Sunday, December 22, 2013

Greetings of the Season


Happy holidays to one and all of Gems' visitors. Here's a souvenir from the heyday of swing, given to me by a jazz friend a few decades back. I don't know where he got it, but he knew lots of musicians so I suspect it may have come from one of them. I know most of the 28 signatories (I think there's 28), but I don't know all of them. Who's Sonny Kendis? Or Basil F-something? If you know, fill me in. In the meantime, best wishes for the season, and prosperous New Year to all of you from all of us here at Gems!

4 comments:

  1. blueDecember 30, 2013 at 10:48 AM

    Sonny Kendis And His Stork Club Orchestra

    There's a youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJQ_MV-lFWs

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    1. David DannJanuary 1, 2014 at 5:49 AM

      Thanks, blue. Consider me edified. Not exactly the hardest swinging band I've ever heard, but the tune's smartly played with some competent soloing. For our dancing pleasure, methinks. Happy New Year!

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  2. chuJanuary 1, 2014 at 9:53 AM

    The Basil F must be Basil Fomeen who led a society orchestra from the 20s to the 40s.

    AMG has two different biographical entries:
    http://www.allmusic.com/artist/basil-fomeen-mn0001319910
    http://www.allmusic.com/artist/basil-fomeen-mn0001008683

    There seems to be only one YouTube video:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPVlvMbVuxU

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    Replies
    1. David DannJanuary 2, 2014 at 7:34 AM

      Another mystery cleared up, chu, thanks. "Oh Baby" seems to combine accordion and banjo in a way that foreshadows those New Years Mummers gambols they have in Philadelphia every year. Yowzah!

      Delete

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