INTRODUCTION: This journalism is 1934 by Carme. It is now 1974. The Historian would say nothing has moved in the world of Music. In fact reading 1974 Journals you would say the world of Music bas gone backwards and is in a state of incoherence.
1
TEMEN
Must energets and worial and
pettasked fa la Carme, of Manchester He came to Town last month, and spent a Mentas dat speeding around the Wost Imitening to bands and looking up odel augstateATHAN
In re fact that he surfed me out of bed at eight a'clock on a rainy Monday morning should be sufficient prost to you that this Lancashire lad as no respecter of persons or feelings. This advent upon the northern news front last summer, complete with notebook, new styk, and invariably much more knowledge of dance music than thesc whom he interviewed, created a
minor
me'n
sensation. Indignant addy-addies wrot to the Editor and asked him to put Les on the sprest. The Editor, bless his gentle heart and soul, winked the other eye ; told Carme to carry on the good work.
Result I that Lancashire music respect Lesbe's opinions, and take note of his crincASIS. That as to say, if they've gue any sense, for Les is a boy who knows his job from A to Z, plays several instruments well, can orchestrate, and has had experience of dance work both here and in the United States.
Lesbe has no great regard for our socj
One of two, he admits, called big-timers. are comparable with their
American
counterparts, but only મ
or two.
We chifres upon several pants, which I shall 1348
mention: Thu
ark
sanx what
rr, levam K
did
ANTON,
however, that Brain has not
ver produced a rhythmic instrumental-r whose brilliance will not lessen with the passing the years; that this counter 1 the JN not paying enough attention training of murally mundes children, that the be, generally sneaking, is now star equal qualux in London as compared with
A humired. cerrain husschus situated not math away from the Manchester 6 MA
R
MANCHESTER
OY FOX and his hand
Ro himsel conduc", wien that quiCT, unestentarhaus distinction, and is always ready to give his own arts the Whiteman touch the "bie hand “ I got him talking about New York, and after mentioning Reman. Lyman, Whitemin and High School days, he said. “Stock ricang me. kid, you're making me homesick. We have some splendid rypes of American by over here, and when they manitest et pleasant physical characteristics othe. references become superfluouN.
...K
R.
HIST
bat
1
! יח.
Maybe I'm wrong and England is in a phase
of sheer progress and I'm hallucinated. The
da like it
?
anti-
RAMBLER'S
DIARY
MANCHESTER
W spectacular points of Inrt"t M might serve to iluminate the fact that Manchester, the city of industrial technique, is in a muskal rui as deep as the Grand
Canyon.
The city is equipped with something like 2,500 dance musicians, and they are unable to produce one outfit of distinction. They
cannot even show a single saxophone team of merit, and yet, individually, some of the players are in every way as efficient as those from down South. I make no reference 14
these hands imported from different parts of the country There is a stupid individual- ism amongst the Manchester musicians that somehow or other they must not attempt to assist each nither in case one might manage to make a living. The G.M.A, is trying to remedy that state of affairs, but up till now petty undercurrents of jealousy ar acting as a strong preventative.
The city has seven super theatres and only One boasts an two possess orchestras
chestra of twelve players and I don't see any reason why the vither six should not be able to make a similar belast Ivers theatrical manager who is looking for anį orchestra immediately goes to London, n because the players are better, but because Archer Street with all is failings is far better organised than anything in Manchester Communicating with the leading paper of the city met with the realisation that dancing and danceland is an unknown quantity, not cause they are hotty-toky in any sense, but because they do not sce any results capable of producing publi interest. The verv tact that где CI orchestras broadcast is sufficient guarantee to stem daily newspaper interest. They have promised me every grachiating the questionable advertisements now and then in the that appear even arrists' column.
assistance
111
The success of the G M. A. is an impera Dve necessity, and with this realisation in view 1 bripe do seu an all. Manchester Dance Band playing at the lading balleosom in a leading capacity, not as a secondar, till in
Rey Fox, in an excelmore intervien at the Midland Hotel, gives me hears to say that be a quate confident of the success at key orchestra were be to be uffered a contract in Na York. He "pants wat with conviction that from thu encomie porn of playing by band would definitely come to the standards of the average New York
or dent
Aeppemeer, syid
MANCHESTER
1
April, 193
#TOMMY FINNIGAN and his Hand
are now playing at the Ritz Ballroom, and withough they are not too well know a up North, they certainly are making great headway. The band is sophisticated to a marked degree, and the usual lack of ace high players makes all the difference between this combination and the star performers down South. Their dance
is the habit of some outfits. The tube has s are ideal and do not upset you as a snappy technique, and the pianist kovas when to insert a charlestont beat at the close of a phrase. The "Merconians,” a vocal quartette, is the shining light of an all-round performance, and is full of hot ginger and dynamate. I might be per- mutted to use a banal but useful phrase in saving that they ought to go a long way, and that if they keep up their sterling per formance, mught see the bright lights from would star angle. The insemidec the sound fuller with a three-piece brass section and definitely make a vast improvement in the tonal quality of the band."*.
Lattle names selikum make news," but when they participate in courageous ven-, tures, such as barnstorming then way through to fame and headlights, it is well worth honourable mention. Although the boys in question are way off the topline, I am flattering them sufficiently to encourage them to achieve their ambition. Thus group of semi-pros have been under moral censure from having Dusted a number tá professional musicians from their job. merely because they were a better band. The hall was dục to close, but through the enterpose of thest farnstormers the place i remained open, and Hobby Oldham and his Boys look like pulling the rock from the bag. In taking the onus of the hall's business upon themselves 10 exonerates them from castigation, and leaves room to a sincere admiration for both a musical and commercial talent.
It is
I would a thousand times prefer a bunch of boys that played together for better of worse than the finest group of professionals picked at random to form a hand my strongest complaint that too many of our supposed star bands are nothing but glorified gig bands strung together for the Music is highly competitive
occasion.
A brand The English plever is apt to bus art and suggests a survival of the fittest she mistaken idea that every trumpet player to a in the strongest sense, so it remains an Nichols, mery violzmiet, a Venuti, and mery unfortunate calent that a number of pro
"This as a fallacy mały dos tessionals were beaten to it by a group of tromboni a Dorsty
I agree with Mr. Fox, but as an enthusiastic lads who in view of the cit Englishman and a critic. I would like to set ut cumstances did not undercut the price as English orchestra startle the Americans just as supposed. Their tenacity of purpose will they have a habit of startling us I believe in gain for them far more in cash than thực international reciprocity Analysing comversas professionals could ever have hoped to tromal chit-chat I should say that Mrs. Roy Fox is one of Roy's greatest fans.
L. C.
LIJARRY ROV and hus band came to
I recognised quite a low dance band player at the Belle Vue Brass Band Contes
receive.
on Saturday, May 5th; apparently man Manchester at last and knocked the brass instrumentalists find it difficult & desert their first love.
Listening to one of Bolton's lesser com bnations, it struck me that one of the sax plaves would do far better if he concen trated on his hantone playing, instead of his
mediocri alto plaving
Mind you, I said the public stone cold. publx, n the critics. Of course, the public always counts in this sort of thing, but it Geotge Bernard Shaw was to sud denly thats up and say that such and such a thing was of a doubtful entirs, the public would look askance and say, “ for other the public is up the peake
The Rambler's Diary is by Arthur Willcox the Editor of Tune Times. The lst solum anty down to Manchester. We havnt got editors like that today. He had the common sense of a Frank Harris. Daireniorf appears to have that too.
I
This Journal ma published by a company mens respectability is beyond question. That it allowed an absolute messure sf freedom of spooeb through its Miter is a very great compliment. The critical freedom in these pages does not exist in 1974.
J2006, 1994
Why do they call use players an orche-- tra Sound like a mutation in esthetic
GENET nine.
Far
.:calis
01.
Red Nichols never prods good ucl he sand grain and 1 statis to Phaben. patras, but the much "si. speculation appears trust a alt as the art of saxophone playing, win the result the dancer instine has to put an with that -tale, ther, and wears quintette monotony. Some northern bands itave quite large number, but two crombones ant two saxo phones playing off the same parts do not make the band larger. They only make it louder
Have you ever considered the startling resemblance of the hot dance band to the football team.
Listen to Ellington's Jubilee Stomp and see how those boys pass the ball Is it any wonder they call it team work ?
Talking of team work on the phone, Lancashire appears to have chromac indiges- tion in this respect. There are ans amount of pod individual sax players up North, and for the want of thar 'Whiteman, · Lombardo, Ellington, Waring ani I<ham Jones touch," they are all pickling them- selves, waiting patiently fair that ven private millennium
The perfcer ensemble produced by the crack American outfits, seems to suggest that perfver harmony in the musical sphere must first find its inspiration in a harmonious and mpathetic friendship amongst the boys themselves.
It is a well known fact that musicians and a dubcult to maintain a friendly sim cerity, ankingst one another, which is all the more puzzling since music as the most frendly medium in the world.
Three sax players meeting on a gig for the first ume usually present enough comedt for Chaplin himself. Each presents his pennorth of tricks in due course, and you can be sure that if the second sito fa quiet lad the two dogs don't leave much on the poor bene.
It has never quire been fully realised that the saxophone is the most tempera mental and capricious instrument of all, for as most players know, to their cost, one evening they can play beautifully and the next as flat as a pancake, and for that very reason no saxophone player can in any way arlord to be independent of his eo player.
TT'S funny. When the drummer is the leader, he sticks his kit right in front of the stage when the pianist's the leader the hands into the haulage hunts; when The sax is the leader, nobody's in rune ; and when a conductor gets on the job everybody gers pur in his place-even the limelight.
England's contribution to civilisation is Wolbam Shakespeare, America's contribu- son is the Saint Loma Bilmes
Now Wilk, "If music be the food of
love," per hor, you rascal you.
Elegy by the Dorsey Greybeards. "Puli mani a trombone player is bom 19. blow unseen, and waste his top notes on
the bedroomns air
L. C.
i
LANCASHIRE
SHERE will always be ralent unknown,
Tunsung, and wasted, just as there
will always be mediocrity lauded and secure by the interior patronage i receives The number of talented players in Lan. cashire alone has convinced me that talent
and danceland parted company long ago. The smug content which allows ballroom proprietor, quite undisturbed, to ler fifth- rate players dominate the rostrum, to the painful acquiescence of myself and others who have unfortunately boca blessed with a delicate hearing, has left me with an "ardent desire to deliver to these woman il-p gentry "a lusty kick in the pants.” (With the literary permission of H. L. Mencken.,
I know
of clerks. draughtsmen, artisans, who but for the ** hysterical noodleism” of danceland, might have been recording artists of to-das The recent search of the B.B.C. for fresh takɛnt was enough to make an undertaker cackle at the futility of it all. Heavens! did they expect to find it waning for them on the village doorstep ?
cases
The breach between the professional and the semi-pen. is causing a barren dance- land, all because the inducement to the arateur to fum professional is a naive proposition of “must i barter my econownie security for a few fickle handclips scross the footlights?"
Hannen Swaffer is quite alive to the fact that American orchestras are far in advance of our own, and yet some Lancashire lads take a lot of convincing They judge solely by wax recordings, which is a most deceptive judge. I remember viewing the premiere of the "King of Jazz” at the Roxy Theatre, New York. Whiteman was appearing in person with his band. After hearing the band on the stage, half the audience, including myself, walked out disgusted with the scrunchings of the talkie records.
Lancashire will be interested to know that Alfred Barket, the well-known Hallé volanist, is definitely in rune with the future of syncopated music. Now that dance music has reached the crobationary stage where the orchestrator is going to be the hig noise, we need all the “possible help
from the classicists section.
my stranger to
Mr Barker mentioned with regret whs che strings play ses fierie a part in the pro- stuction of English dance musar, and actre bums the fxer to the lack of creative and orchestrative ability in the younger school
Joe Venuti i
Alfred Barker; neither is Ferde Grole.
Tons Macari, the accordannast, who recently appeared at the Ardwick Empire, one of the best players in the country, Tắc x by no means a hot player, but you would do well to go and listen to him at the time supportUDITS
By the way, outside of the tango, the accordion seems to be getting into a rut. There seems to be little use for this hottest bf all instruments.
Jopinion, of course.)
(Mr own humble
It seems to be an impression that the opinions of TuNE TIME and is correspon. dents have strong censorial cords, prevent- secured week's ing them from expressing their mind in A LOCAL Roe, mes the proper laterace manor.
For my part,
No
through the efforts of Tune Times reprezenta» my writing has never been tampered with, tie (otherwisa myself). Esta Sundar sum, The Net when to the exclusion ofl's conime, which young lady in question, is in need of experience tourners fully am aliot supp, stroops as Bethe md "must barily expect to reach the tapiane za brat negan control id this magazin. world has ane solitary wick. However, a week at the literary medium in the Ritz is a definite achievement and a feather in succeeded with a consonal comed her cap, 20, young lady, practise hard, diligently have on to glance at a daily paper s
realise this poin The only time literature and get all the palais experience you can.
over
museums Art Strauss takes a kot o
You
Art Strauss, the Canadian band arranger 11er appears in a newspaper is when the pur over a remarkably good show at the have to beg some great disinterested writer Paramount with Frankie Johnson and he Shavian excellence to give them an am certain that Masterkeys. For perfect musical controle without has.
Tise Times have never forgotten this bearing His arrangement of Liger Rag wi Punt, ne ukse my stuff would have landed really comics), and the speed at which in the waste paper basket long ago.
The monopoly of musical opinion has made the boys play the number had thes
not yet been allotted in one paper, and the musical world as hardly going to be satisfied with the none
tellectual
get another shanos to Write la a Musical Papar. Opportunity kasaku dase it ? This class of journalimm used to apll Jake wildfire. It used to fly off the counter,
wanderings of one paper. Up till now the Big Bad Wolf has reaintained a valent contempt, and while the vappings an growing stronger, the contempt is growing weaker.
FLUSHANIAN
|
It does appear that the average Englishman does not care who FULES unless it is a personal gain to themselves. You cannot have patriotim without a Free Press and all I ask is as voltaire truly said, I DO NOT CARE 'HAT YOU SAY OR HOM YOU SAT, I will see that it is said, Whither bound England(Carme 1974)
I listened in tri a band rehearsing tor stage engagement
2
Can't understand why the kader chose a number like "Some of These Days "special orchestration), They can't stand an earthly chance of making a sucZest of a The combination was tw. saxes, trumpet, drums, piano and bass The vihm spent most of th rehearseng, cui Hills Plankorting away for the beer the three melodians
There
rime, not
is no doubt that a good rhythm section will cover up many a fault made by the melody section, which merely points ut that melody players rhearsing with the aid of chythm, lack rhythm Ensemble rehearsing the only excuse for working the rhythm section overtime, feast of all in an ordinary stereotyped chorus
There was not a single trombone player at the first alt lancuchere Contest, and tweeve band's
14 21:28
15 22 20
16 23 30
MY
MANCHESTER
VERY important meeting was held
competed. It but a chance for a beading Day! Aur March & the at the Mashand inci,
FİZUNAR LATs
Jaro
THE MONTH IN
LIVERPOOL
anting ballr
Oqualiter Walt Banus end his dia 2
for the wichte " M
Walt obliged Te with a workout of the sund's pet nem sz and gave the impression of strong ensamk specialisation?
The thres trumpet chien
in nae number is quite good ant u. it up to the London standarst The plan not accentuate his tout ra bar rhythm., te result being that some okver playing gets lost completel
suggest a 1.4
l
A few remarks about the piano tickling in connection with the musical situaction in brigade. Too much importance is attached Manchester I dealt with the problem of to those players who expend their rhythmic amalgamating The Strahi and dance prowess in emulating the chromatic scale
OFIL unbed alatt »F, I am quite certain that when it comes to this name, national musicians' union type of playing, the Harriet Cohens and the
The meeting was attended by the follow- Eileen Joyce's can walk all round the dance ing-A. E War (Branch President pis vera, bass hand an all.
Musicians' Union). H. Stratron (Secretary M.U. Manchester), Johnny Rosen, Joe Orlando, Bonelli, Laddie Clark, Mr. Naylor, | Charleston accents in between his Les Walton, Tommy Larkin, Dick Valeric
à la Wilson sexle The band bases a puteal and Leslie Carme.
deal when in a combination of their numbe they have no conductur Although Willas * first-class sax, he will have to sacrifice the in order to keep the ensemble up na Londer standards. You can't have it both ways. WAL
The majority of Lancashire pianists annoy me with their diz finger meanderings One would think that Beiderbecke, Schurt, and Wihom were not sufficient authority on modern pianistic style.
One rarely hears a slow foxtrot played with amauc phraseology. Most of the time s spent an opening the flowery bag of tricks to the gullible multitude.
Clumsy playing is another Lancashire feature, some pianists fearing to lift their hands from the piano (they might lose the place), which is most necessary if the ammers ate to strike properly.
Local discrepancies centre round the in- ability to play correct inversion fingering, the third finger being used instead of the fourth, the utter absence of full major chords with added sixths, and the hoger crushing disabilities of the different positions of the seventh chord
I suppose in Russia, it your fingers were nor long and slender, you would not be permitted to learn the instrument, which is well worth soung, as corde of the best (dance) pants have hngers that would
shock a virrassa).
A succession of fourths and fifths bumped about in stodgy roution can be as comfed sa a chromatk innuendo. Suggesting that s major chord followed by a diminished sevauch, with a solo now, following an groented with, might be perhaps as pleasing to a Whiteman as to 19,000,000 Guery Allignas
To those dever Lancashire pianists who here discarded Lee Sims "
ages ago," I would return them to page 13 (Cariton Colby Edition) and leave 'em there jar sx whole moncha.
**Full many a gem --
It generalle supposed that if the next players are engaged in the latine London bands. Here an instance that will make you think difk vent.
The trombone player of a leading broad- casting band was once the pupil na me në The Manchester's mist dance trombonist- reacher is still unknown, and although there are hopes that be might sull come forward, the epitaph in all is that a player who is cla has undoubtedly the Dorsey languished in obscurits much because it usually takes a Dorse; to recognise another Dorsey.
IN
With a bey nay Donna
If William Shakespeart could hear Caus Lombardo and bus. Rosal Canadians play a number like "Blue Moments,"
It is the thought that sich an inspiration would give vent to a miraculous exclamation such FM :---
** That strain again, it has a dying fall (Twelfth Night).
Bally Cotton and his hand opersed at the Ritz on Monday, June 11th, for a five weeks' season. Billy and his boys are big favourites in Manchester they drew huge crowds during their last appearance in the city in February
BA. Rolfe eitures a hot accordionist during his **Lucky Strike. Hour "
ре gradome in New York Cary. Some of yOU
ught
st to drop over and hext him somET HTE
Tho silenced the BALE PIOWNE had the silmand the Picsndilly Onestis Ingland night wall set ?
The chair was taken by Mr Carme, and the minutes read by Mr Mratton pointed cost that the "chair was purely an arbitrary function in order to set the meeting in motion.
That
BAN SDECUAstial remain
The trombone impressed me with his experiments on one of Ellington's per trombone solos.
proved, and a further meeting was arranged for a cute emaneal adrive in order to carry r Mr. Fillis has asked me over to Liverpool
thu campaign In LKW This next meeting toisten troand cris ise his hand, but before i will be held at the M1 Headerarters, and do this, I would like Mr. Ellis to write to will be attended he Mr. War (President. Harry Cuties the Plaza Balim. m MI).
Mr. Stratton (Secretary–MU.), Manchester, and ask him what exactly took Johnny Rosen, Joe Delando, Mr Bonch, Mr. Place at his audition in London last month flark, Mr Nacior, Mr. Gatha, Mr. Garmx Then it you are sull willing, I li come over,
A full report will appear in the next
take you apart and then put you back again. JDC of TONE Time - and all musicians whey and since I like ver (not the "45" way) 1
won't charge you a cent.
The wering in Marchett LES WALTON
W
Jak na ante night) are | some trare, Dina Vacayr, Josessy KOMEN ne za rights are for Diando, A.F War, Desert Cant, Jones Lars.
21 Sursson, Chesa Nazor and Farm Boseru
veldzanies are none.
#
the Tha ti vila hich made The manantial poiss on the valirium pr
Flic *
Brth pod Just
IN attracted prictors up North is by no mean, what it homes towards the light and destruction, so the be Price-cutting is a dar aspersion on the bes musime $15 village lads and lassies are attracted towards ballroom manager, and
prevent such gossip, provided he hasn't a quits.
The and employed in many of the balls are in many cases a disdedey back number, she variably to the employment at anterior musician at salaries little better than 2 ¦ Vaše.
price
In
the illusive gluter of the big city. No doubt many of them are happy, but at what i is that "fancted breath in other's eves." other words, what price glory -
Dance musk and intellectualism do not hat off too well But listen to this story, ĐỀ
Accord G. H. Shaw, humanity's playbo
COR SCIENCE
*
Sandwiches and cigarette money 1, vetoria mately the rastence sexi at waiters and w resses, but it is sakan; i mangerous comese br
ing to the late Frank Harris. Shaw's greatest critic, it appears that our old and was thumping our ragtime in a Park Lane Hotel thing the musician down in that level
It was a
Ir a pity that managerial appointment, art 'way back in the gay nineties
IN MANY CANOS SYNOWY MOM, With musical slitteras regular Saturday night gig job.
Shaw's greatest effort at song-writing is perhaps the world has reached the stage wher to be found in his play. “Saint Joan
artistry cannot expe with commit satietati n TOHMMENCES in G and with the best of
Bilk Merrin admns that his hand nat intentions if meets you in hell four bars a show band, and alth » there 1 ar
undeniable sweetness about at the "Ri da Cosis has artistic leanings for scenon in particular, he scars id patan genuine accomplishment without the and experience have blinded him to the oma so of authority. Some amusing chit-chat took the ensembic last choras being par place in her dressing room, at the Para- with comparative gusto against the mount, with a few guests including Bert chorus In all his numixry at the Pas Walton of Harry Row's Band. WEN mount is 1ast choruses up-
It
suggested that # the ton of the Halle and die not excite that p bras section could be infused into time oren ends he produced by two of our leading dance hands, things tones of the brass section might beg to take
evoŽutionary art pisung high CN 2 shape, starring from a intle island set in a playing high (a's
diver se
chorus, it is then the pu ! and sway
an
in ་-
win to se