The
University Six was the name used for a series of groups put together in the studios during a three-year period to create melodic jazz that also served as enthusiastic dance music. From the start, the band numbered more than six musicians (usually seven but sometimes it was an octet), utilizing many musicians who also played with the California Ramblers and other similar bands of the period. The band usually included trumpeter
Chelsea Quealey (who offered a pleasant lead), trombonist
Abe Lincoln, the versatile Bobby Davis (on clarinet, soprano and alto) and the great bass saxophonist
Adrian Rollini. Strangely enough, the
University Six never had a string bassist, which kept the band from ever really swinging or getting quite hot. Other musicians on many of the selections included pianist
Irving Brodsky, banjoist
Tommy Felline, drummer
Herb Weil (occasionally Stan King) and sometimes tenorsaxophonist
Sam Ruby;
Arthur Fields took vocals now and then. The lineup changed quite a bit from the Oct. 17, 1927 session on with
Frank Cush and later
Cliff Weston taking over on trumpet with the other positions mostly filled by obscure players (other than the notable Spencer Clark in
Rollini's spot) and vocalists taking a more prominent role. The music created by the
University Six overall is very much in the mainstream of the mid-1920's, not innovative but still sounding full of spirit. However it is a sure bet that none of the musicians were college students at the time! ~ Scott Yanow