Stuff Smith was born into a musical family, his father playing in an orchestra.
At the age of 7, he received a violin from his parents, and by 15, he was
already part of a music-hall troupe in which he played violin and danced (Aunt
Jemina Revue). In 1930, he played with Jelly Roll Morton, but Morton had little
interest in his fellow violinist, so the collaboration didn't last long. With
Jonah Jones, he formed his first orchestra (1936-1940), featuring Cozy Cole. The
band was a hit at New York's Onyx Club, not only for its music, but also for
Smith's eccentricities, as on certain...