1958-03-22 — Page 14

THE

RECORDS by PETER BUCHAN

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 1958.

Gipsy fingers that

made magic.........

caravans

come the most im

Mr. Hancock joins Stop this Channel

the pop brigade

is

Tony

REPARE to add a now and unlikely name to the ranks comedian and actor, itching to get his name on a dise. He tells me: "An offer has been made,

But do not expect a straight vocal from him.

He says, as if it mattered

Probably he will do ม

these days: "I have no volee."

IN TUNE

A S Bing Crosby himself says,

RECORD ROUND Dy RAMSDEN GREIC

Tunnel' said

famous jazz is on Swing From Paris (Deoes pulled or the round vans

LF 1130, 33'r.p.m.), issued in French violinist Stephane 1953. lod from Paris to the south Grappelly, who led the Quintet VINTAGE STYLE and into the shelter of the du Hot Club de France, in The Intest addition to the let trees.

which Django folkd fome, once is called simply Django' (Oriolo told me: "I often wondered MG 10019, 38 r.p.m.), 10 num-burlesque on skiffle. The evening was Warn

wheiler Django was a betler bere made by the Quinlet du and heavy with the scents guitarist because he couldn't Hot Club de France soon after of summer and within a few use those two îngers properly- it was formed in 1933.

"Pat Boone just sings nice minutes the encampment or how phenomenal he would Grappelly, who leads it has and straight and in lune

Terry Dene, looked like any other gipsy have been if he had been able changed his style. The singer, and I believe that this kid is Willie Harris,

to use his whole hand."

going to be on top for a long Tommy Steele and the Worried encampment in Britain or

me." Hear Mr Boone sing Men,

Just about Europe. A fire blazed in

nice and straight-and in tune the centre of the circle of

Except for one man the quinon April Love (London 33). best to date is My Darlies. THE caravans and washing hung

Shirley Jones shares this one My Darling (Philipe 76). with him, and in the numbers good old-fashioned treatment on ropes between them.

they sing together the com- enburea that you can make out bination is De smooth as stout the words. with champagne. Best of the 15 trucks is the title song.

CONSTANT TROUBLE

Django gave Grappelly con- atant trouble. When he should Have been wide awake al 11 Children played on caravan recording session or playing in atops, growing gradually less a club he would be fust asleep noisy and finally being put in bed. The problem was And- away to sleep, leaving only the ing the bed. quiet buzz of gossip and the heavy breathing o' the horses.

By the fireside a young men of 18 played his guitar.

SUDDEN BLAZE

Then as the night fell and the fire died he carried the guitar back to his caravan, stood gently in the corner and went to bed.

It

When he should have been usleep, he would be quarrelling over a bar.

SA

When the quiolet had important series of appearances Django would decide he wanted to go back to his gipsy caravan for a while. And would go.

A lesser musiclan would have failed to keep a job for a day. At the table in his caravan Everyone put up with Django his young wife was making for the sake of the time when celluloid flowers.

boy he was on the spot and ready asked his wife to pass him to play. candle to light a cigarette.

The

What happened next was lost even to the boy. The cellu- lold flowers blazed. The blaze awept through the dry caravan and he was carrying his wife to safety.

Irl

with

the

* Jerry Menko, singa in Away enly collectors of vintage records would accept,

tet has a "dated" sound That one man is Django Reinhardt

BOOKS IN BRIEF

and

SLOW ROCK

JAZZ DISCS .

York

Lewis

ON

Steve Martin's

JAZZ FOR DEBS

hotel,

The

the

the

-(London Express Service).

.. BY NOEL GOODWIN

of the quartet's

عل مb

worth

다

met Californians Perkins (tenor sax),

B:1

***** geven top succesres

drummer

J

the Queen

the

BOOK PAGE

K

devised in 1852 a prefabricated

tunnel to be daid along the sen floor by men working inside

and

BUT EARLIER SHE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE

A BLESSING FOR THE LADIES

CHANNEL TUNNEL. By Humphrey Slater Correlli Barnett.. Wingato, 21s. 213 pagos. ПHROUGHOUT the 19th century and later, there has doctor plunged into the Seine sharp division of opinion on the question of Tight opposite the Quad D'Orsay,

diving bells.

To publicise his methods the

a Channel Tunnel. Among the chief protagonists at one hour, to the time or another have been:

In favour: Charles James Fox ("This is one of the great enterprises we can undertake together"), Albert

Against: Lord Palmers-

By GEORGE ton, who said to Prince Albert, "You would think

MALCOLM THOMSON very differently if you had been born in this island,"- H................................................ Robert Browning, Herbert Spencer,

Tennyson,

vast crowd.

amarement of

Q

•

Edward Watkin, Anancier with

מם

In less heroic mould was Sir English dals for propa.. habit of providing ganda and

for those profuse hospitality who might further his schemes.

the Looking towards

graver could not be elements who wined and dinod into enthu siasm, Sir Edward claimed that the Tunnel would "promote a be- religious - rapprochement" tween the English and

Sir activo co-operation of the Continental pooples.

George Sitwell, Bart., father British authorities.

In its earliest version the

draw

up for fresh air before resuming

N Monday nights the wife of recording chief Lord Dona- RE you still in the rock rut? galt runa jazz sessions for debu- If you are, I recommend tantes, ex-debulantes and their CALL ME WHEN THE to you Ferlin Husky on What boy friends at a Queen's Gate,

Doin' After School? London, TURNS OVER.

by Cha

What CRONH

Australla D'Arcy Niland,

hos (Capliol 78), It is a slow debutantes dig you can hear on the Prince Consort, Gladstone, Disraeli, Napoleon III.

number, composed by Harry Walton and Hls

New given the world kangaroos, rock Bradman, poach melbu, the Husky himself. On the subject Orleans Jazzmen (Donegall 33). duck-billed platypus, and of what Ted Heath calls This group of semi-professional Licut-Commander Parker. Now do-it-yourself music, Stars of musicians provides enthusiastic in addition to plays such as Six-Five Special (Decca 33) if, at times, amateurish, Jazz. Summer of the Seventeenth offers The Bob Cart Skiffe, Wee Doll the big island is putting out some first-rate novels. One was D'Arcy Niland's Shiralec (also a film); another WON Patrick White's Voss, Niland

of Sir Osbert, and two But this argument made Tunnel way to be lit by of comparison

eminent soldiers of different no impression on

the lamps. Horsce would amount of time he spent play-has now sent us another heart-

the GRAND ENCOUNTER: Bill and spirit is still uppermost la generations, Field-Marshals enemies of the Tunnel. Did passengers from one end, the ing the guitar. little of Django Warming novel of life in

Don't (Vogue the plane solos. Australian outback. Its heroine Perkins-John

other. Hak-way Reinhardt's music exisis on re-

ceived by the surface flavour of Wolseley and Montgomery, we want a vast Army, con- seabed of the Channel rises 10 cords. 13 improvisations 1 Barble, a tough and beautiful LAE. 12085; 12in. L.P.).

music-L of a bunch-in fact, cocktail

crushing the and orphan, who after comic and he pick

Varne Bank, just 13 feet changed constantly. Grappelly

of a good MADY

more attentive car than that.. Don't know: Queen Vic- scription Minutes afterwards he realised always

tragic adventures under the hot the pick regreta that when

Planisi John Lewis sun ends up with the tough, bunches,

MODERN JAZZ QUARTET: torin. In 1867: "You can taxes, like our unfortunate underwater at low tide. At this was at his best there

neighbours on the that two fingers of his left hond Django

Con- paint an artificial island was to be created. Thero horses and -the hand that held the strings was no recorder handy. When lean man she loves, its Ausle and bassist Percy Heath of the Music of John Lewis (Esquire tell the French engineer that

tinent? Be sure that the

passengers were to be brought against the fret of the guitar he felt off-form he was usually dialogue is superb. I keenly Modern Jaza Quartet from New 20002, 10in. L.P.)

if he succeeds; I will give Ji. Angus recommend had been burned and the nerves in a recording studio,

their journey, newly gathered on one disc. It him my blessing in the Tunnel would bring all those Robertson, 13. dd.). destroyed..

Chica Hamilton, and guitarist is a straight Bushy of exhilarat-name of all the ladies of evils with it., Reluctantly the gipsies took

Jim Hall in Los Angeles, and inex fascinating jazz from the England." In 1876: "She Besides, "the silver streak him to hospital. The surgeon looked at the burned hand and

THE DUD AVOCADO, bu years ago produced some of the Lewis, the shy, soft-spoken hopes that the Government is a greater bar to the move- Slater and Barnett trace tho wanted to ampulate the two

Elaine Dundy. I hugely enjoyed most inventive, fluent, and composer-planist wito has will do nothing to encourage. ments of Nihilists and Inter- history of the Channel Tunnel withered lingers, The gipales,

the way humour of this story |awing Jazz it's been my delight carried the whole art of Jazs this very

objectionable nationalists than is generally idea as it has haunted the minds prejudiced against surgery.

SWITCH OF MOOD of Saily Jay Gorce, a young and to hear. Six extended numbers, several miles forward since tunnel."

believed." A Tunnel would and embittered the counsels of vehemently refused hims per-

rarely

priggish American in including the John Lewis cel- 1932. mission.

recognised idiom was Parlo. It is told in the first per-tual, "Two Degrees East, Three

undesirable men during the last century and JAZZ GUMBO: Volume Two

haif, The narrative la brlik, Main objection to the facilitate story

But the middle There is

hot the fuzz.

which ason in a style

between natters Degrees Went,” written to mark (Nixa NJT.510:

the with no excessive terary 10in LP); scheme: Invasion. Hordes of fraternising boy's relatives even kidnapped Juzz improvisation he would fascinatingly, on. Sample: "I the occasion, and a level of Jarz *** Gumbo is the traditional

It is the sort of โปรrt from the hospital to pre- switch his mood to play music flung open the windows Spring artistry that is all too rare,

readers book that appeals to New Gorleans fish-and-rice dish armed Frenchmen (later, "discontented denizens" of pretensions. vent the operation.

that was on the borderline be-

was ravishing around town, tween Jazz and modern classical bursting

who have an instinctive skill'in Buley concoction that leads Germans; now, presumably, both London and Paris, MCPARTLAND: and budding and

Engineers and business Its name well to the British Jazz Russians) would ancak into (Capitol music. What it was depended blooming. It was one of those "With You in Mind"

Lush produce

more-or-less on the listener.

12In. LP), blood T.095 nights when the alr

**main-stream”

England by passenger train men were for the Tunnel, style from

The story breaks off at the listening for a relaxed mood

point where the Tunnel project temperature and it's impossible to tell where you leave off and supplied by Marina McPartland,

Quintets of Wally Fawkes-Bruce and deprive us of our liber soldiers and poets against

it. The arguments on both is once more nudging lis way the former G.1. bride from E Smith. Clarinetist

and Dick Heckstall ties.

towards the centre of the stage, "Tror" It beglis."

sides were weighty. land who has become on of

This time. It has some impetus Fawkes gives out with plenty of The French General Staff, swinging solos, and soprano after due study, reported various times during the century it will have Suez Canal money, The controverty flared up at from American sources. Perhaps

the eaxist Heckstall-Smith spins up a novel-sounding "Sputnik" (ho that it would need 15 days and a half that followed

Yet it still faces the supreme calls it that) on their respective to pass an army of 160,000 Peace of Amlens flared up and aldes, three numbers cach

men through the tunnel, an died down. The movement for obstacle that has always dofest

the Tunnel had to heroes: Dr ed it: the stubborn prejudice of TOP RATING: *****

estimate which assumed the Prosper Payerne (French) the British in favour of remain-

ing on an island.

4

on

What there is on records 1s an amazing display of virtuosity. With his two sound fingers he could put most Ave-Angered guitarists to shame.

His

ปี

every

ASTONISHMENT

Todny 30 years after that

Rekhardt died in 1953, aged Are outside Paris those two

almos! the lett 43. Since then withered fingern

been tapped for hand of a young guitarist are source has still a source of astonishment recordings of his playing. Many and debate.

records put out recently were For the

was first published on 78 rpm. re- Klpsy young Django Reinhardt, a man who cords.

Others were discarded never read a note of music and at the time, but kept. could only just write Mis One of the best long-playing own name, yet who was to be- versions of Reinhardt's playing

to

this "Grand Encounter" two fertile Imagination of John

MARIAN

I should mention that America's foremost jazz pianists. make the moral tone of the Her latest dia is not quite so albums, theful as previous book deafeningly clear publishers have added the sub mainly because of mushy harp itute: "Or The Vie Amoureuse and strings added here and there the of Sally Jay in Paris" (Gol-to bass and drums, but

unusual feeling for jazz mood lanez, 158.).

VIGNETTES OF LIFE

"DARLING!

I DIDNT KNOW

YOU COULD COOK +

THE HURD-BOILED

BUSINESS MAN WHO CAN MAKE A BONGO DRUM

OR A VIOLIA

SAY UNCLE,

THE PIXIE. IN CHARGE OF STAMPS AND PETTY CASH WHO LITERALLY

BOWLS 'EM

OVER IN "THE OFFICE BOWLING LEAGUE.

THE JOY i GIRL FEELS WHEN SHE DISCOVERS

"THE MAN

SHE MARRIED CAN COOK.

Turuci

In P

Unexpected Talents

"COOK P- ALL I DID WAS HEAT A CAN OF BEANS /

COME, UNE I BINDRAL PEATURI

Cone PORLD AMIRE RESARTED.

the

an.

By Harry Weinert

THE ORNAMENT OF BENCH AND BAR WHO CAN PLAY ANYTHING FROM PETER RABBIT

TO HAMLET.

THE PET THAT ONLY SQUAWKED UP TO NOW DECIDES TO SHOW THAT IT HAS AN EDUCATION.

LONG HISTORY

the art of skipping.

THREE STEPS TO VICTORY. By Sir Robert Watson- Watt. Odhams. 30s. 480 pages.

VIR ROBERT WATSON-WATT

- any

man 15the inventor of ridur.. He himself insists that he is its "father." He was the leader of the team of British scientists who, a little ahead of the Germans and ga long way ahead 01 the Americans, developed the radar network in the months before the war.

The task was accomplished in timo-just in time-and, in tell- ing how it was done, Watson- Watt writes the most exciting pages of his book, Those were aclentille adventures on which the course of history turned.

The story in unfolded with leisure and a shade too much pawiciness for everyone's taste. The author has, too, an assertive pride. He is outspoken in thluk- ing that British bureaucratà have been less than greteful and far less then

to

scientists.

generou

Own

He emerges from his book as a brilliantly successful Immovetor with a chip on his shoulder,

THE TRIUMPHANT HERETIC. By Ernst

Heinemann.. Halperin.

30. 324 pages.

SERIOUS political analysis of Tilo's post-war struggle with Stalin. It is written by one who argues that Tito's ideas belong to Anarchism rather than to Marxism and that the one. parly dictatorship has no logical place in Yugoslavia today. A book for those who want to watch the trends in totalitarian a Europe.

THE MODEL WHO

CAN PAINT.

HER ROCK,

SAND AND SURF

PICTURES

ARE SO

GOOD THEY

EVEN

FOOL

-AND WE KNOW

A BULLDOZER

PILOT WHO BREEDS, FLOWERS AND TURNS OUT SOME BEAUTIES THAT MOTHER NATURE NEVER

HEARD OF.

THE

SEA GULLS

THE UNEXPECTED TALENT FOR CREATING- FICTION — SUCH AS BEING FOILED FROM ATTENDING SCHOOL BY A RHINOCEROS.

TWO LOVERS" "IN" ROME, By Etienne-Jean Dalecfuzo, Deutsch. 21. 222 pages,

THE

THE half-comio tejis story of a hopeltes love, told through- the diary and letters-ot the. | victim, a slaid, romantle French- man in the circle of Madame Recamber and in the tolls of, ker niece, Amelie Cyvoet.Herily a book, to grip the attention,

***(London - Kæpress Keruice}.