Variety (Mar 1936)

48 VARItiTY MIISIC-NITE CLUBS Wednesday, March 25, 1936 Swing Stuff Personals Gordon 'Chris' Griffin, now on - NBC in place of Bunny Berlgan, likewise to be heard on Fridays with the Instrumentalists. ..Frank Froeba, recovering from illness, -waxed 'Just to Be In Caroline,' 'Sweet Lucy Brown,' 'It's Nobody's Business,' and 'Hanging On a Star.' ...Bill Tennent, arranger tor Jack Hylton, back in Chicago. K . Charles Bush drumming for Joe Haymes at Roseland since Jack -Malsel left. This ork cut 'Christopher Colum- bus' *or American Record.. .Chi- cago lawyer Reed Dickerson au- thored best scholarly, exposition of swing music to date in current Har- per's magazine;. .Deane Klncaid prefers arranging for Bob Crosby while riding trolley cars. ...Eddie. Condon and Bud Freeman in combo at Hoagy Carmichaers wedding re-i ceptlon.. .UHGA Chicago club scored second social success with Fletcher Henderson at the Congress ...Teddy Hill to wax 'Uptown Rhapsody* for Brunswick.. .Bud Freeman shaky before Whiteman f! THE BEST IN MUSIC I I f : I, Hear RUSS MORGAN f AT THE Biltmore Hotel, Mew York His most requested tunes are From follow the Fleet* Words and Music by IRVING BERLIN "LET'S TACE THE MUSIC AND PANCE" "I'M PUTTING ALL HI EGGS IN ONE BASKET" "BUT .WHERE ARE YOU" "LET YOURSELF GO" •«WE SAW THE SEA" "lit BATHER .LEAD A BAND" "GET THEE SATAN" ' BEHIND ME From "The Music Goes Bound" Columbia Picture Featuring Harry Rtrhrrinn "Life Begins When You're In Love" "Suzannnh" "There'll Be No South" "Moon Over Miami" "Building Up to an Awful Let- down" HARRY LINK G P VI IRVING BERLIN n 777-TtmAVC. N-Y-C- 1 i I ♦ I R0BB1NS" CHATS The new California . musical tlirlU is STERLING YOUNG .and His Orchestra Currently heard from tHe Wllshlre Bowl - tat Los An- geles and aver, the Columbls chain. Hear him feature: "LOST" "WELCOME STRANGER" ♦'LOVELY LADX" "I'M SHOOTING HIGH" "ALONE" "THE OLD OAK TREE" ''ROLL ALONG rRAIRIE 1 MOON" ROBBINS M l) SIC CORP O RATION V;Q SI VI M H AM NL'l -M W >OHK airing.. .Bill Basle's colored combo causing comment in the mid-West. On the Air Debut of Elgin's 'Swing Time Revue' needled plenty controversy among the jitter-bugs as to han- dling of Benny Goodman. Helen Ward was high-spotted with her best number, 'Top of Tour Head,' to the disgust of one faction;: while another thought Jess Stacy was a poor substitute for: Teddy Wilson on the trio. But all agreed that fea- turing the trio was aces and they wanted more music and less loose talk about swing. With a special plug to watch the drummer man, the trio composed of Benny:Good- man, Gene Krupa and Jess Stacy, carved some fancy licks that rocked the radio. Sailing from 'Goody Goody' into 'After You've Gone/ Gene. Krupa took a full chorus in which he did everything but play the tune on the traps. Unfor- tunately, although Jess Staoy is tops on honky-tonk piano, he couldn't fit as closely as Teddy Wil- son, whose style is confessedly mod- eled on the Goodman technique. So those "Victor waxlngs. remained untouched, the last ensemble se- lection of 'Bugle Call' "was a little rushed despite a good all-around performance. latters On Brunswick, Duke Ellington has ctit a more than the usually competent platter in 'No Greater Love' and /Strangest Thing,' First side features some fine alto by Johnny Hodges above, a well-balr anced rhythm section. On the sec- ond side, Barney Bigard hits his stride on clarinet while the brass lays down some okay flat chords; Be sUre to batch the Larry Brown slip-horn behind Ivy Anderson's vocal. Incidentally, don't miss the Bunny Berlgan discs now out on Vocalion. Genuine - barrel-house, poor recording can't conceal ; Berl- gan's crack corneting or the tenor- ing of Forrest Crawford. Catch, the latter's chorus on 'Swing Mr. Charlie,' and hla screwy coda to I'd Rather Lead a Band.' On Decca the Bob Howard re- lease of 'Spreadin' Rhythm Around,' and 'Wake Up and Sing* shows that Babe Rusin's tenor sax work is still close enough to Bud Freeman's. The cornet of Berlgan gets a break while Fllburn's trombone proves again he's underrated. 'Decca Stomp,' by Red Norvo, repays close attention. With a nice build-up, Stewie Fletcher steals the platter on the French horn,- with Herb Haymer outdoing himself after the release, and Norvo himself con- tributing his usual sensitive inter- •pretlrigs. On Victor Fats Waller gives out one of the best of his recent Jam- fests. 'The Panic Is On' and 'Sugar Rose' are the work on the git-box. The Waller routine of a piano chorus, a vocal, instrumental, and then out, with vocal trimmings, works well with his.present combo. It's • commercial s'wlnff that can't miss. Incidentally, the Victor ver- sion of 'I'm Getting Sentimental Over you,' is the'finest of the many •recorded by Tommy Dorsey, and will stand plenty ; repetition. 'WAY PAR LINING UP MORE PIT BAND ACTS • FEIST • HIT/ OF THE HOUR In the beautiful Marine Dlnlni Boom of The Ediewater Beach- Hotel . . . Chleaio'i Smart Set -have acclaimed The Talented BERNIE CUMMINS and His Orchestra Hear- him feature tho sensational songs from "The Great Zlesfeld" "HOV" nnd "YOU NEVER LOOKED SO BEAUTIFUL" also "HAWAIIAN PARADISE" "IT 8 GREAT TO BE IN LOVE AGAIN" "IT'S BEEN SO LONG" ■ : .■ . and "THW'WHEEL OF THE WAGON IS BROKEN" Hector's Pub Hector, who went into a receiver- ship with .his Club New Yorker, plans reopening that nitery In the fall. Meantime he's at a new spot on East 54th street, Cafe de la Ville. Disc Reviews By Abel Green Nite Club Reviews RUSSIAN EAGLE (Sherry-Netherland) (NEW YORK) In what was formerly, the Nether- land room (grill) of the swanky Sherry-Netherland hotel, Gen. Theodore A. Lodijensky, who has Russlan-Eagled himself from Coast to Coast, has reestablished a New York room of that cognomen and calibre. This marks the Geni's re- turn from ; Hollywood where he Eagled and also maestroed a Rus- sian-American Ait Club, catering to the hand-kissing film bunch with result that the Hollywoodites, on eastern visits, are already searching him out. . The recent, renaissance of the vokda type of niterles inspired the S-N's move. The Hotel St, Regis is doing well with a replica of the famed Maisonette Russe of Paris, and so the former grill of the Sherry-Netherland was tricked up into a caviar aura. Highly attrac- tive and atmospheric, it's conducive to the 8 : 30 p. m. dining idea, Alex- ander Bunchouck's excellent string quintet gives out the concert music* and dancing doesn't start until after 10 p. m. Gen. Xiodljensky, who also has been a technical advisor: on Russian- type pictures, such as 'Rasputin and the Empress,' etc., is merely the conferencier and chief greeter. An impressive personality in formal habiliment, he's an excellent choice for : the spot. Supporting e h o w in c 1 u d e s Raphael, roly-poly Franco-Russian concertina virtuoso, who came over with Lucienne Boyer's : 'Continental Varieties,'and whb proves a show- stopper here. Other soloists (vocal) are Mme. Jemma Horok, Mme. Sadovskaja and Mme. Dvorjesky. In charge of the coatroom are a couple Of Russian princesses, or so. George, former maitre d'hotel of the old Rector's and. now here, avers. They're billed as Princess Xenia Shahowskaya and Countess LaLa Ralle. There is also a Russian choir for vocal interludes. Bunchouck's ensemble comprises two pianos (at one of which pre- sides , Sam PokraSs, who fashions ditties for the Shuberts), a viola, bass viol and the violinist-conduc- tor. Dinner is $2.50 ($3 with h'ors d'quvres) and the wine card is more reasonable and more authentic in its chateau vintages than in many another ' nitery. Withal a very worthwhile spot. Abel* The Paramount, N. Y., hopes to go through the' entire summer with the pit band policy inaugurated Xmas day.. Latest negotiation is for the Louis Armstrong band, price holding up a deal. That Union Stuff Goes In Small Towns, Too StroudsbUrg, Pa., March 24. Union trouble kept Charles Lan- terman and his orchestra from ap- pearing at the dance given by the Hughes -Printing company at the Indian Queen hotel here. Saturday night (21). A few weeks back the bindery department at the Hughes (closed) shop went out on strike but the strike wat not recognized by the other unions, typographical and pressmen, in the same shop. It was alleged that several strik- ers approached Lanterman and threatened him and other members of his family if he appeared at the dance. Lanterman failed to put in an appearance, even though his con- tract was with the hotel and not with any of the unions involved. Harry Bond's band played for both the show and dance in place of Lanterman'*. GROSVENOR HOUSE (LONDON) London, March 11. Francis A. Mangan presents a spectacular floor production; music by Edward Horan; lyrics by Eddie Pola; dances and ensembles by Jack Donohue. It ran- 56 -minutes first night and was well received. There are eight items, all of them American, with the exception of French, ^ Parr and Childs, who are appearing here in vaudeville in a close imitation of the Diamond Brothers. They are billed in vaude- ville as the Three Loose Screws. Dependence is placed upon them for the comedy of the show, and they acquit themselves well, but the comedy hit is Edna Covey in her dancing burlesque of "The Dying Swan.' . Only other act which may not be technically classified as American is Martinet, with his" Juggling Crow. He has, however, played America so much that he is generally looked upon as a native act. Doris Niles makes a favorable im- pression with a Spanish castanet dance, and. follows with a rumba, assisted by Serge Leslie. Remainder of the numbers are mostly ensemble bits with, special songs, freshly and attractively cos- tumed. Girls are young and allur- ing and the whole makes for a very acceptable floor show. Jolo. CHESAPEAKE HOUSE (NEW YORK) This restaurant on East 41st street is primarily a dining resort, but management has opened its top floors and is presenting light, in- formal aong and music fare for after-theatre patronage. Neighbor- hood is quiet, removed from the Times Square sector. Fred C. Schahberger, Baltimore showman, and J. C. Llpsey are run- ning the place. Elsie Lange, billed as the "Victor Herbert Girl' is the main singer, using only piano accompaniment. Arthur Anderson Alls in with neat pianology. Decor Is quiet.- Main room on the second floor is labeled the Titian room, with intimacy played up in its arrangement. BraU Lots of swing to the current crop of swings. Fats Wallsr cuts up with .'Sugar Rose' and 'The Panic Is On,' the former his own composition (with Phil Ponce), on Victor 25268 and lntros some of his unique heated rhythmpation. Franki* Trumbauer, with virtually the Paul Whiteman nucleus as his team ' (Tram, In turn, is of the Whiteman: organization), sends but two of his. unique compositions, •Flight of a Hay-Bag' (A Rhythm Thesaurus) and 'Ahnouncex's'. Blues' (Stokes-Trumbauer) wherein. is naturally featured some of the unique Tram slip-side stuff and the general brass team. Brunswick 7629. Whiteman, of course, is an exclusive Victor; artist, 'Sing, Sing, Sing* by and with the Louis Prima New Orleans Gang on Brunswick T628 is very trumpet, while 'It's Been So Long' from 'Great Ziegfeld'' <Adamson-Donaldson) -is smoother, swlngo. Gene Krupa's: Swing Band (com- prising Krupa at the at the drums; Jass Stacey, piano; Allan Reuss, guitar; Israel Crosby, bass; Roy Eldredge, trumpet; Chbo Berry, teno sax; and Benny Gpodman at- the clarinet) - is virtually the Goodman combo but with Krupa as the maes- tro. They cut up With 'Mutiny in the Parlor' (Edward Heyman-Vee Lawnhurst) and then go very swlngo with Riley and Farley's Tm Gonna Clap My Hands.' . Helen WaYd vocalizes. Many trick nice- ties in the instrumentation as to be expected from such a team. Victor 25263. Benny Goodman in turn on Victor 25258 gives out his own version of 'Basin Street Blues' (as differing from Bay Noble's orchestration, when the English maestro revived his own version of the .Dixieland style) backed by 'When Buddha Smiles.' This an old Arthur Freed- Nacio Herb Brown ballad but hot as the.Goodmanltes swing it. - On Decca 737, Roy Eldridge heads The Delta Four assisted by Carmen Mastren, guitar; Joe Marsala, clari- net, and Sid Weiss punishing the swollen fiddle. Weiss slaps that thing around pretty and Marsala and Mastren are very modern but Eldredge's trumpeting is the candy with 'Farewell Blues' and another composition, 'Swingin' on the Famous Door;' Which is anonymously credited to 'Leather Lip' for author- ship. This is virtually Wingy Man- none's combo but the Mannone name is restricted to Vocalion Brunswick, and Jack Kapp's outfit (Decca) and Brunswick ain't exactly allies, so Eldridge toots that horn instead. Another West 52d street swingin' fave, Red " McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings, on Decca 734 with 'When Love Has Gone' and 'Moon Rose.' L'otsa vocal style to the McKenzie manner of crooning and also nice instrumentation in support. Ditto on "No. 721 by the McKen zieites with 'I Don't Know Your Name' and 'Don't Count Your Kisses.* Smooth dansapation by Carlos Molina and his tango band with 'Thinking of You' (Molina-Paul Shahin), a tango, and 'A Moment in the Dark' (same authors) on Colum bia 3122. Campoli and his Marimba Tango ore -(imported) on Decca 723 offer 'Vienna in Springtime' and 'Your Heart Called Mine' in smooth style • Also from England , on Columbia 312.0-comes the London Piano-Ac pordion Band with One Night in Monte Carlo's as a slow fox paired with 'Beautiful Lady In Blue,' waltz. Another Col. importation, No. 4116, is Charles Kullman's tenoring of 'Seranade* (Romberg) from 'Student Prince' and Love in My Heart' (Lehar) from 'Merry Widow. G. Walter's orchestral accompaniment is superb as is Kullman's vocal artistry. - Victor has dug up two which Jack Hylton, in America some months now, recorded abroad. 'Song of the Cello' and 'You Give Me Ideas,' both by Waller-'Tunbridge are smart foxtrot ballads, well attuned to Hyl- ton's smooth style. Likewise Decca has dug into the trunk and reissued Hyltoh's versions of'My Darling,' an old 'Vanities' tune and 'Tell Me To- night'-(Spoliansky) on No. 735. An- other Hylton tune on Victor 25265 Is the novelty 'Everything Stops for Tea' which is paired with Paul Whiteman's smooth dansapation of 'Awake in a Dream' from 'Desire' (Robin-Hollander) wherein Ramona and Ken Darby assist vocally. Good commercial couplings of the No. 1 U. S. and British exponents of sym- phonic syncopation. More from England: Henry Hall and his orchestra with two 'At Home Abroad* (U. S. revue) tunes, 'Bran' New Suit' and 'Love Is a Dancing Thing.' Smith foxes both. Am- brose, another English maestro, gets zippy on Decca 726 with 'B'wanga' (Sid Phillips), semi-African one- step paired with 'Copenhagen,' an- other fastie. Ambrose again on Decca 724, another importation, is more modern with Noel Coward's comedy foxtrot, 'Mrs. Worthlqgton' backed by 'Goodbye Trouble' (Spoliansky-Eyton). . In the vocal division Phi! Regan pairs two from his Republic pic- ture,. "Laughing "Irish Eyes'—the title. song and 'All My Life.' Nice tenoring. Brunswick 7623. Ross and Sargent, in the accepted intime manner of the smart bars planolog 'The Lorelei,' by the Gershwins from 'Pardon My Eng- lish,' and 'Life Begins at Sweet 16» from 'Scandals,' 'Lorelei' is a saucv lyric. Columbia 311,9. ' Jane. Froman's Decca 725 offer- ings are 'If You Love Me' (Ray Noble) and 'it's Great to %e in Love Again' with full orchestral ac- comp and a nice style of vocalizing. , Smoother dansapation by Eddy Duchin on Victor 25264, 'Love Is Like a .Cigar.et' (Richard Jerome- Walter Kent), very promising fox- trot ballad, paired with 'Welcome Stranger* wherein Pete Woolery registers vocally. Victor 25259 pairs '6ht Oak Tree' and 'Great to Be in Love Again,' this time with Lew Sherwood vocalizing. In all, the same sparkling Duchin pianology scintillates plus that sweet-hot trumpet which, as a team, more thari anything else distinguishes Duchln's recordings. Hal Kemp on Bruswick 7626 does (Continued on page 49) ■goV QUOTES fi%\ This entlro page Is not We enough to -mention all of our orchestra leaders and singer friends for their splendid help In establishing Bay Noble's smashing ballad. Iiltl ... "The Touch of Your Lips" • The Latest Swing Craze . "I'm Gonna Clap My Hands" Louis Armstrong's Great Novelty "OI' Man Mose" L he Current Well Flayed Hit! "So This Is Heaven" /RilTLV BROJ>JOY^ I6I9 BROADWAY, n.Y.C ie house o f m us, cai novelties HAVE YOU HEARD? Paul White- man, Hal Kemp, Caea Xoma, <Toe HoJme§, "Stuff" Smith, etc., do— "ISE A-MUGGIN' With the Musical Arithmetic Opine 1-2-3-4-5-6-TJH-8-9-WOOF," etc. ... Watch Tills Original Novelty Sweep! The Brand New Swlngrer-Otiter-erl "RHYTHM SAVED THE WORLD" for Smooth Intrlglng Dance Music Hear Guy Lombardo's Rendition of "DONT SAY A WORD- JUST DANCE" The Novelty Hit— "RHYTHM IN MY NURSERY RHYMES" '6,9: B R0f>° WA ' WKC"' "Entertainer to the Stars B* B« B» Public Jester No. 1 ALAMAC Hotel, Miami Beach Closed MaTdi SSnd—WHEM*! NEXT? LEO FEI/T, me. I629 BROGDumv Nelu York