinetist, and bandleader (died 1993).
• 6 – Jiří Jelínek, Czech trumpeter and singer (died 1984).
• 17 – Danny Bank, American saxophonist, clarinetist, and flautist (died 2010).
• 20
  • Ernie Wilkins, American saxophonist (died 1999).
  • Karel Krautgartner, Czech clarinetist and saxophonist (died 1982).
• 21 – Kay Starr, American singer (died 2016).

August

• 1 – Charles W. LaRue, American trombonist (died 2006).
• 2 – Big Nick Nicholas, American saxophonist and singer (died 1997).
• 4 – Earl Swope, American trombonist (died 1968).
• 17
  • Arv Garrison, American guitarist (died 1960).
  • Jack Sperling, American drummer (died 2004).
• 29 – Rolf Ericson, Swedish trumpeter and flugelhornist (died 1997)

September

• 7 – Joe Newman, American trumpeter (died 1992).
• 15 – Harry Betts, American trombonist (died 2012).
• 24 – Jack Costanzo, American percussionist (died 2018).
• 28 – Linda Vogt, Australian flautist (died 2013).
• 30 – Oscar Pettiford, American upright bassist, cellist, and composer (died 1960).

October

• 3 – Von Freeman, American tenor saxophonist (died 2012).
• 4 – Stan Hasselgård, Swedish clarinetist (died 1948)
• 5 – Jim Godbolt, English jazz historian and journalist (died 2013)
• 15 – Lorraine Gordon, American jazz music advocate, Village Vanguard jazz club (died 2018).
• 29 – Neal Hefti, American trumpeter and composer (died 2008).
• 30 – Illinois Jacquet, American tenor saxophonist (died 2004).
• 31 – Ted Nash, American saxophonist, flautist, and clarinetist (died 2011).

November

• 4 – Ralph Sutton, American pianist (died 2001).
• 7 – Al Hirt, American trumpeter and bandleader (died 1999).
• 12 – Lou Blackburn, American trombonist (died 1990).
• 29 – Bobby Donaldson, American drummer (died 1971).

December

• 8 – Sol Yaged, American clarinetist (died 2019).
• 14 – Cecil Payne, American baritone saxophonist (died 2007).
• 18 – Big Miller, American singer and bassist (died 1992).

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