"I Love You" Ray Stillson's Orchestra (Gennett Personal, 1923) Rare Indianapolis Jazz

prob. Ray Stillson, cm, bar, dir: James Collier, t / Peter Knight, tb / Mora Huber, as / Prestom Moore, p / Herb Hayworth, bj / Leo “Taz” Walter, d Gennett Recording Studios, Starr Piano Factory Facilities, 201 S. 1st St. Richmond, IN 23 Nov. 1923 11685-A “I Love You” (Harlan Thompson–Harry Archer) Stillson 20023 (Gnt Personal) Transferred with 2.3ET stylus in VM670SP Audiotechnica cartridge via an Audiotechnica AT-LP120 Turntable. Discs from Colin Hancock Collection. Discographical Information from Johnson and Shirley’s “American Dance Bands on Record and Film,” Javier Soria Laso, and DAHR. Research from Colin Hancock and Newspapers.com. Here is a fantastic Gennett Personal disc by the Muncie, Indiana-based band of saxophonist Ray Stillson. Stillson had recorded previously with the Syncopatin’ Seven which was also Red Nichols’ first recording. A year later he was back at the Gennett studios with his own band, cutting two fantastic hot sides for the label. The Gennett files note 11 musicians participating in this recording, although most press from the era only give Collier, Knight, Huber, Stillson, Moore, Hayworth and Walter as present. Johnson and Shirley give Angie Clevenger (sax), James Fletcher (piano), Fred Koons (banjo) and Jack Berchl (unknown instrument) as possible additional musicians, however the recording aurally also appears to only feature seven instruments as well. A third title, “Tell Me A Story” (mx 11687) was not released, and possibly included the additional four musicians. After this recording Stillson ended up playing with Johnny Hamp, playing saxophone of the famous recording of “Black Bottom” made by that ensemble.