Mezz Mezzrow
Milton Mesirow, known as Mezz Mezzrow, was born on November 9, 1899, in Chicago, Illinois, and passed away on August 5, 1972, in Paris, France. An influential figure in the jazz world, Mezzrow was an American jazz clarinetist and saxophonist renowned for his contributions to the Dixieland and mainstream jazz genres. He was a key player in the Chicago jazz scene of the 1920s, associating with legendary musicians like Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, and King Oliver.
Mezzrow's music career began after being exposed to jazz and blues during his time in reformatory schools and prisons as a juvenile delinquent. He adopted African American culture and became a prominent advocate for the New Orleans jazz style. His first recordings were released in 1933 under the name Mezz Mezzrow And His Orchestra, featuring a mix of black and white musicians. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, he organized and participated in numerous recording sessions with Sidney Bechet, forming the Mezzrow-Bechet Quintet and Septet.
In the mid-1940s, Mezzrow founded King Jazz Records, further cementing his influence in the jazz world. He performed at the 1948 Nice Jazz Festival and subsequently settled in France, where he continued to organize bands and record music. Despite criticism of his musicianship, Mezzrow was praised for his dedication to jazz and his support of fellow musicians.
Mezzrow's personal life reflected his deep connection to African American culture, as he married Johnnie Mae, a black Baptist, and they had one son, Milton Mesirow, Jr. His autobiography, "Really the Blues," co-written with Bernard Wolfe, offers a vivid account of his life and career, highlighting his colorful personality and his role as an early advocate for marijuana.
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