Biography
Albert Wynn is a little-known but very fine trombonist who worked with various big bands in Chicago during the 1920s, and visited Europe with Arthur Briggs in the early 1930s.
The beautiful cornet work of Punch Miller, a New Orleans player whose obvious idol was - and still is - Louis Armstrong is noteworthy. The chase-chorus between Miller's scat vocal and Wynn's trombone on "Down By The Levee" is lifted straight out of Louis' "West End Blues", and Miller attempts an Armstrong coda. The lyrics of this beautiful blues, also sung by Punch, are unusually clear.
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One might have wished for a more robust reedman to work with two such eminent brass players than Lester Boone, who, however lends a pleasantly warm tone to ensemble when playing alto. His baritone is best heard on "She's Crying For Me" The rhythm section is adequate, Alex Hill being perhaps the more accomplished of the two pianists. The band also recorded under the name of Albert Wynn and his Gut Bucket Five.
Taken from the book Recorded Jazz: A Critical Guide by Rex Harris and Brian Rust.
Title Recording Date Recording Location Company
Down By The Levee
Vocal Chorus by "Punch"
(Albert Wynn) 10-2-1928 Chicago, Illinois Vocalion
1220
Brunswick
80042
She's Crying For Me
(Santo Pecora) 10-2-1928 Chicago, Illinois Vocalion
1252
Brunswick
80042
Artist Instrument
William Barbee Piano
Lester Boone Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone
Sidney Catlett Drums
Jimmy Flowers Piano
Alex Hill Piano
Punch Miller Cornet, Vocals
Albert Wynn Trombone
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.