The Rhythm Boys did not always go on tour with Whiteman.
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You asked, "The question is if Bing was in in New York on January 25 and January 26, why shouldn't Bix be in Chicago on January 24?"
According to Rayno's terrific Whiteman biography, the Rhythm Boys were placed by Whiteman on the Keith-Albee-Orpheum vaudeville circuit beginning on Aug 6, 1928 at the Proctors Theatre (built in 1916, seated 2000) in Yonkers, NY. According to the great Bing chronology in
It is announced that the Rhythm Boys, without Whiteman, will be going on the Keith-Albee, Orpheum and Proctor vaudeville circuit (subsequently known as Radio-Keith-Orpheum from October) throughout Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. Whiteman is to be allowed to recall the trio at will. On tour, they are introduced by a cardboard cut-out of Whiteman and a recording of his voice. Bing earns $300 a week. The trio reportedly becomes lazy and misses travel connections.
They also were, among other places, in Cleveland, Chicago, Akron, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Sioux City, Nashville. Rayno writes, "It would be March 1929 before the Rhythm Boys fully rejoined Whiteman."
Occasionally the Rhythm Boys would be back in New York, and would make recordings, some with Whiteman and, as you pointed out, Bing, on his own, made recordings with Sam Lanin (Jan 25, 1929) and the Dorsey Brothers (Jan 26, 1929). In addition, the Rhythm Boys recorded (New York, Jan 25, 1929) six takes (the first five rejected; take 6 mastered Col 1819-D) of "So the Blackbirds and the Bluebirds Got Together." Moreover, while on the circuit, the Rhythm Boys recorded on Nov 10, 1928 in Chicago "My Suppressed Desire" and "Rhythm King" (Col 1629-D). I note that on that date, Nov 10, 1929, Whiteman was in Oklahoma City.
Finally, I note that between Aug 6, 1928 and March 1, 1929, while the Rhythm Boys were on the Keith-Albee-Orpheum vaudeville circuit, Whiteman had 24 recording sessions; Bing was only on three of these.
This should provide an answer to your question about Bing being in New York while Whiteman was on tour. In fact, as demonstrated above, Bing was appearing all over the place while Whiteman was somewhere else. Of course, all of this sheds no light on the Bix chronology in Jan 1929.
Albert
This message has been edited by ahaim on Jul 8, 2009 8:11 AM