Monday Side-Session: Bubber’s "Mileage" Beyond the Duke

Before we move deeper into 1930 with Duke Ellington, let's check in with Bubber Miley, Duke's star trumpeter in the band's early days.

James "Bubber" Miley was an outstanding trumpeter and a master of the growl tone in particular. He and trombonist Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton were -yes, I'm going there- "instrumental" in shaping the sound during the "Jungle Band" period. Unfortunately, Bubber was famously unreliable, which led to him leaving the band in 1929. He passed away just a few years later in 1932 at the young age of 29.

The Reisman Connection

Let's listen to some of Bubber's work after leaving the Ellington band, starting with this 1930 recording of "What Is This Thing Called Love?" by Leo Reisman and his Orchestra on Victor Records:

That's a pretty early example of a Black musician playing with a white orchestra, but Leo Reisman knew who the man for the job was—and Bubber sounds great!

Bubber Miley and his Mileage Makers

Bubber also released six sides from three sessions on Victor in 1930, billed as Bubber Miley and his Mileage Makers. Let's listen to the full run:

1. The May 16, 1930 Session This first pairing features prolific session vocalist Frankie Marvin: 

2. The July 3, 1930 Session This session included George Bias on vocals: 

3. The September 11, 1930 Session Finally, this session had the great Edith Wilson as vocalist: 

Due to his early death, Bubber Miley seems so rooted in the 1920s, but you have to wonder how his sound would have evolved as the Swing Era truly got under way. He was a pioneer who left us far too soon.

What do you think? Did the "Mileage Makers" have enough gas in the tank to compete with the big bands of the mid-30s?