Four Jumps of Jive

In late 1945 Willie Dixon put together the Four Jumps of Jive, a quartet that also included Gene Gilmore, Bernardo Dennis, and Ellis Hunter. Their blend of R&B harmony vocals and blues quickly earned them a loyal Chicago following and seemed to promise a substantial recording future, yet the ensemble dissolved before that promise could be realized. During Mercury Records’ formative period they cut “Satchel Mouth Baby” and “It’s Just the Blues.” When Gilmore and Hunter departed in 1946, Leonard Caston—an old friend of Dixon’s—joined the remaining members, and the new lineup was rechristened the Big Three Trio. The group continued performing essentially the same style of music for the next decade.