"It has been said of Joe Robichaux (by Herbert Friedwald) that, 'He was a participant in most of the interesting musical developments in New Orleans throughout a fruitful career which spanned almost. a half-century.' What he is principally remembered for, though, is for having led the only band based in New Orleans to make a substantial body of recordings during the 1930s.
"Robichaux, born in New Orleans on 8 March 1900, was the nephew of established bandleader John Robichaux. He studied music theory and piano at New Orleans University and came under the influence of Steve Lewis, pianist with Armand Piron's band. lie worked with carnivals and other out of town bands, including from 1922-24 the Cowley-based Black Eagle Band, which Bunk Johnson and George Lewis later worked with. Back in New Orleans, he was with the band Dave Jones and Lee Collins led, first at a taxi dance-hall and then at. the Astoria Roof Garden, famously recording with them in November 1929. A month later he recorded the accompaniments to singer Christina Gray [...].
"The band heard here was formed for the Entertainers Club and moved to Illy where they were heard by a talent scant. The resulting records were credited to Joe Robechaux and his New Orleans Rhythm Boys, generating a persistent error in the spelling of the family name. In the files, the five sessions are credited to His Rhythm Band, so the NORB name was invented by ARC, but the band call themselves 'Rhythm Boys' in the patter on Lazy Bones. Twenty-two titles were recorded and all were issued. Three alternative takes are known, all issued at the time (take 1 of Zola, [...] is not included here). Two further takes have at some time been reported on 78s but are unconfirmed.
"For the final two titles, the band was used to accompany Chick Bullock, a white popular singer who recorded with a lot of jazz groups of all complexions and whose records were once eagerly sought by junkshoppers in pursuit of overlooked jazz gems. Though he is pleasantly rhythmic and does not obstruct the band, his work and material are now very dated. His presence does lend some credence to the apparently ludicrous tale that ARC executives wished to hire the band as a house band, though they must have known perfectly well that the New York City AFM local would never tolerate such work going to out-of-towners, let alone [negroes]." (Howard Rye. From the liner notes.)
1. Ring Dem Bells
2. St. Louis Blues
3. Zola
4. Foot Scuffle
5. King Kong Stomp
6. Stormy Weather
7. Saturday Night Fish Fry Drag
8. Every Tub
9. The Riff
10. After Me The Sun Goes Down
11. Jig Music
12. You Keep Me Always Living In Sin
13. Sleep, Come On And Take Me
14. Just Like A Falling Star
15. I Would Do Anything For You
16. She Don't Love Me
17. Lazy Bones
18. Forty Second Street
19. Why Should I Cry For You?
20. Shake It And Break It
21. Shake It And Break It (Take 2)
22. That's How Rhythm Was Born
23. Swingy Little Thingy
24. Swingy Little Thingy (Take 2/3)
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