Art Hickman’s Orchestra, 1919
I’ve always really loved this novelty shot of the Hickman Orchestra, and I thought this fine colorization job by Mario Unger really brought a new life to it. The photo and colorization are the main attraction here, BUT I’m going to give some context as to who these guys are in case anyone is curious.
Hickman’s outfit is one of a couple 1910s dance bands that really laid the groundwork for what popular music would sound like in the 20s (and for what it’s worth, probably my personal favorite of that particular late-1910s style which I love so dearly). Hickman’s group was among the first popular bands to utilize a saxophone section, which was kind of a big moment for the trajectory of pop music and jazz in the first half of the 20th century. Their sound took the syncopated edge of contemporary “jass” and ragtime and infused that into a ballroom orchestra style. The resulting music carries itself with a refined and elegant air, but with a certain simmering rakishness underneath- and when these guys really dig into it, they play with an undeniable ragged verve. My favorite sides by them are probably Hesitating Blues and Cairo (both recorded 1919), however Hickman is probably best remembered by his 1917 composition Rose Room (named for the hotel ballroom at which they were the house band), which you still hear played often enough today (that is, if you’re in with the right scene). Would’ve loved to hear what this band sounded like live, I can only imagine that the old acoustic recordings don’t do them full justice.
