”That jazz” is referring to a miracle in music that happened in the beginning of 1900s when people from a big variation of ethnical and cultural background inspired each other to play in a new fashion. Luckily all this coincided with the development of new inventions like the phonograph recordings, photography and film so that it became in part documented and still can be enjoyed today. In my early teens I happened to be exposed to ”that jazz” and it struck a string deep within me that has kept vibrating ever since.
Paul Bocciolone Strandberg
NEW Series: From the Studio and From the Record Shelves
Today’s Tune:
From the Record Shelves #345
I Had Someone Else Before I Had You
CD Timeless CBC 1-042
A hundred years from today, but backwards, we had March 16, 1925; that was a Monday. A group including Red Nichols, Jimmy Dorsey, and Adrian Rollini cut a record of a pop tune. The idea of forming this studio group came from Ed Kirkeby, the manager of the New York-based orchestra The California Ramblers. He had excellent contacts, among others, the many different record companies, and he saw that there was a chance to do even more business with a small group with a bit of a novelty image.
First he named it logically “The Little Ramblers,” but since their main novelty was a little instrument handled by Rollini, called Goofus by himself and Couesnophone by its producer, the name of the versatile group became Goofus Five.
So what did they do in the Okeh studio that morning? After a couple of introductory saxophone breaks and a Nichols lead in the verse, Jimmy Dorsey, who was quite new to the Kirkeby organization, takes a high-register alto sax solo in the whimsical style of the day.
Nichols, playing with a straight mute, is next, well supported by Tommy Felline’s banjo in a chorus shared with Rollini’s goofus. Nichols reenters shortly with a beautiful open cornet sound, followed by piano, played by Irving Brodsky. Now it’s time for Rollini with his main instrument, the bassax, to demonstrate “sweet” versus “hot” interpretation of the melody. Another break by Dorsey follows, and then Nichols leads the ensemble out, displaying the “flutter tongue” in a break. Stan King is handling the cymbals.
They made many recordings like this, and it’s delightful to hear a portion of their output with such a light, playful touch.
Radioprogram (Swedish):
Radio Swingtime 100 – 1 november 2002
MY PRETTY GIRL – Nu är vi framme vid det näst sista avsnittet i denna unika radioprogramserie. Vi gläds åt livaktig jazz från New Orleans med Oliver Naylor och Halfway House Orchestra, vi njuter av Fletcher Hendersons fina orkester med arrangemang av (…) lyssna på radioprogramlyssna på Radio Swingtime 100
Latest CDs:
Sensational CD with Narcisse Jazz Band
Melodious jazz inspired by the irresistible sound and pulse of the 1920’s. Buy at $10.00 (+shipping) (…) view the CDMore about Narcisse CD
Paul and His Gang – new CD Live in USA and Canada
Paul and his Gang was founded in Malmoe, Sweden by Paul Bocciolone Strandberg in 1990. At the most prestigious jazz festival for “old style jazz” in Breda, Holland they won the first prize in 1992. Their genuine interpretations of early jazz created an interest also in the US where (…) view the CDMore about Paul and His Gang CD Live in USA and Canada
“Remembering” CD
I’m proud to present a new double-CD in co-operation with jazzarkivet. The production is a retrospective collection of recordings and presents two of my most successful bands, Scaniazz (CD 1) and The Absalon Orchestra (CD 2), covering the period from 1975 until 1988 (…) continue readingRemembering CD