Paul Specht Retro-Specht (1925-1931) CD

Violinist Paul Specht started leading bands in 1916, and throughout the 1920s and first half of the '30s, his orchestra was popular. Specht's ensemble performed and recorded regularly, being more of a dance band than a jazz ensemble. A small group taken out of his orchestra, the Georgians, was very jazz-oriented and featured the underrated trumpeter Frank Guarante as early as 1922. However the music on this CD is taken from a slightly later period. Reversing the trend of most other groups of the time, Specht's records of 1925-1928 are generally less interesting than his early Depression performances of 1929-1931. In fact, the numbers included here from the mid-'20s often are a bit corny, have unswinging phrasing and leave one waiting in vain for a hot solo after an insipid vocal. By 1929, the occasional hot solo was included and the ensembles swung a bit more, so the final dozen selections are of greatest interest, being fine hot dance music. Retro-Specht, although not essential, should interest 1920s dance band collectors. ~ Scott Yanow

Heavily influenced by the new sound of jazz, Paul Specht became one of the most popular and innovative bandleaders of the 1920s. In addition to successfully pioneering the "band within a band" concept, he was the first to lead a dance band on broadcast r

Recorded from 1925-1931.

Personnel: Paul Specht (violin); Johnny Morris (vocals, drums); Lou Calabrese, Roy Smeck (banjo); Larry Abbott, Foster Morehouse, Ernest Warren (clarinet, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Frank Kilduff (clarinet, alto saxophone, baritone saxophone); Artie Shaw (clarinet, alto saxophone); Jack Cressey, Bob Chester (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Leo McConville, Joe Lindwurm, Sylvester Ahola, Charlie Spivak (trumpet); Al Philburn, Charlie Butterfield, Larry Alpeter (trombone); Phil Wall (piano).

Liner Note Author: Paul Burgess.

Recording information: New York, NY (10/29/1925-05/28/1931).

Personnel includes: Paul Specht, Artie Shaw, Larry Alpeter, Johnny Morris, Bob Chester, Sylvester Ahola, Roy Smeck, Arthur Schutt, Charlie Butterfield, Al Philburn.