Variety (September 1952)

44 OHCHK:<$Ti»AS^2llU$$lC Wednesday, SepKimbcr 10, 1952 Band Reviews ART MOONEY ORCH (14) With Allan Roster Rustic Cabin, Englewood, N. J. Following a string of one-night- ers and road dates, Art Mooney moved into the Rustic Cabin at Englewood Cliffs, N. J., JTrlday (5) for a i^>vo-and-a-half week stand. Since Bill Levine’s Route 9W soot is cornnaratively close to New York ATooney will take advantage of this during the interval by sit- ting in op some M-G-M waxing se.s.sions. ’ With three rhythm, five reed and six brass, the band is a ver- satile organization that appears to be eoually at home whether wafting a waltz- or dishing out a hot instrumental. There’s no hint of the corny banio arrangements that Mooney oarlayed into the •‘Four T.eaf Clover” and “Baby Face” disclicks some five years ago. In light of the ti’end toward slow tunes and ballads at most ball rooms, Mooney programs such numb<»r«; j)c “Auf Wiedersehn,” •‘Wish Vqu Were Here” and “Sun- rise S-^renade.” among others. His is a ^inncenble stvle that had no trouble. In luring the predominant- ly youthful couples to ■ the floor op^'nin'^ night; To Mooney’s credit, he estab- lishes a folksy ranport with the customers from the outset. He asks for reouests, brings^ couples up to the mike, beckons dancers to congren^ate around the stand to listen to mnss vocaljs of novelty numbers. His mixing with the- customers is friendly., relaxed and blends nicely vdth the band’s in- formal dansanation. Youthful Allan Foster ably han- dles the vocals while Kerwin Sum- merville also doubles from the baritone .‘?nx to warble his own novcltv, “The Man Who Comes to Our House.” Withal, Mooney has a good commercial combo. But what he needs to spark him into the forefront again Is another top- selling platter. Gilh. BENNY STRONG ORCH (14) Mark Hopkins, San Francisco Geeting the customers onto the dance floor and keeping them there is Strong‘’s chief objective, and he succeeds by providing a bouncy type of rhythm, with a good mixing of tunes. In its final analysis his troupe is out lo make dancing easy and entertaining which, when varied by vocals whicl:^ are either of the pop cate- gory or definitely nostalgic, spells I out a formula which pays off in ' floor popularity. Strong doesn’t strive for any special effects with his instru-' mentation except to maintain his | distinctive bounce or tempo. The standard appeal which his four, sax, three brass, two violin, guitar j and three rhythm put over is sim- ply good dance music and that’s plenty good in the light of the quandam stuff which o|ten passes off in the terp emporiums. This shows up also in his choice of tunes, which runs the gamut from the Current fare to the oldies such as ‘‘That Certain Party,” “Five Fool Two,” “Sweet Georgia Brown.” If they like it, Strong will play it, which Is another way of saying the customer always right. Moreover, he pla:gs ’em with zest and sparkle. Current stafid, in which the troupe also backs name acts, has drawn him a considerable local fol- lowing from the« prance set. Ted. TOPPING ALL LISTS * V* ly LEROY ANDERSON MILLS MUSIC, Ine. It's HhiIc by JESSE GREER Today Yoilordoy’t KITTY FROM KANSAS CITY FEIST JESSE SMITH ORCH (17) With Merclyn Tate, Bob Vincent, King PhiUip, Wrentham, Mass. Jesse Sfirith, longtime arranger for Leo Reisman, has recruited a youthful 16-man aggregation which is currently dispensing neat, dance- able rhythms' for patrons of the King Phillip. Spot, under the guidance of Ed Enegren, is a spa- cious, attractive ballroom located about midway between Hub and Providence operating on a “couples only” policy with dancing three nights weekly. One of the few such spots to hold a liquor licen.se, result is its gets a play from older element as well as youngsters.' Band, consisting of five saxes, four brass, three rhythm and four fiddles is well-balanced, produces a nice solid sound and, guided by Smith’s baton, projects careful shading. Arrangements, penned by the maestro, are melodic and skill- fully voiced, but follow no particH- lar style, for the most part stress- ing ensemble work, although an occasional eight bars is alloted to a tenor or trumpetman. Book in- cludes pops, standard ballads, sev- eral showpieces, “Afternoon of a Faun” and “Claire de Lune,” waRzes, Latino rhythms and a few upheat tempoed standards which Smith uncorks when the occasion demands. However, patrons appar- ently prefer the slower tempos and Smith adheres to the policy of giv- ing them what they want. Although !>he’s not too staunch from showmanship angle, attrac- tive thrush Merelyn Tate handles vocal chores well, scoring with both ballads and faster stuff, while Bob Vincent, of the fiddle section, baritoning such ballads as “Wish You Were Here.” EUe. RETAIL DISK BEST SELLERS ■U» I iaamwaKsssBaaBjasnaoeauaB 16A ‘High Noon”—2120 ^ 16B LEROY ANDERSON (Deccaj “Blue Tango”—40220 ^ FIVE TOP ALBUMS Dn the Upbeat New York Disk jockeys Lou Barile, WKAL, Rome, N. Y., and Bill Mayhugh, WPIK, Washington, In town visit ing record companies and publish ers . . . Ricky Vallo began a two week engagement at the Blue Mir- ror, Baltimore, yesterday (Tues.) . . Buddy Johnson orch into the Howard Theatre, Washington, Fri- day (12) . . Spots booked into the Seville Theatre, Toronto, Sept. 18 . . . Savannah Churchill opens afthe New Click Club, Philly, Sept, 15 . , . Illinois Jacquet orch head- lines at the Falk Theatre, Detroit, Sept, 19 . ... Bullmoose Jackson orch moves into the Ebony Club, Detroit, Sept. 15 . . . Larry Darnell into the. Poinciana Club, Atlanta, Sept. 15. ^ Kansas City Clyde McCoy takes his orch to Wichita Sept. 10 for one-nighter JNJ BMI HtV YOU BELONG TO ME . by RWa*w"y ’ ON RBCOR&S: J* Staflord-yaul Grady or Sxduslv^sly Llcswstd BROADCAST MUSIC iSC. ?8o rrVwi avenu I ' c. i » • c X: ( A r. O''- • M o 11 r ri.pft NEW Y O R 1.9, N V at the Beechcraft plant, then launches into a series of' Texas one-nighters, MCA having set the band solid for 45 days. Crew closed a three-week engagement at the Hotel Muehlebach Sept. 9 with one of the best sessions of biz in many months . . . Nate Estes Trio goes into Zephyr Room of Hotel Bellerive this week, following a three-week date by the Gene Meigs Trio. Kay Hughes corxtin- ues to hold forth with her songs- piano turn in the newly redecorat- ed room . . . Kay Kenna (Jeanne MacKcnna) closes her long run in Drum Room of Hotel President early in October, and room vlli bring back the Two Pianophiends . . . Carroll & Gorman out of Yea- man’s, Detroit, Into Ka-See’s Night Club, Toledo, for a week, thence to Vogue Rooxn, Holleiiden Hotel, Cleveland, for a week. Two sing- ers are set to return to Yeaman's Nov. 17 , , . Nino Nanni follows Gus Van into Edd 3 ^s’ Restaurant, opening Sept. 12; followed by Rob- ert Maxwall and his harp for a two-week stint Sept. 26, along with the Beachcombers. Chicago Ray Anthony has a three-dayer at the Rainbow ballroom, Denver, Oct. 17 . . . Ken Griffin is etching a skating rink album for Columbia Records, doing 10 sides in all . , . Cee Davidson is leaving to take over the bandstand at the Sahara, Las Vegas, Oct. 1 . . , Cecil Young orch set for two weeks at the Blue Note Nov. 21 . . . Johnny Hodges returns to Capitol Lounge Oct. 8 for four frames . . . Ralph Font has taken .over the dance sets at the Preview . . . Park Labe, Den- ver, has set Waliy Griffin Sept. 29 . . Teddy Phillip switches from he Casa Loma, St. Louis, to the Muehlebach, Kansas City, Oct. 1. Jimmy Palmer goes into the Casa Loma Sept. 23 . » , Ernie Rudi’s new outfit is set for two stanzas Sept. 23 at the Schroeder, Milwaukee, then goes into' the Melodj’ Mill, Chi, for two weeks starting C5ct. 22 . . , Tommy B&eed’s band is Inked for 5yracu.se Hotel Oct. 2cl for three weeks, there Into the Statler, BuffaJo. Nov. I'J for two n'or<! . . . Continentals paeted , for .Edgewelter Beach Hotel’s Oct. • 3 show . . . Norm Dygon opci".) tile ' fall sotttvon at the Seven Seas. Omahu, Sept. 15 for tw'o weeks, and will be (oUowedi by Charles Chane;!r's thsee w'eeker & WITH A SONS !N MY HeART 4an« Froivtun Capitol BDN-309 KDF-309 L-309 Irving Fields trio opened at the Park Sheraton Mermaid Rno.ui this week. Psttgbttlfgb Jack V'mceSl band opened at Bill CJreen’i, Monday <8) at the same tim-fe that Louise Stewart i'oursomfi went into the cocktail lounge there. Purcell followed Ernie Rudy while the Stev-art unit replaced organist Dave IBeteher.. .Tony Pastor plaj^s a one-nliJ[hter at William Penn Tav- ern Sept. 20...Harry Bigley, gui- tarist ard member of Local 60 for last 23 years, farewell-partied by I union friends upon leaving to make ' his fuitr.'e home in Hollywood, Fla. Hr^ Bigley will teach school there Scati, former singer and I saxmao with Jimmy Gamble, has ’ organized his own orch. ! Orgari.st Ernie Neff returned to' Hotel Sheraton Lounge, w'here he ' wa.? ffl&i.ured for a long run couple j of years ago. He replaces Everett ' Haydn.. .Marine Lieutenant Will' Hanse!R„ former Pittsburgh band- leader, IS due home this fall on (i^ontinued on page 45) I J ■ ' f. /I I: ' ' */ I ' y . ! UlJ._ ^ - J — ■ ^ ■ ..J ... . MIlUR MUSIC CORPiDRAHON .Jibing Records!