Vol.2 1936-1939JOE VENUITI “Stringing The Blues” Original 1926-1931 Recordings ‘The most dextrous fiddler ~ and probably most colourful personality ~ among first-generation white jazzmen, Joe Venuti was also one of the most prolific of all early jazz recording artists. Born Giuseppe ‘Joe’ Venuti to Italian immigrant parents at 1010, Christian Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 16th September, 1903, he grew up in his native city where he attended the Our Lady of Good Counsel Roman Catholic School and the James Campbell Public School. At the latter establishment he first met guitarist Ed(die) Lang. (Born Salvatore Massaro in Philadelphia, on 25th October, 1902, Lang (aka ‘Blind Willie Dunn’), also second generation Italian, hailed from a similar family background and began his musical training with eleven years on the violin before switching to banjo and guitar, at the instigation his guitar-playing, instrument-maker father). The two young musicians formed a friendship (their rapport is apparent right from their first, definitive jazz violin-piano duet of 1926, Stringing The Blues) and first played together professionally at local gigs before joining Bert Estlow’s quintet in Atlantic City, in 1921. From about 1923 Joe played intermittently in groups fronted by cornettist Red Nichols in New York and elsewhere and by late 1924 was directing the Book-Cadillac Orchestra for Jean Goldkette (he had also toured with the Goldkette orchestra and made his first commercial recordings for the Victor company with them, in Detroit, in March of that year; Lang became a Goldkette orchestra stalwart from mid-1926 ). By 1925 Venuti had moved permanently to New York. He played with the Roger Wolfe Kahn band (October 1925-June 1926) and was regularly in ensembles featuring most of the leading white players of the day, including Nichols, Frank Signorelli (1901-1975), Frankie Trumbauer (1901-1956), Benny Goodman and Jack Teagarden. During the late ’20s, with Lang, he co-led a band at annual seasons at the Silver Slipper in Atlantic City and his other New York residencies included the prestigious Vanity Club, in 1928. A regular session-worker in the pit 2 8.120614vocalist Tiny Bradshaw (1905-1958) at the Harlem Opera House. Her appearances there caused a stir and at last earned her true recognition and an introduction to bandleader Chick Webb (1910-1939). The Baltimore-born drummer and songwriter Webb had fronted his own bands in New York from 1926, notably at the Black Bottom and Paddock Clubs and from 1929 until his premature death from tuberculosis was resident conductor at the Savoy Ballroom. In spite of the ill-health which plagued the last years of his short life, he also appeared regularly in variety in both Boston and New York where his was the first black outfit to play at the Central Park Hotel. His first records (1931, for Brunswick) were followed by further sessions, from December 1933, for Columbia. Signed by Decca in July 1934, Webb made his radio début later that year and in 1935 was contracted by Radio WIZ and also broadcast on Radio City and Moe Gale’s NBC Good Time Society programme. Effectively “adopted” by Webb and his wife, Ella shared credits with Charles Linton and ad hoc guest vocalists and by June 1935 had cut her first discs with the Webb band, Their first US hit, “Sing Me A Swing Song”, charted at-No.18 in July 1936. Ella, meanwhile, had been freelancing and recording elsewhere (notably with the Mills Brothers and pianist Teddy Wilson) and, early in 1937, while Webb was out on tour, she also appeared with saxophonist Teddy Hill (1909-1978) at the Savoy. Returning to Webb in March, she went on to record further hits with him, including Jack Lawrence’s All Over Nothing At All and Sam Coslow’s (If You Can’ Sing It) You'll Have To ‘Swing It (Mr. Paganini) (both US No.20s). The following year they cut their first No.1 “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” (this charted for 19 consecutive weeks) and its sequel | Found My Yellow Basket (US No.3). Other Webb and Ella’s hits during 1938 included Rock It For Me (at No.19), | Got A Guy (at No.18), “MacPherson Is Rehearsin’ To Swing” (at No.14) and Wacky Dust (at No.13) and in 1939, the year of Webb’s premature demise, apart from Undecided (which clocked in at No.8) their list featured "Tain’t What You Do (It’s The Way That You Do It) (at No.19) and another Fitzgerald (words) - Webb (music) novelty entitled Chew Chew Chew Chew (Your Bubble Gum) at No.14. Peter Dempsey, 2002 8.120611 31, THE WILD CAT (Joe Venuti-Eddie Lang) Joe Venuti & Eddie Lang (OKeh 40672; mx W 80328-A) Recorded 24th January, 1927 2:54 2. SUNSHINE (Joe Venuti-Fddie Lang) Joe Venuti & Eddie Lang (OKeh 40672; mx W 80329-A) Recorded 24 January, 1927 2:54 3. STRINGING THE BLUES (Joe Venuti-Eddie Lang) Joe Venuti & Eddie Lang (Columbia 914-D; mx W 142697-8) Recorded 8th November, 1926 2:37 4. KICKIN’ THE CAT (Joe Venuti) Joe Venuti’s Blue Four (OKeh 40853; mx W 81118-B) Recorded 28th June, 1927 3:10 5. BEATIN! THE DOG (Joe Venuti) Joe Venuti’s Blue Four (OKeh 40853; mx W 81119-C) Recorded 28th June, 1927 2:38 6. CHEESE AND CRACKERS (Joe Venuti) Joe Venuti’s Blue Four (OKeh 40897; mx W 81432-C) Recorded 13th September, 1927 2:57 7. AMUG OF ALE (Joe Venu Joe Venuti’s Blue Four (OKeh 40897; mx W 81433-C) Recorded 13th September, 1927 3:00 8. PENN BEACH BLUES (Joe Venuti-Eddie Lang) Joe Venuti’s Blue Four (OKeh 40947; mx W 81822-B) Recorded ISth November, 1927 2:47 9. FOUR STRING JOE (Joe Venuti-Eddie Lang) Joe Venuti’s Blue Four (OKeh 40947; mx W 81823-C) Recorded 15th November, 1927 2:55 10. DINAH (Harry Akst-Sam Le Joe Venuti’s Blue Four (OKeh 41025; mx W 400178-A) Recorded 28th March, 1928 2:49 Joe Young) 4 8.12061415, CHEW CHEW CHEW CHEW (YOUR BUBBLE GUM) (Ella Fitzgerald-Chick Webb- Buck Ram) (Decca 2389, mx 65097-A) Recorded 2nd March, 1939 3:00 16. DON'T WORRY 'BOUT ME (Ted Koehler-Rube Bloom) (Decca 2451, mx 65441-A) Recorded 21st April, 1939 3:05 17. ELLA (Chick Webb-Ellsworth) with Taft Jordan, vocal (Decca 2148, mx 63937-A) Recorded 9th June, 1938 2:45 18. WACKY DUST (Stanley Adams-Oscar Levant) (Decca 2021, mx 64459-A) Recorded 17th August, 1938 3:00 19. COOCHI-COOCHI-COO (Kay Werner-Sue Werner) (Decca 2803, mx 65477-A) Recorded 21st April, 1939 2:59 20. ’TAIN’T WHAT YOU DO (IT'S THE WAY THAT YOU DO IT) (Sy Oliver-james Young) (Decca 2310, mx 65040-A) Recorded 17th February, 1939 2:59 Ella Fitzgerald with Chick Webb & His Orchestra Tracks 2, 3, 4, 5 & 16 as Ella Fitzgerald & Her Savoy Eight All tracks recorded in New York. Transfers & Production: David Lennick. Digital Noise Reduction: Graham Newton Cover photo of Ella Fitzgerald, 1941 (b/w original, Hulton/Archive) 8.120611Personnel 8th November, 1926, & 24th January 1927: Joe Venuti, violin; Eddie Lang, guitar 4th May, 1927: Joe Venuti, violin; Eddie Lang, guitar; Arthur Schutt, piano 28th June & 13th September, 1927: Joe Venuti, violin; Adrian Rollini, bass sax, hot fountain pen, goofus; Arthur Schutt, piano; Eddie Lang, guitar 15th November, 1927: Joe Venuti, violin; Don Murray, clarinet, bass sax; Eddie Lang, guitar; Justin Ring, cymbals 28th March, 1928: Joe Venuti, violin; Don Murray, baritone sax; Rube Bloom, piano; Eddie Lang, guitar 14th June, 1928: Joe Venuti, violin; Don Murray, baritone sax; Rube Bloom, piano & vocal; Eddie Lang, guitar; Paul Grasselli, drums 21st June, 1928: Joe Venuti, violin; Eddie Lang, guitar; Frank Signorelli, piano 18th October, 1929: Joe Venuti, violin; Frank Trumbauer, C Melody Sax & bassoon; Lennie Hayton, piano; Eddie Lang, guitar 7th October, 1930: Joe Venuti, violin; Pete Pumiglio, clarinet & baritone sax; Frank Signorelli, piano; Eddie Lang, guitar 12th November, 1930: Joe Venuti, violin; Jimmy Dorsey, clarinet, alto & baritone sax; Frank Signorelli, piano; Eddie Lang, guitar; Joe Tarto, bass 10th june, 1931: Joe Venuti, violin; Jimmy Dorsey, clarinet, alto & baritone sax; Frank Signorelli, piano; Eddie Lang, guitar 10th September, 1931; Joe Venuti, violin; Jimmy Dorsey, clarinet, alto & baritone sax; Lennie Hayton, piano; Eddie Lang, guitar; Paul Graselli, drums All tracks recorded in New York Transfers and Production: David Lennick Digital Noise Reduction: Graham Newton Photo of Joe Venuti (b/w original, MJF / Redferns) 6 8.1206149th June, 17th August & 18th August, 1938: Mario Bauza, Bobby Stark, Taft Jordan, trumpets; Sandy Williams, Nat Story, George Matthews, trombones; Garvin Bushell, clarinet & alto sax; Hilton Jefferson, alto sax; Ted McRae, tenor sax; Wayman Carver, tenor sax & flute; Tommy Fulford, piano; Bobby Johnson, guitar; Beverley Peer, bass; Chick Webb, drums 6th October, 1938, & 17th February, 1939: Dick Vance, Bobby Stark, Taft Jordan, trumpets; Sandy Williams, Nat Story, George Matthews, trombones; Garvin Bushell, clarinet & alto sax; Hilton Jefferson, alto sax; Ted McRae, tenor sax; Wayman Carver, tenor sax & flute, Tommy Fulford, piano; Bobby Johnson, guitar; Beverley Peer, bass; Chick Webb, drums 2nd March & 21st April (track 19), 1939: Dick Vance, Bobby Stark, Taft Jordan, trumpets; Sandy Williams, Nat Story, George Matthews, trombones; Garvin Bushell, clarinet & alto sax; Iton Jefferson, alto sax; Ted McRae, tenor sax; Wayman Carver, tenor sax & flute; Tommy Fulford, piano; John Trucheart, guitar; Beverley Peer, bass; Chick Webb, drums 21st April, 1939 (track 16): Taft Jordan, trumpet; Sandy Williams, trombone; Hilton Jefferson, alto sax; Teddy McRae, tenor & baritone sax; Tommy Fulford, piano; John Trueheart, guitar; Beverley Peer, bass; Chick Webb, drums The Naxos Historical labels aim to make available the greatest recordings of the history of recorded music, in the best and truest sound that contemporary technology can provide. To achieve this aim, Naxos has engaged a number of respected restorers who have the dedication, skill and experience to produce restorations that have set new standards in the field of historical recordings. David Lennick As a producer of CD reissues, David Lennick’s work in this field grew directly from his own needs as a broadcaster specializing in vintage material and the need to make it listenable while being transmitted through equalizers, compressors and the inherent limitations of A.M. radio. Equally at home in classical, pop, jazz and nostalgia, Lennick describes himself as exercising as much control as possible on the final product, in conjunction with CEDAR noise reduction applied by Graham Newton in Toronto. As both broadcaster and re-issue producer, he relies on his own extensive collection as well as those made available to him by private collectors, the University of Toronto, Syracuse University and others. 8.120611 7Also available in the Naxos Jazz Legends series = bs a ae ee Gennes 8.120570 ead 8.120584 a = CO Panne arte Boies (ete 8.120585, 8.120605° VI LEGENDS * Not available in the U.S.8.120614 (WAKOSEZYZ9) Pec eA aC ae JOE VENUTI ... EDDIE LANG “STRINGING THE BLUES” 1926-1937 Recordings 1. The Wild Cat 2:54 2. Sunshine 2:54 Er at ae Serer Co Tea Ta OL Cea ed eeeses 6. Cheese And Crackers 2:57 VA ery CSP eta t-te) oe a 9. Four StringJoe 2:55 10. Dinah 2:49 11. The Wild Dog 2:44 SO cscs rare 13. The Man From The South 2:56 ACCT al eed De Yoh a at ese 4 16. Running Ragged (Bamboozling The Bassoon) 3:07 17. Really Blue 2:40 18, I’ve Found A New Baby 3:05 19, Little Buttercup (Ill Never Be The Same) 3:09 20. The Wolf Wobble 3:14 Transfers and Production by David Lennick Digital Noise Reduction by Graham Newton NOTES AND FULL RECORDING DETAILS INCLUDED. www.NaxOs.cOM = MADEINEC. © & © 2002 HNH Inernational Ltd Design: Ron Hoares Total BT) 59:32 ADD sanjg ey) Suisungs [LAN3A SOP S0N3971|@azgsoxun) a ATi bt)