Variety (January 1953)

44 wcnsnu^snifiic fasten Woda—Jiy, Jammy 14, 1953 Band Reviews STAN KENTON ORCH (20) With Kay Btown Mission Beach Ballroom, San Dlero No question, Stan. Kenton's name is potent draw with one-nighter pulling 4;000 customers ranging from juvhs to oldsters. New Kenton crew is geared to supply demand for both dancing and listening, and leader divides each set into seg- ments to please both factions* even to announcing what each selection is for. Payoff is solid. Brass is accented* as always, par- ticularly since Maynard Ferguson's return. But newcomer Lee Konltz, alto saxophone star of the “cool school,” adds balance to group, his •solos being the high points for true jazz aficionados. Another new- comer is drummer Stan; Levy, a stony-faced youngster in tough spot of replacing Shelley Manne. But Levy has strong heat—neces- sary to Kenton unit—and boots band along its rhythmic paces. Band plays many standards, even “Star Dust,” a new venture for Kentonites. Many “Artistry” items are offered, including “Dynaflow * It’* Music by JESSE GREER Program Today Yesterday's SLEEPY HEAD SHAPIRO, BERNSTEIN and “Artistry Jumps.” But Kenton steers clear of “progressive” music of “Innovations” type. Total effect is unified, surpris- ingly, despite seeming disparity in styles. Reason clearly is Kenton's ability to weld unit that can play modem music with very little com- promise and still satisfy dancers. Kay Brown, possessor of a small hut pleasant voice, is unlike usual Kenton-type vocalist—that is, she sings in tune,. without deliberate flatting—hut for all her obvious ability seemed at odds with accom- paniment. .Don* AL OVEREND ORCH (7) The Flame, Phoenix A1 Overend’s orchestra made its debut at the Flame in 1951 and has been going strong ever since, pyramiding as a draw over the last 20 months. Band's dinner music and dance tempos are smoothly blended for easy listening and terpsichore workouts on the center dance floor. Band -is made up of threfr saxes, drums, bass, trumpet, and piano, for effective instrumental fusing. While the accent is on the rhythm section, the reed department pro- vides potent backing and the brass gets in its share of licks. Alto- gether, comho is welded for fine balance and shading. Modus operandi calls for a plen- titude of short sets, which gives hoofers ample opportunity to run the gamut from waltzes, foxtrots and rhumbas to mambos and tan- gos. Working with-extensive li- brary, band plays' up oldies pre- dominantly and gives short shrift to current pops. Dinner music gives more stress on slower tempos. Arrangements, for the most part, are on the bright side, and Over- end’s vocalistics are okay for sound and phrasing. Jona. Best British Sheet Sellers (Week ending, Jan. 3) You Belong to Me,. .Chappell Here in My Heartv... .Mellin Walkin’ to Missouri, ....Dash Isle of Irmisfree.... .Maurice Feet Up Half as Much........Robbins Forget-Me-Not •••••».. Reine Sugarbush ...Chappell Faith Can Move. .*. ...Dash Zing a Little Zong....Maddox Homing Waltz ...... • -R eil i® I Went Wedding Victoria Second 12 Outside of Heaven Wood Walkin' My Baby .. Victoria Takes to Tango.. .F, D. & Hi Comes Along a Love.Kassner Blue Tango M^J* My Love and Devotion. .Fields Somewhere Along Way. Magna That’s-A Why Connelly. Auf Wiederseh'n Maurice Because You're Mine. .Robbins Meet Mr. Callaghan. Toft I’m Yours Mellin UNPUBLISHED SONGS If your unpublished sons Is suitably recorded for presentation to publish* ers, record companies, etc. . . . con* tact— SONG AGENTS Box V-1125J, Variety 154 W. 44th St., New York 34 RAMON RAMOS ORCH (10) Hotel Muehlebach, Kansas City Generous Latin flavor is contrib- uted .to the dinner room of the Muehlebach with the stand of Ramon Ramos and crew. Orch is no newcomer here, making its thir<f stand in town in this room On die Upbeat within recent years, although its been a long spell since the last previous appearance. Muehlebach- management brought in Ramos to lend a different flavor to music during the holiday sea- son, outfit being a variation from the nsual style of bands playing the spot. Ramos provides the string ingredients with a pair of violins, and rounds- out the body of the music with a trio of reeds and a trumpet. Rhythm section includes string bass, drums and Piano,- Tune choices vary widely from tha expected Latin rhythms and continental stylings of musical comedy favorites and standards to current list toppers and proven ballads. An* extra fillip is added by Ramos' own vocalling, doing lyrics in both English and Spanish. In keeping with Latin characteris- tics of the music, strings are given a strong play, and.much is madq qf maracas and other rhytlcSi- acces- sories. Quin. Pastor to Coral Coral Records added another orch to its roster with the pacting of Tony Pastor. Label currently is riding in the band field with Les Brown, Neal Hefti, Lawrence Welk and King Guion. NICK LUCAS THE CAVALIER TROUBADOR SINGS! '"TIL THE END OF FOREVER" BACKED WITH: "LADY BE GOOD" CAVALIER RECORD No. 826 Plus TEAR DROPS AND COQUETTE" CAVALIER No. 828 Opening GOLDEN HOTEL, RENO JAN. 28 CAVALIER RECORDS 545 Fredrick St. San Francisco 17, Calif, New York Bill Heggner, formerly with the Mike Hall flackery, road managing the George Shearing Quintet . . . Duke Niles, of Ardmore Music, on disk jockey trek through the mid- west . . . Joni James into La Vie En Rose, N. Y., tomorrow (Thurs.). . , . Billy Eckstlne opens a two- week engagement at the Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, Jan. 26 . . . Mort Ruby, former Nat (King) Cole road manager, joined 3uddy De Franco in the same capacity . . . Douglas Dtike Trio into Frank Dailey's Meadowbrook, Cedar Grove, N. J., Friday (16). Henry Okun is handling the trio s disk promotion . . . Jack Walker, Shaw Artists Corp. publicist, new disk jockey on WOV, N. Y. . . . Com- poser Evelyn Danzig's husband, Manny Levine, appointed Nassau County district judge . . • Sol Yaged's Sunday afternoon jazz concerts at Bill Green's Rustic Lodge, New Brunswick, N. J., to be aired by WNJR, Newark. ' Herb Hendler, Ralph Flanagan orch manager, trekking through the midwest on a promotion tour ...Herbert Marks, E. B. JMarks Music topper, recuperating after minor surgery.. .Al*Calder named Veronique Music publicist.. .Bob Carroll hooked Into the Chicago Theatre Jan. 23 on the strength of his Derby Records click, “Say It With Your Heart.”.. A1 Martino set for three weeks at Ciro’s, Holly- wood, beginning Feb. 20. London N. Y. pianist Marion McPartland and singer Annette Warren flew back to the States last week ... Flying the other way was British singer Jimmy Young, on a three- week N. Y. lookaround. William Morris agency will test his poten- tials . . . Sarah Vaughan arrives here Jan. 20 for nationwide string of one-niters spread over 23 days. Debut is at the Royal Albert Hall, Jan. 31 . . . Top-selling pop-disks in Britain this week are (1), AI Martino's “Here In My Heart”; (2), Jo Stafford’s “You Belong To Me”; (3) Kay Starr’s “Come Along A- Love”; (4) Guy Mitchell’s “Feet Up” . . . Ivy Benson girls' band most widely travelled British band and armed forces’ favorites, learned this week that they had been turned down for broadcasting by the BBC . . . Bandleader Eric Win- stone facing leg operation after tripping over mikelead on Man- chester one-niter. Vibes-player Roy Marsh fronting band pending his return. Byl Scuff bands handling weekend assignments at Ocean View ball- room . . * Ethel Waters to make her first nitery appearance in Hub at Storyville, Jan. 16 . * . Arnett Cobb into Hi Hat for week ... Tommy Girard into the Meadows following Larry Green's shift to the Latin Quarter. Pittsburgh Tommy Tucker opens week’s engagement at the Vogue- Terrace Tuesday (20) . . . Wally Gingers band out of Uniontown booked back into N. Y. Roseland Ballroom for an eight-week stay beginning in April, the result of combo’s showing there ' right before the holidays • . . Herman Middleman* although retired as maestro of Carousel house orch to run an appliance store in Coraopolis, is still keeping his hand in at the (Continued on page 46) Chicago Towne Room, Milwaukee, which had contemplated dropping enter- tainment, resumes with the Jack Gordon Trio . . . Mercury Records is having a Coast sales huddle. Art Talmadge, a&r veepee, cut seven sides with Rusty Draper, who opens at the Mapes, Reno, Jan. 15 for two weeks before going into the Town Casino, Buffalo, and then into the Copa, Pittsburgh . . . Dick Shawn set for 10 days at the Tic Toe, Milwaukee, Jan. 14 . . . Leo Peeper plays the Claridge, Mem- phis, Feb. 2 for three weeks. Ray Pearl has a month of one- nighters after he leaves the Pea- body, Memphis, March 31, where he starts March 1 . . . Woody Herman pacted for a two-week stand at the Blue Note Feb. 27 . . . Four Freshmen start at the Forest Park, St. Louis, Feb. 11... Robert Maxwell repeats the Pal- mer House Feb. 26 wifn Kyle Mac- Donnell coming in same spot March 26 . . . Four Aces headline the Riverside Theatre, Milwaukee, Feb. 5 . . . Continentals inked for Eddy's, Kansas City, March 13, for two frames . . . Richard Hayes does two stanzas at Fazzio’s, Mil waukee, Feb. 5. Boston A1 Vega Trio into the newly re- opened Parkway Club . . . Nick Jerret trio ankled Latin Quarter lounge to take over at Moulin Rouge ... Ed Andrews Set for series of Wednesday nights at new Boston Ballroom . . . The Guy Ormandy, George Horwood and Aw> Fellas, You ShouldnYve... But thanks anyway for .underscoring my score of "More About Love" at the Versailles. "A hit score. It has the calibre of any top Broadway musical. Bernie Wayne's brilliant lyrics and music mark him another George Gershwin!” —TED GREEN. Radio & Television Daily. "An excellent score. Here Is a tunesmith that Broadway will wel- come." —ROBERT W. DANA, World-Telegram It Sun. "It'r inspiring to listen to Bernie Wayne's songs." —HY GARDNER, Herald Tribune. "Good songs. Songsmlth Bernie Wayne's 'Veradero* has already been waxed and considerably aired." — Abol, Variety. "A fine score. It appears that Wayne's talents will not go beg- ging along tho Broadway show- shops." —RUBE DORIN, Morning Telegraph. o "A beautiful and distinguished original score. Bernie Wayne de- serves a big hand for the music and lyrics." —LEE MORTIMER, Daily Mirror. "Bernie Wayne's score ranks with the best in Broadway musicals. 'Brief Interlude' Is a kit In Gersh- win style." —BLAIR CHOTZINOFF. N. Y. Post. Blushingly , &&UU& 1619 Broadway, Now York PLaxa 7-4719 MOVING UP —JO STAFFORD —PAUL WESTON —COLUMBIA ONCE TO EVERY HEART ff