EDWARDS GIVES
		(Continued from Page 9)				and engaged Tony Sbarbaro. I wanted Sbarbaro by all means, because he had a lot of hot licks, and used 4-bass drum beats to the measure. He was the fist dance drummer to do this.
place, and we were so loud that we did not last long.
Harry James came over and engaged us for the "Casino Gardens" at Clark and Kinzie streets, over the Calumet River, and about two blocks from Chicago's loop. People who considered themselves "slumming" came to hear us. Many of these were very nice folks. Among them was "Frisco", the celebrated vaudevillian. The neighborhood was so tough that frequently someone would get dumped into the river for objecting to "pick-pocketing", which was quite common in those days. All the celebrated actors and actresses would come to hear us. hepped up and enthusiastic, and many wanted to book us for New York. I was willing, because I knew that if we were to get any money out of our novelty, New York would be the place. Larry Shields didn't want to go. Neither did Nick LaRocca, for we were now making $45 a week at Casino Gardens. Every night I wrote to numerous cafes, hotels and agents but never had one single answer.
						The business of "signing tabs for drinks" at Casino Gardens almost caused our break up. Nunez had an argument with LaRocca, and said lie was quitting the band. Nick came to me one day and said he had heard that Larry Shields was not working at this time. That night we engaged Larry after we finished at the Casino.
						In 1916. Chicago began an attempt to "clean up" the cafes (which eventually led to a curfew law of 1 A.M. for all night spots). Here is a clipping taken from the Chicago Herald which will give you an idea of how we were going over:
							"The party adjourned to the New Schiller Cafe. A line of taxicabs radiated from Schiller to the East, West, North and South. In front of the door a crowd of people fought for admission. A perspiring doorman held them back.
Thru sheer luck, Max Hart came to Chicago to iron out some difficulties with his acts in the Ziegfield Follies. He agreed to book us, and after a short delay, sold us to Reisenwebers for 2 weeks, with a 3 months option. We were to get $375.00 per week! I might mention here what a swell guy Mr. Hart has always been to us: he took no commission on that job at Reisenwebers, nor at any other time when we were under his managerial direction.
							"Can't come in," he shouted. "We're crowded to capacity. Wait til some of the crowd comes out". This was at 2:30 in the morning. The crowd at the front door kept increasing, and the doorman had his hands full keeping the mob from sweeping him off his feet. No policeman was in sight. Our party finally gained entrance and a table, after much elbowing and shoving. It was impossible for anyone to be heard. The shriek of women's d r u n k e n laughter rivaled the blatant scream of the imported Dixieland Jazz Band from New Orleans, which never seemed to stop playing".
The band that left New Orleans consisted of Johnny (Hountha) Stein. drums; Alcide (Yellow) Nunez, clarinet; Henry Ragas, piano; Nick LaRocca, cornet; and myself on trombone. Stein wanted to stay with Hare at Schillers Cafe, so we left him there,
								(Continued on Page 27)
10			Annual New Orleans Jazz Club Festival, Friday, October 7, 1955