WITTWER, JOHNNY

Homebase: Seattle, WA.
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Misc Notes: John Wittwer was a University of Washington music major and pianist who formed Seattle's first traditional New Orleans-style "dixieland" jazz band in 1944. He and Lee Howe (trumpet) and Murray Sennett (drums) were hired that year by Harry Lee who owned the China Pheasant restaurant/nightclub on E. Marginal Way where they attracted an enthusiastic fanbase. Wittwer got antsy though and headed off to Hollywood where he resurfaced playing in Jack Teagarden's jazz band, and then briefly with the fabled New Orleans trumpeter, Wingy Manone. Upon his return home,he formed a trio with drummer, Keith Purvis (who later owned his own namesake percussion shop), and the famed Louisiana jazz clarinet star, Joe Darensbourg. Their combo also frequently featured Bob Scobey (then serving in the U./S. Army) who soon went on to fame leading his own California-based Dixieland combo, the Frisco Jazz Band. In September 1944 the Johnny Wittwer Trio was recorded by Seattle's Dr. Fred Exner who formed the Exner label to issue their records. Soon after, Exner arranged to send Darensbourg and Wittwer to California where they backed New Orleans trombone legend "Kid" Ory on some historically important recordings, also issued on Exner Records. In 1946 Wittwer returned to California where he was brought into Lu Watters' famed Yerba Buena Jazz Band -- the most successful of all Dixieland revivalists. Wittwer then spent much of the 1950s back in Seattle playing for longtime fans. Towards the end of the decade he was based at the Colony Club (in the Claremont Hotel) with a quartet that also included such great local players as Freddy Schreiber (?), Red Kelly (bass) and Dave Tuttle (drums). By 1968 Wittwer was spotted working nightclubs in Los Angeles, but we are uncertain about his life-path from there...
SEE ALSO:
1.) WITTWER TRIO, JOHNNY

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