Spirits of Rhythm
Encyclopedia
Spirits of Rhythm were an American jazz
string band
.
The ensemble's members had previously played under several other names (The Sepia Nephews, Ben Bernie's Nephews, The Five Cousins), and upon adding Teddy Bunn
as guitarist in 1932, the group began calling itself Spirits of Rhythm. They occasionally recorded, and performed frequently on 52nd Street in New York City
as well as in Hollywood in the 1930s and early 1940s.
The group featured vocalists accompanied by string instruments, sometimes with other accompaniment such as homemade percussion instruments and harmonica
. In addition to the ordinary varieties of string instruments, the Spirits of Rhythm also featured a tiple
, an instrument similar to the ukulele
but with multiple strings on each course
. The group's vocalists often sang in nonsense syllables or in scat
, employing the singer's voice more like an instrument rather than as a vehicle for lyrics.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
string band
String band
A string band is an old-time music or jazz ensemble made up mainly or solely of string instruments. String bands were popular in the 1920s and 1930s, and are among the forerunners of modern country music and bluegrass.-String bands in old-time music:...
.
The ensemble's members had previously played under several other names (The Sepia Nephews, Ben Bernie's Nephews, The Five Cousins), and upon adding Teddy Bunn
Teddy Bunn
Teddy Bunn was a top-rated American blues and jazz guitarist in the 1930s.Theodore Bunn was born in Freeport, New York in 1909. Twenty years later in 1929 he began recording with Duke Ellington as a guest performer. From 1929 to 1931, he played with The Washboard Serenaders...
as guitarist in 1932, the group began calling itself Spirits of Rhythm. They occasionally recorded, and performed frequently on 52nd Street in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
as well as in Hollywood in the 1930s and early 1940s.
The group featured vocalists accompanied by string instruments, sometimes with other accompaniment such as homemade percussion instruments and harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
. In addition to the ordinary varieties of string instruments, the Spirits of Rhythm also featured a tiple
Tiple
Tiple is the Spanish word for treble or soprano, is often applied to specific instruments, generally to refer to a small chordophone of the guitar family. A tiple player is called a tiplista.-Colombian tiple:...
, an instrument similar to the ukulele
Ukulele
The ukulele, ; from ; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings....
but with multiple strings on each course
Course (music)
A course is a pair or more of adjacent strings tuned to unison or an octave and usually played together as if a single string. It may also refer to a single string normally played on its own on an instrument with other multi-string courses, for example the bass string on a nine string baroque...
. The group's vocalists often sang in nonsense syllables or in scat
Scat
-Education:* School and College Ability Test* Somerset College of Arts and Technology, a community college in Somerset, England* Shrewsbury College of Arts & Technology, a community college in Shropshire, England-Games:* Thirty-one , a card game...
, employing the singer's voice more like an instrument rather than as a vehicle for lyrics.
Members
- Douglas Daniels - tiple
- Walter Daniels - tiple
- Teddy BunnTeddy BunnTeddy Bunn was a top-rated American blues and jazz guitarist in the 1930s.Theodore Bunn was born in Freeport, New York in 1909. Twenty years later in 1929 he began recording with Duke Ellington as a guest performer. From 1929 to 1931, he played with The Washboard Serenaders...
- guitar - Wellman BraudWellman BraudWellman Braud was a Creole American jazz upright bassist. His family sometimes spelled their last name "Breaux", pronounced "Bro"....
- bass - Wilson MyersWilson MyersErnest Wilson "Serious" Myers was an American jazz double-bassist, best known for his contributions to New Orleans jazz....
- bass - Leo WatsonLeo WatsonLeo Watson was an American jazz vocalese singer, drummer, trombonist and tiple player born in Kansas City, Missouri, perhaps best known as a band member of The Spirits of Rhythm which included guitarist Teddy Bunn...
- vocals, tiple - Virgil Scoggins - percussion
- Red McKenzieRed McKenzieRed McKenzie was an American jazz musician. He was the best-known, and one of the only, comb players in jazz history....
- percussion