The record changer (Jan-Dec 1950)

10 J J JOE AND CECILE MADISON $<w w Annual record competition in France named the tops in each field as follows : The "Grand Prix Jazz Hot" was awarded to Scrapple From the Apple by Charlie Parker. Best Traditional was Panther Dance, Bechet-Luter ; Modern was Prince Albert by Max Roach. The best French record was Lover, Come Back to Me, BeBop Minstrels, while Hubert Rostaing won solo honors with his break on Stardust. In the amateur competition for "Coup Jazz Hot," Petinelle's Orch. of Marseille was the winner. This latter event is conducted annually by the Hot Club of Belgium. The Australian cats will witness the birth of two new labels this month. Club label will start off with Frank Johnson's Fabulous Dixielanders, and the Bell Band will be featured on their own Swaggie label. First appearance of the Southern Jazz Group, also of Australia, will be on the OVERSEAS JAZZ RELEASES U. S. Summit label doing High Society/ Mammy 0' Mine and Salty Dog/Memphis Rag. The Graeme Bell Band will make Flat Foot/Winnin' Boy Bl and Doctor Blues/ Closer Walk "originals" currently released on Summit. We understand these Bell sides were recorded in a church on portable equipment which results in an amazing echo effect. In Spain, the Hot Club of Madrid is completing arrangements for a record comprising the best Spanish musicians. One side will be a classic, and the backing an original called Stompin' at Columbia. This disc will be included in the regular Spanish Columbia catalogue. Our contact has just acquired the missing (from Delaunay's Hot Discography) Pari 25423 and finds it to be Sam Wooding's own composition of Krazy Kat backed by / Can't Give You Anything But Love. He also I CARRIED BANKROLL'S PIANO CHARLIE WEED 1 NO. | OF AN IMPORTANT SERIES (Charlie Weed, one of the best white cornet players of the mid-twenties, has just come forth with some of his amazing reminiscences of. the days when jazz ivas jazz and siving zvasn't.) Back in the old days in Chicago when I hadn't as yet learned how to make a cornet go the way it should, I happened to be walking along in the gutter one day wishing somebody would throw a butt my way. I had just paused to see if the one at my feet was my preferred brand when a colored man came up to me and spoke to me. "Son," the colored man said, "my name's Bankroll Morton and I'm just in from Frisco, but I can't get my piano off the boxcar. If you'll go down and get it for me, and bring it back, I'll learn you to play the best damn piano between Hackensack and Passaic, New Jersey." Now the idea for a musical career had already entered my head, but the thing I wanted more than anything else in the world wasn't piano lessons. However, I went. I and eleven other guys named Joe.1 We carried the piano nineteen blocks from the freight yard to the base ment saloon where Bankroll was working, never dreaming that the little colored man was the great Bankroll Morton, even though he'd just gotten through telling us who he was. Anyhow, Bankroll thanked us all, treated all of us who drank to some free gin, and thanked us again, and then I and the eleven other guys named Joe left.2 I did not think the incident important at the time, but years later, when the great Bankroll had died, as most of the best jazz (or "jass") men did early in life, I was able to say, proudly and without fear of contradiction: "I CARRIED BANKROLL'S PIANO!" 1 This is an error. Only three of them were named Joe. The other eight remain anonymous, although Rndi Blesh may have further information. 2 This is an error. Only three of them were named Joe. The other eight remain anonymous, although Rndi Blesh may have further information. picked up Sam Wooding's Black Bottom/ Behind the Clouds, on German Polydor. Our friend in Czechoslovakia has finally unearthed a local dixie band. "A few days ago I visited our first jazz concert in many months. There are some fine bands including a good Dixieland unit, but they are rarely allowed to play and you never find them on records." Coleman Hawkins, in Germany on his way from a Swedish visit, stopped off for a session with one of the mixed German outfits. Some of you radio hams may be interested to know that Toby Fichelscher (German) is currently singing blues over AFN — Berlin each Wednesday assisted by Manfred Frenz on piano. Both are members of the Berlin Hot Club. Those excellent pre-war recordings of the Golden Seven on German Electrola have Ernst Hollerhagen on the clarinet. Ernst has been in Switzerland for some time and is presently featured on Swiss Elite. Recent shipment from Russia indicates the Russians are catering to the "universal language." You will now see English titles underneath the Russian. A Merry Day on USSR 15460 is very good. Fine accordion by B. Tikhonov with able assistance from an excellent bass and guitar. This trio could pick its spots in most of the small U. S. night clubs. So, the accordion in Russian, but whereinell did they dig up that guitar and bass? FBI, attention, please ! Baronet label, owned by Timmy Rosenkrantz, has made its appearance in Sweden and features the wax of Joe Sullivan, Hawkins, Bailey, etc. Anyone who likes the way bands of 20 years ago used to play the pops of the day? Residents of Los Angeles may purchase Peerless 2044 by Juan Garrido Orch. recording 15 Colorado. This is a Mexican band recording on Mexican Peerless but it is available in LA through a local branch of the company. 15 Colorado is an oldie from the US tunes, but somehow we just can't place the true title. Anfl while you're at it, pick up a copy of 12th St. Rag (La Calle 12) by Dominguez on Peerless 1917. In response to several letters : Sorry, our collectors' corner will list only foreign collectors who desire US trades. We will NOT list US collectors. You can advertise in RC. But sending a penny out of many foreign countries for an ad is like stealing gold from Fort Knox. COLLECTORS' CORNER D. B. A. Thompson, 57 Rutford Road, Redland, Bristol, England, desires trades with US collectors and offers a "search of the Isle" for your record wants. Alf Larsen, Hovedgaden 33, Hedusene, Denmark, desires US trades. Alf's taste is for Dixieland. (Continued on Page 19)