Universal Dance Orchestra - Pepper Blues

The Universal Dance Orchestra, a pseudonym for a Grey Gull/Emerson studio group directed by Fred Hall, play a blisteringly hot tune titled "Pepper Blues". The label shows a composer credit of 'Maguire', but Grey Gull often used pseudonyms for their in house composers. It may be that Hall wrote this tune himself.
There is some confusion surrounding this recording - it only appears to have been issued on Madison and the date of recording is up in the air. Brian Rust's "Jazz Records 1897-1942" discography dates this to December 1926, while Shirley and Johnston's "American Dance Bands On Record And Film" dates it to around March 1927.
Fred Hall - piano, vocals, directing: Mike Mosiello - trumpet/ ?Philip D'arcy - violin/ unknown - banjo/ ?Stan King - drums
Madison 1620
2327-B
Probably recorded at Grey Gull's 20 E. 42nd St studio, c. December 1926-March 1927

[@barbaraeffros4804]

Sure is a peppy Fred Hall hit! Mike Mosiello takes it away with his hot trumpet 🎺.

[@MatthewDLDavidson]

Great group and tune - I even hear the trumpet player bending notes a little like Bix does. Thanks for sharing! 😊

[@MrSuperbatone]

THAT cornet player is not Mike Mosiello. He's not on EVERY Grey Gull record! It is none other than RED NICHOLS, playing inimitably! He's joined here by his frequent sidekick ARTHUR SCHUTT. I don't know the pianist or the banjo / violinist, but they deserve their props too!

[@cyrusbahmaie3580]

@@MrSuperbatone This isn’t Nichols, though whoever it is here is heavily inspired by his playing. The pianist is almost certainly Fred Hall, given his presence speaking and that he plays so on almost all of his records. d’Arcy was a Hall regular too, so I’ve put him here.

[@nickdellow6073]

@@cyrusbahmaie3580 Agree 100% that this ISN'T RED NICHOLS, but someone influenced by his style of playing. It's far TOO STIFF to be Nichols, and THE TONE IS NOT NICHOLS either. Having said that, the entire side is imbued with an early Five Pennies approach, right down to the Vic Berton-like cymbal work. I'm fairly sure that Red Nichols didn't take part in ANY Grey Gull recording sessions.