This Midwestern violinist and bandleader took his group on several groundbreaking tours to South America and India in the '20s and '30s, making him one of the great international ambassadors of jazz. Although he is a largely forgotten figure in the music, Leon Abbey's large jazz band was at least temporarily considered one of the best in the nation. He began leading combos in his native Minneapolis in his late teens, overcoming an obstacle that has halted many a fiddler from this part of the world: frozen rosin. In the early '20s he began touring with J. Rosamund Johnson, resulting in a relocation to New York City where the violinist again began concentrating on his own ensemble as well as working with the Savoy Bearcats.

The Savoy Ballroom's grand opening-night show in 1926 apparently featured a lineup of the hottest bands of the day, including the Charleston Bearcats led by Abbey as well as Fess Williams His Royal Flush Orchestra. Abbey's recording work as a freelancer during this period included sessions with classic blues singer Clara Smith. As a leader Abbey seemed to have a way with travel opportunities, launching a South American tour in 1927 that resulted not only in the indoctrination of many new Spanish and Portuguese speaking jazz fans, but in Abbey's musicians getting ill from eating too many bananas. La Conga de Jaruco is one of the Latin American flavored jazz tracks that the bandleader created from the inspirations of this tour.

Abbey took the group to Europe the following year, resulting in the leisurely opposite of a "This is Tuesday; this must be Belgium" tour. He took on residencies and enjoyed extended stays in Holland, Switzerland, England, France and throughout Scandinavia. In the mid-'30s, Abbey took his group to India for two successive tours and a residency that lasted until 1939. The swank Taj Mahal Hotel was a typical venue for this group while in the land of curry. Perhaps the leader was more involved in organizing travel than music, since various musicians that were on these tours have commented on the groups' democratic structures.

Anarchy might be a better description, since some of these groups were said to have no written arrangements, with each section simply working out its own harmonies and rhythms. This was still classic jazz, however, with a solid swing to it -- the use of the word "anarchy" should not lead listeners to conclude this was some kind of early free jazz band. At the close of the decade the violinist came back to New York,. Abbey was following the trail of many of his sidemen who had fled home due to rumors of war, leaving behind groups of largely Indian musicians attempting to figure out the American music. By 1941, Abbey had started a new trio in New York. Through the '40s and '50s he was touring regularly, switching locations to Chicago from 1947 and 1949. His group featured pianist Barrington Perry and bassist Rail Wilson, and worked regularly in Windy City jazz spots. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, Rovi