George H. Tremer

Pianist George H. Tremer was active in Birmingham, Alabama, during the late '20s. During the summer of 1927, Richmond, Indiana's Starr Piano Company set up a portable Gennett recording studio on the third floor of their store in Birmingham. Barrelhouse and ragtime pianist Tremer was among dozens of musicians -- preachers along with country, blues, and jazz players -- who took advantage of this opportunity to get recorded. His rendering of Shelton Brooks' "Some of These Days" was released on the B-side of his own "Spirit of '49 Rag," a barrelhouse stomp during which he accompanied himself using kazoo, silly falsetto whining, and novelty percussion. These recordings were reissued in 1968 by the Origin Jazz Library label on the LP Ragged Piano Classics 1923-1943 (OJL-16). They have since appeared on Document's Black & White Piano, Vol. 1: 1923-1931 and Too Late, Too Late, Vol. 9: 1922-1945 (DOCD 5590), These recordings were reissued in 1968 by the Origin Jazz Library label on the LP Ragged Piano Classics 1923-1943 (OJL-16). They have since appeared on Document's Black & White Piano, Vol. 1: 1923-1931 (DOCD 5596), Too Late, Too Late, Vol. 9: 1922-1945 (DOCD 5590), on the excellent Timeless/Jazz Oracle's compilation Gennett Rarities (Jazz Oracle 8009), and on JSP’s triumphant four-CD set, Gennett Jazz 1922-1930. ~ arwulf arwulf