Mezz Mezzrow, born Milton Mesirow on November 9, 1899, in Chicago, Illinois, was
an American jazz clarinetist and saxophonist. He began performing in the Chicago
area after learning to play the saxophone during a brief imprisonment at Pontiac
Reformatory. In 1928, Mezzrow moved to New York City, where he recorded with
Eddie Condon and formed his own orchestra, the Purple Grackle Orchestra.
Throughout the 1930s, he collaborated with notable musicians such as Benny
Carter, Pops Foster, and Teddy Wilson. In 1938, Mezzrow worked with Sidney
Bechet and Tommy Ladnier on memorable recor...