Bix Beiderbecke

The greatest white trumpet player. Died of alcoholism in 1931, but not before committing a large number of solos to disc with a wide variety of mostly white small and big bands. Delicate and melodic improviser.

Best of his recordings are with sax player Frankie Trumbauer. Most bizarre record is ‘Barnacle Bill the Sailor’ which has to be heard to be believed – a combination of hot jazz and novelty song.