Miff Mole: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• Georg Brunis
• J.C. Higginbotham
• Brad Gowans
• Kid Ory
• Tommy Dorsey
• Jack Teagarden
• Eddie Edwards

• Tommy Dorsey
• Abe Lincoln

• Vic Berton
• Red Nichols
• Miff Mole & His World Jam Session Band
• Miff Mole & His Nicksielanders
• Miff Mole's Molers
• Eddie Condon
• Joe Tarto

• The Charleston Chasers
• The Original Memphis Five

• Frank Signorelli
• Chauncey Morehouse
• Pee Wee Russell
• Bix Beiderbecke
• Eddie Lang
• Eddie Condon
• Tommy Dorsey

Born:

Dec 31, 1969 in Roosevelt, NY

Died:

Apr 29, 1961 in New York, NY

Genres:

Classical Music, Jazz Music, Swing, Classic Jazz Music

Decades Active:

1920's|1930's|1940's|1950's

Artistic Quality

Medium

Cultural Impact

Medium

Popularity

Low

Ratings Guide

For a period in the 1920s, Miff Mole was (prior to the emergence of Jack Teagarden) the most advanced trombonist in jazz. He had gained a strong reputation playing with the Original Memphis Five (starting in 1922) and his many recordings with Red Nichols during 19261927 found him taking unusual interval jumps with staccato phrasing that perfectly fit Nichols' style. However, in 1927, he started working as a studio musician and Mole concentrated less on jazz during the next couple of decades. He played with Paul Whiteman during 19381940 and was with Benny Goodman in 1943. By the time he returned to smallgroup jazz in the mid'40s (working with Eddie Condon and leading a band at Nick's), Mole sounded like a disciple of Teagarden and his style was no longer unique, although his record of "Peg of My Heart" was popular. Miff Mole's health was erratic by the 1950s and he was largely forgotten by the greater jazz world by the time he died in 1961. His best recordings as a leader were when he led his Molers during 19271930, although there was a foursong session in 1937 and later albums released by Jazzology, Commodore, Storyville, and Argo.

- Scott Yanow, All Music Guide