Variety (Apr 1939)

40 VARIETY MUSIC—DANtE BANDS Wednesday, April 5, 1939 52d St, Incubator of Name Bands, Loob to Have New Click-Herman Dulikes the Symbol . By BEBNIE WOODS Famous Door, S2d street (New York) swing «pot, is getting a name 'as an incubator of bands since re- opening last tall with the Count Basie band Latter crew made a hit in the two by four joint, then left for a fairly successful road tour. Little known, comparatively, before that date, Basie has taken a place alongside the leading colored bands. Door officials are currently reputed to be dickering, to bring nim back for a run some time this summer. Plans are being made to enlarge the spot to accomodate another 50 patrons or so through a rearrange-, ment of the rear part of the room. Red Norvo and Mildred Bailey fol- lowed Basie into the Door but in- ternal dissension culminated In a sudden closing, a splitup of the lead- ers, and the temporary scattering of the outfit. It later reorganized with the same complement and is set for a return date at the Benjamin Franklin hotel, Philadelohia, open- ing Saturday (8). Miss Bailey is on her own. Charlie Bamet, following, like Basle, also clicked. Bamet had been playing the coffee-and-cake cir- cuit of one-nighters, etc^ but after opening at the Door with a slii;htly refurbished band skyrocketed to popularity. He completed a two- week date at the Paramount, N. Y.. last night (Tuesday) where hot jive followers audibly demanded some of bio recorded tunes. Woody Herman's band, which had been bouncing around betweien the New York and Brooklyn Roseland dancerles, and latterly In Boston for Charlie Shribman, opened at the Door week before last Herman wasn't in the spot a week before word seeped around of another new dick on 52d street WOODT HEBMAN OBCHESTBA (15) With Bbry Ann MeCaU Famoos Door, N. T. Herman's crew, a solid 14-piece versatile outfit will go places as a result of this showing. Both the leader and the outfit behind him have everything that some of the bands now on top can boast and in some respects go many of 'em a few better. Leader himself Is apparently all-America. Looks good in front of the band, sings well, lips a lot of clarinet (and occasional alto . sax), and carries it all with an informal, ingratiating personality. Musically the outfit is exception- ally clean,' whether getting off on current pops or standards. Arrange- ments, done from within the band (this is Isham Jones' old crew, with several replacements, and is now cooperative) give almost every num- ber a lift It's bounce stuff and plenty moving. There are several particularly good arrangements in the band's book. One of its. best is grobably. 'Penny Serenade' which [erman should get on wax as soon as possible. Tune Is fading but his arrangement gives it new life. Others are 'Big Morning,' 'Wood- choppers' Ball' and the theme, 'Blue Evening.' Herman follows Basle and Bamet when it comes to power. It's got that, but can also go to the other ex- treme. Latter shows up in the ar- ranifement of Jimmy Van Heusen's 'Heaven Can Walt,' portions of which are done in soft style featur- ing a flute team. Band is loud at times when in hot form, but that's to be expected here. Rhythm section impresses as the most solid section of tiie band. Good impression gathered at a live hearing is duplicated when listening to the crew 'on the air. Crew has three NBC shots a week. They give the same lift, are nicely balanced, and should convince band fans there's a new fave on the horizon. As a rule the Door has always been a tough spot for radio engineers handling remote pickups because of its size, the jive bouncmg around In what's hardly bigger than an over- sized parlor. Some of Bamet's shots were poorly balanced, but a mike reiarrangement ior Herman seems to have overcome that Herman's setuo instrumentally Is: four saxes, with the fourth alternat- ing on a tromtwne, oiie trombone, one flugel horn, three trumpets and four rhythm. That's exclusive Of Herm'n'is clarinet and sax. Men are: Saxie Mansfield, Joe Estren, Pete Johns, Ray Hopfner, reeds; Joe Bishop, flu<'el .hom; Neal Reid. trom- bone; Steady Nelson, Willie WiUard, Mac McCorquodale. trumpets; Prank Carlson, . drums; Tommy. Linehan, piano; Hy White, guitar, and Walt Yoder, bass. Mary Ann McCall handles the vo- cals. Her swing style should go rl.'^ht ' along with the outfit as it climbs. Does 'em all, fast hot or ballad equally well. She's the gal that momentarily replaced Edythe Wright with Tommy Dorsey few months back, but was forced to bow out when theatre managers de- manded Miss Wright's name on Dor- sey's recently completed theatre tour. Frances Faye and a solo pian- ist are in with Herman. Miss Faye's hot styled stuff is a nltery natural and called for two encores when caught She works hard. Herman will be replaced . at the Door the end of this month by Teddy Wilson's new band, which Is In for six weeks. Door olTlcials are said to want Herman back for another 10 stanzas after Wilson's exK and be- fore the contemplated return of Basie. SOXGS FROM ROBBINS Fastest Selling Hit In 10 Yean DEEP PURPLE By Peter De Rote and Mitchell Poriih Here's One For The Money THE MOON IS a: SILVER DOLLAR By AAitctielLParish and Sqmmy Fain Gordon and Revel's Newest Song Smash I NEVER KNEW HEAVEN COULD SPEAK 20th Century-Fox Picture, "Rose of Washington Square" This Year's 2 Greatest Novelty Hits GOTTA PEBBLE IN MY SHOE By Charlie Tobias and Al Feldman VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIIE By Abel Green, Pot Ballard and Lorry Clinton KOBBINS MUSIC CORPORATION .709 SEVENTH AVENUE • NEW YOfcK. PhUadelphla, AprU 4. A. A. Tomei, former prez of the Musicians' local and now a member of the Philly Orch, pre- sented a resolution at a meeting of the Central LaI>or Union last Thursday, But before he started to speak, he pushed the' mike away. When . delegates com- plained that they couldn't hear him, he explained: 'I've always been against mechanized music' HABBT JAMES OBCHESTBA (IS) With Bemlce Byers, Jack Palmer Hotel Fennsylvanls, N. T. Underway almost two months, Harry James' new band has come along far from Its teeoft stage, al- though there are several things still to be smoothed out It apparently has already built a following among the younger patrons of the Penn. One of the things making it hard to miss is its closeness to the style of James' ex-boss, Benny Goodnipn. Inasmuch as James is one of the top trumpeters, it's natural that the brass stands out in his crew; he's expected as the leader to show his wares. But the section stands out too much and too often. It's com- posed of three homs besides the leader's and when they get off, backed by two trombones, the four saxes have a hard time shining through. When James isn't pushing air through his mouthpiece solo he's chiming in with the trio. Usual four rhythm complete the setup. ItH get there. , Power didn't seem to bother Penn checkgrabbers when caught (31), several arrangements prompting 'em to stop hopping and stand around in front of the bandstand. Equally appreciated Is the .crew's slower tempoed, muted numbers. That's when promise really shows and is an indication of what the outfit will of- fer :when' It ' settles further and tones down a bit James' air shots reflect the abund- ance ' oil. brass and another thing that's not apparent in a live hearing. That's his drummer's consistently heavy foot on the base pedal. At times when listening to a remote the thud of the drum vibrates on a set's sound board in monotonous ear punishing manner. Bemlce Byers and Jack Palmer .handle the vocals. Miss Byers is a bnmet Rwingstress who handles her assignments smoothly and in nice style. Palmer wasn't heard when caught James leave the Penn to- morrow (6) to may way for Kay Kyser, who comes in Saturday (8) Song Infringement Suit Vs. Gordon-Revel^ Feist Robert Brooker Wyatt flled a fed- eral court action In New York Thursday (30) against Mack Gordon, Harry Revel,.20th Century-Fox Film Corp. and Leo Feist Inc., claiming the plagiarism of the chorus of his song, 'In a Bassinet' by the Gordon- Bevel song, "This May Be the Nighf used in the film 'My Lucky Star.' An accounting of profits, damages and an Injunction are sought hside Stnff-Orchestras Jiminy Dorsey's orchestra at the Strand theatre, New York, went leader, less for last two shows Sunday (26) night in a situation.similar to Georg* Hall's date at the Strand the week previous. Dorsey got word after com« pleting a chore on the 'Show of the Week' program on WOR that his father had suffered a stroke at the Bernardsville, N. J., home of Tommy Dorsey. Will Osborne^ whose outfit exited the Strand Thursday (23) to make way for Jimmy, returned and guest conducted the first show Monday morning, Dorsey getting back in time for the second. Father is recovering. George Hall recently was absent two days from the State because of the death, of his wife. Reference to Horace Heidt's Injuty. in a University of California football game during maestro's recent appearance on Fitch bandwagon over NBC drew a burn from Si Steinhauser, radio ed of Pittsburgh Press. In his column the following day, Steinhauser called Heidt to task for misleading either the Fitch scripters or himself. Newspaperman Insisted Heidt had told him during a recent Pittsburgh visit that he had never played football in his life and that the whole story was a press agent fabrication. Radio ed even named flock of Pittsburghers who were present at time of Interview and overheard Heidt's statement After leaving the Commodore Hotel, N. Y., about May 15 or so, the Sammy Kaye orchestra will probably stick' around within the jurisdiction of N. Y. Local 802 of the AFM in. order to complete the nine-month con- secutive stretch enabling it to secure 802 cards. They would be available to the band sometime in July. However several out of town dates have been offered to the band which, if taken, would make It necessary to start the stretch over again. Bregman, Vocco Sc Conn credit an imusual demand for 'And the Angels Sang' to siienny Goodman's Victor recording of that tune which one of Goodman's boys, Ziggy Elman, composed, and Johnny Mercer lyrlcized. First and only waxing by the band, long prior to BVC's starting-to plug it has created audience demand so that other leaders are now seeking out who publishes the tune. Bands of brothers Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, originally reported as opposing one another from the N. Y. Strand and Paramount, will still be in different comers day and date but with a little more distance between. Jimmy closes at the Strand tomorrow (Thursday) opening Friday at the Flatbush, Brooklyn, for the Brandts. Tommy Dorsey goes into the Par, N. Y., today (Wednesday). Victor Records Is getting out special, exploitation for the Tommy Dorsey recording of 'Little Skipper.' Dorsey's youngster. Tommy Dorsey, 3d, is actually niclmamed Little Skipper and Victor has had photogs out at. Dorsey's Bernardsville, N. J,, estate mugging the kid In various poses, etc,, which will tie in with the waxing. Coleman Hawkins, tenor sax man who's been In London for past five years, expects to return to U. S. this summer. Hawkins has been cutting records and circulating through England and Scotland as a guest sax footer with many of England's musical combinations. Bing Crosby and ISate Smith, among the radio vocal stars, and Guy Lombardo's orchestra are the most closely followed by the out-of-town bands to hear the latest tunes. Anything on their radio programs gen- erally gets wide general attention from contemporary maestros in the sticlu. For the past several weeks Rockwell-General Amusement Corp. has been exploiting the activities of the Larry Clinton orcliestra through the circu- lation of miniature telegrams labeled 'Dipsy-Doodlegrams.' Printed up to resemble Postal' Tele wires, the forwarded notes are said to be the idea at Clinton himsell Inside Stuff-Music Chappell & Co. and Mills Music, Inc., have come to an amicable settle- ment over a question that arose from the numbers recently Interpolated Into the 'iPins and Needles* show. Some time after Mills tied up the score Chappell put the musical's composer, Harold J. Rome, under contract When CHiappell sought to obtain numbers subsequently inserted Into the show Mills protested, pointing out that its own contract had a proviso which gave them the rights to all P & N songs during the run of the show, whether originally Included or later Interpolated. Billy Rose Is breaking In a musical score' on Broadway prior to the World's Fair. The new Dana Suesse-Ted Fetter-Rose songs will be first interpolated Into Rose's Casa Manana (N.Y.) revue April 6, when he brings girly shows back in place of straight vaudeville. Later in the summer the same set of songs will be fitted into Rose's Aquacade show at the N. Y. World's Fair. Bibliography of those of his race prominent as authors and composers has been compiled and published by W. C. Handy. Volume, a slim one, is entitled 'Negro Authors and Composers of the United States.' In a ^recent ad of salutations to Jack Bobbins, Mitchell Parish's name wad misspelled. He lyrlcized 'Deep Purple' to Peter de Rose's tune. SOnSA MEUOBIAL SHOW A memorial to John Philip Sousa, at which tlie composer's more nota- ble works will be played, is set for Carnegie Hall, N. Y., May 4 by the Fordham University band under the direction of Capt Ernest A. Hopt Guest conductors will be B, A. Roife, Arthur Piyor and John Philip Sousa 3d. Bill Roberta orchestra opens un- limited engagement April 13 in Per- sian Room, Hotel Sir Francis Drake, San Francisco. Deal set by Dick Dorso of CRA, Will Osborne opens tonight (Wednesday) in the Cocoanut Grove, of the Park Central, N. Y. FanI Whiteman plays the Million Dollar Pier, Atlantic Ci^, Sun- day (9). OLD SONG SUGGESTIONS JIMMY McHUCH'S "DOIN' TBDE NEW LOW DOWN" ' MILLS MUSIC ABC MUSIC CORP 799 5EVENTH AVE. N. Y f R A N K H ! N S I r- - = • ' " y ■