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The Wolverines (also Wolverine Orchestra, Wolverines Orchestra, The Original Wolverines) were an American jazz band. They were one of the most successful territory bands of the American Midwest in the 1920s.

The Wolverine Orchestra first played at the Stockton Club, a nightclub south of Hamilton, Ohio, in September 1923. Many of its players were transplanted Chicago musicians, and it was led by pianist Dudley Mecum. Cornetist Bix Beiderbecke joined the group toward the end of the year after the lead cornetist quit. Mecum named the group based on the fact that they so often performed the Jelly Roll Morton tune Wolverine Blues. However, he quit at the end of 1923, and was replaced by Dick Voynow, from St. Louis.

Wolverine members obviously recognized that Beiderbecke was the band’s outstanding soloist--he is in the forefront on records. The others were competent on their respective instruments, at times elegant and imaginative. Few other bands at this time made records featuring so much improvisation. Yet the band was clearly well-rehearsed for sessions. Alternate takes of numbers establish that some musical ideas had been carefully worked out ahead of time.

ALBUMS


APPEARANCES +


Bix Beiderbecke
Great Original Performances 1924-1930
1986,
Bix Beiderbecke
Bix Beiderbecke Story, Vol. 1
1976, LP, Comp, Penny (2)
Lino Patruno
Lino Patruno & His American Friends
,
Dixieland
Various
Gennett Jazz 1922-1930
2017, 4xCD, Comp + Box, JSP Records
The Wolverines Featuring Bix Beiderbecke And Jimmy McPartland
The Complete Wolverines 1924-1928
2012, CD, Comp, Off The Record (6), Archeophone Records, ,
Dixieland
Jon Savage
Teenage (The Creation Of Youth 1911–1946)
2009, CD, Comp, Trikont-Our Own Voice, Trikont-Our Own Voice, ,
Swing/Ragtime/Rhythm & Blues/Big Band/Vocal
Bix Beiderbecke
Georgia On My Mind
2009, CD, Comp, Edel Records,
Various
The Jazz Modernists 1924-1933
2009, CD, Comp, Retrieval,
Various
Gennett Jazz 1922-1930
2009, 4xCD, Comp + Box, JSP Records,
Various
Classic Jazz - From New Orleans To Harlem
2008, Box, Comp + 100xCD, Comp, Mono, Membran International GmbH, ,
Dixieland
Various
Jazz Im New York Der Wilden Zwanziger
2007,
Various
The Ultimate Jazz Archive - Set 02/42
2005, 4xCD, Comp, Sif, Membran Music Ltd., ,
Ragtime/Dixieland
Various
The Ultimate Jazz Archive
2005, 168xCD, Comp + Box, Membran, ,
Ragtime/Dixieland/Swing/Big Band/Bop/Boogie Woogie/Dark Jazz/Delta Blues/Chicago Blues/Electric Blues/Memphis Blues/Rhythm & Blues
Bix Beiderbecke
Davenport Blues
2005
Various
A C.L.P.G.S Jazz Sampler
2003, CD, Album, Comp, CLPGS, CLPGS, ,
Jazz-Rock
Hoagy Carmichael
The First Of The Singer Songwriters (Key Cuts 1924-1946)
2003
Various
Classic Jazz: The Twenties
2002, 2xCD, Comp, Time Life Music, Universal Music Special Markets,
Bix Beiderbecke
1924-1930 - The Alternative Takes In Chronological Order
2002, CD, Comp, Neatwork
Various
1924
2001, CD, Comp, Jazz Magazine (2),
Various
Gennett Records Greatest Hits Collection
2001, 3xCD, Comp, Not On Label,
Various
Gennett Records Greatest Hits - Volume II
2001, CD, Comp, Star-Gennett Foundation
Various
Gennett Records Greatest Hits - Volume I
2001, CD, Comp, Star-Gennett Foundation,
Various
Gennett Records Greatest Hits - Volume III
2001, CD, Comp, Star-Gennett Foundation
Bix Beiderbecke
Bix Restored - The Complete Recordings And Alternates, Volume 1 (February 1924 To September 1927)
2000,
Various
Lost Chords
1999, 2xCD, Comp, Retrieval,
Various
Selection Of The Cities Where Jazz Was Born - The Original Sounds Of Chicago - De Luxe
1997, 2xCD, Comp, Gold Sound,
Bix Beiderbecke
Richmond - New York - Chicago 1924 - 1930
1995, 2xCD, Comp, Frémeaux & Associés, ,
Ragtime/Dixieland
Bix Beiderbecke
The Classic Years
1995, CD, Comp, RM, Prestige Records Ltd.
Various
1917-1924 I Grandi Successi
1994, CD, Comp, Compact Collection - Jazz Blues Soul
Various
1917-1924/2 I Grandi Successi
1994, CD, Comp, Compact Collection - Jazz Blues Soul,
Bix Beiderbecke
An Introduction To Bix Beiderbecke: His Best Recordings 1924-1930
1994, CD, Comp, Best Of Jazz
Various
1917-1924/3 I Grandi Successi
1994, CD, Comp, DeAgostini
Bix Beiderbecke
1924-1927
1994
Bix Beiderbecke And The Wolverines Featuring Sioux City Six And Rhythm Jugglers*
1924 - 1925
1993, CD, Comp, Timeless Records (3)
Bix Beiderbecke
Felix The Cat
1993, CD, Comp, Mono, EPM Musique, EPM Musique, Jazz Archives (2),
Various
Chicago Jazz Style 1924/1935
1992, 5xCD, Comp, Box, I.R.D. Records,
Bix Beiderbecke
Bix Beiderbecke And The Chicago Cornets
1992
Bix Beiderbecke / Various
Bix Lives
1991, LP, Comp, Musica Jazz
Bix Beiderbecke
Bixology
1989
Various
Dixieland. The Story
1989, ,
Dixieland
Various
The Dixieland Collection
1987
Bix Beiderbecke
Great Original Performances 1924-1930
1986
Bix Beiderbecke
Il Leggendario Bix Beiderbecke
1985, LP, Comp, Musica Jazz
Bix Beiderbecke
Bix Beiderbecke
1985, LP, Comp, Giants Of Jazz
Bix Beiderbecke
The Bix Beiderbecke Collection - 20 Golden Greats
1985
Beiderbecke*, Berigan*, Teagarden*, Russell*, Hackett*
Classic Performers
1984,
Bix Beiderbecke
Bixology 1924-1930
1981, Box + 14xLP, Comp, Mono, RE, Joker (2)
Various
Jazz
1980, 3xLP, Comp + Box, Opus Musicum,
Various
Jazz Legends
1979, 11xLP, Comp, Club, Ltd + Box, Poljazz, ,
Dixieland
Bix Beiderbecke
Bix Beiderbecke
1979,
Various
The White Jazz Pioneers
1977, ,
Dixieland/Ragtime/Swing
Various
Visages Du Jazz ● Faces Of Jazz (Vol. 2) New Orleans And Chicago Jazz
1974, 5xLP, Comp + Box, Concert Hall, Concert Hall, Concert Hall, Concert Hall, Concert Hall, ,
Chicago Blues/Dixieland/Big Band/East Coast Blues
Bix Beiderbecke
The Legendary Bix Beiderbecke 1924-1925
1973
Biederbecke*, Spanier*, Manone*
Bix Muggsy Wingy
1972, LP, Comp, BYG Records
Various
Jazz Volume 6 (Chicago No. 2) (Alternate}
1952
Various
History Of Jazz Vol.2
LP, Comp, BYG Records
Various
Histoire Du Jazz Vol. 1
5xLP, Comp + Box, BYG Records,
Various
Jazz Of The 20th - Jazz Of The 30th / Volume 18
2xLP, Comp, Monkey Records (4)
Various
Midwestern Jazz
10", Comp, London Records,
Various
Chicago Jazz 1924-28
CD, Comp, Village,
Various
Hoagy Carmichael - Volume One
CD, Comp, RM, JSP Records
Various
Dixieland Jazz - The Collection
CD, Comp, QED, ,
Dixieland
Various
Dixieland Jazz Volume One
CD, Comp, Red Line Selection
Bix Beiderbecke
The Legendary Bix Beiderbecke With The Wolverine Orchestra, Sioux City Six & The Rhythm Jugglers 1924-1925
Bix Beiderbecke
The Bix Beiderbecke's 22 Legendary First Recordings
Various
The Cradle Of Jazz
,
Dixieland/Big Band/Swing/Ragtime
Bix* And The Wolverine Orchestra Chicago*
Bix Beiderbecke With The Wolverines - Volume One
1951, 10", Comp, RE, Unofficial, Jazz-Time, Jazz-Time