Photo Gallery – Pat Cicirillo

Pat Ciricillo Sitting at His Piano – J.G.

At the end of April 1930, Bix took residence in room 605 of the 44th Street Hotel. His neighbor in room 606 was trumpet player and Columbia University music student Pasquale “Pat” Ciricillo. Pat had purchased a Wurlitzer upright piano some months earlier. He secured a job in a summer resort for three months, beginning in June 1930, and allowed Bix to borrow the piano for that period. Pat returned to Manhattan in the Fall of 1930, in time for his classes at Columbia University, and the piano went back to room 606, but Bix would drop in Pat’s room to use the piano during September of 1930 and again beginning in February 1931, when he returned from Davenport. According to Pat Ciricillo, Bix composed “Flashes” and “In the Dark” on Pat’s piano. The piano is now on exhibit at The Louisiana State Museum Jazz Collection in New Orleans. I am grateful to Joe Giordano for the gift of a copy of this photograph taken by Joe Giordano.