Adrian Rollini

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Adrian Rollini
Background information
Birth name	Adrian Francis Rollini
Born	(1903-06-28)June 28, 1903 New York City, U.S.
Died	May 15, 1956(1956-05-15) (aged 52) Homestead, Florida, U.S.
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instrument(s)	Vibraphone bass saxophone piano
Years active	1922–1955

Adrian Francis Rollini (June 28, 1903 – May 15, 1956) was an

In 1927, not only did he participate in numerous recording sessions, but he also gained the job of heading up the talent roster for the opening of the Club New Yorker. It was a short-lived organization, a who's-who of 1920s jazz, including Bix Beiderbecke, Eddie Lang, Joe Venuti, Frank Signorelli and Frankie Trumbauer. Salary demands began to rise, and the club had its shortcomings, which proved a bad combination in the end, and the arrangement only lasted for some 3 weeks. It was not long until other talents would be seeking his name. From across the Atlantic, Fred Elizalde, a young London-based band leader was leading a band at the Savoy Hotel, and he was looking for the best American jazzmen to spice up his already hot sound. He found Rollini, as well as Chelsea Quealey, Bobby Davis, Tommy Felline and Jack Russin. Rollini submitted his resignation to the Ramblers (where he was replaced by bass saxist Spencer Clark and later by bassist-tubist Ward Lay), and agreed to join Elizalde, along with fellow Ramblers Quealey, Felline, Russin, and (later) Davis, in 1927, and stayed until September 1928. Once he returned to America he also began to write, working with Robbins Music Corporation—some of his compositions would include "Preparation", "On Edge", "Nonchalance", "Lightly and Politely", "Gliding Ghost", and "Au Revoir".

He continued to work, recording with such artists as Bert Lown, Lee Morse, The Dorsey Brothers, Ben Selvin and Jack Teagarden into the depression of the 30s. However, the early 30s saw a shift in musical ideas—away from the "hot", two-beat feel and towards a more staid, conservative sound, and Rollini adapted. In 1932–33 he was part of a short-lived experiment with the Bert Lown band using two bass saxophones, Spencer Clark in the rhythm section and Rollini himself as the fourth sax in the reed team.

In 1933, he formed the Adrian Rollini Orchestra (a studio group assembled for recording), which appeared on Perfect, Vocalion, Melotone, Banner, and Romeo labels. While Rollini did manage to assemble some great talent (for example Bunny Berigan, Benny Goodman and Jack Teagarden), these records were more commercial in comparison to his earlier work. Several examples have solo work and proto-swing elements, but on the whole the records were meant to sell current pop tunes. (Several sides have Rollini on bass sax only to switch to vibraphone during the song.) At this time Rollini also appeared as a vibraphonist with Richard Himber's radio orchestra, playing a strictly secondary role in the large, string-oriented ensemble.

Adrian Rollini was part of several musical groups, including the Adrian Rollini Quintette, the Adrian Rollini Trio (primarily in the late 1930s), and Adrian and his Tap Room Gang, which was based in the Hotel President at 234 West 48th Street in New York City. During the early swing era, starting in 1935, he managed Adrian's Tap Room, which was located inside the hotel, as well as leading the small band of 6-8 players. He also owned Whitby Grill, which was situated on West 45th Street. Both establishments were indicative of his inseparability from his professional and social life. His clientele in each club was mostly composed of musicians who were on holiday. Rollini was also featured on the radio, working with artists such as Kate Smith. As if he didn't have enough going for him, he ventured into yet another phase of his musical career and opened a store for the sale and repair of musical instruments. The store, known as White Way Musical Products, was located at 1587 Broadway. Rollini strongly believed that the artist playing the instrument knows more about it than the maker who is only concerned with the mechanics. The shop was a hot spot for autograph hounds who trolled the shop in search of famous band leaders. Rollini also frequented the Georgian Room and the Piccadilly Circus Bar, both located in the Piccadilly Hotel. He also began recording for Master and Muzak.

During this time, a gradual shift occurred in Rollini's focus from the bass sax to the

He went on to play hotels, as well as arranging and writing songs behind the scenes, collaborating with such names as

In his spare time, Rollini considered himself a "waterbug", and was proud of it. He owned a 21-foot Chris Craft speedboat and a Chris Craft cruiser, sleeping four. After an exhaustive career, he made his last recording with his trio in the early 1950s and then turned his attention fully to the hotel business. He later relocated to Florida and opened the Eden Roc Hotel in September 1955. He also ran the Driftwood Inn at Tavernier Key. Rollini loved sport-fishing, and his Driftwood offered deep-sea fishing charters. After Rollini's death, it appears his wife Dixie left Florida. The remains of the old Driftwood Inn were completely destroyed in a hurricane that rocked the Florida Keys in 1960.

Death and legacy

Rollini died on May 15, 1956 at the age of 52. The true cause of his death is debated. A brief article in the British magazine Melody Maker says that his brother, Arthur Rollini, was "trying to solve the mystery" regarding his death.^[5] Adrian was found lying in a blood-splattered car with one of his feet almost severed. Rollini claimed he had fallen, but the police looked into the possibility of foul play.^[6] After being sent to the James Archer Smith Hospital of Homestead, Florida, he died 18 days later. His death was reported as being caused by pneumonia and complications to the liver.^[7]

Coroner Frederick J. Spencer, author of Jazz and Death: Medical Profiles of Jazz Greats, later analyzed Rollini's death and argued Rollini died of mercury poisoning.^[8] During his stay in the hospital, he had developed a resistance to feeding. A glass tube weighted with mercury had been inserted into his stomach and broke, exposing Rollini to the toxic element. In an alternate account, clarinetist Kenny Davern, a friend of Rollini, stated in a video interview that Rollini was murdered in a mob-related hit as a result of his gambling debts.^[9]

After his death, jazz discographer Brian Rust presented a memorial program on the World of Jazz series hosted by BBC Light Programme on June 8 of that year. In 1998, Adrian Rollini was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame. He was survived by his wife, Dorothy "Dixie" Rollini who later died in 1977.

Discography

• Adrian Rollini: Bouncin' in Rhythm, (Pavilion, 1995)
• The Goofus Five, (Timeless, 1998)
• Tap Room Swing, (ASV Living Era, 2002)
• Adrian Rollini 1929–34, (Jazz Oracle, 2005)
• Adrian Rollini and the Golden Gate Orchestra 1924–1927: Their Hottest Titles Recorded for the Pathé and Plaza Labels, (Timeless, 2006)
• Adrian Rollini 1934–1938 (Retrieval, 2004)
• Adrian Rollini 1937–1938 (Retrieval, 2005)
• Adrian Rollini Trio, Quartet and Quintet, (Vintage Music, 2005)
• Adrian Rollini as a Sideman, Volume 1: 1929–1933 (Jazz Oracle, 2006)

References