Frank Winegar Edison Hot Dance Obscurities Vol. 1 CD

CD contains hot dance music featuring Frank Winegar's Pennsylvania Boys and B.A. Rolfe and His Palais D'Or Orchestra on tracks from 1927-28. Wingegar was a banjo player, orchestra leader, songwriter, architect, school teacher, golf pro, school band direc

Personnel: Frank Winegar (guitar, banjo, ukulele); J. Donald Parker, Arthur Hall (vocals); Frank Widmer, Tony Colicchio (banjo); Elliott Russell, Fritz Forsch, Enric Madriguera, Billy Artzt, Peter Eisenburg, Harry Salter, Walter Edelstein (violin); Larry Hart (piccolo, clarinet, tenor saxophone); George Napoleon, Jimmy Granato, Fred Hartman, Andy Sannella, Ross Gorman (clarinet, alto saxophone); Harold van Emburgh, Lucien Smith (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Ernest Watson (saxophone); Frank "Salto" Sollecito (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Norman Moran, Frank Korminsky, Herman Drewes, Joe Lindwurm, Vina Bono, Pete Capodiffero, H. Berkin, B.A. Rolfe, Phil Napoleon (trumpet); H.F. Green, Charles Harris, Billy Drewes (trombone); Tony Franchini, Bill Haid, Milt Rettenberg (piano); Gus Helleberg, Billy Wolfe, John Helleberg (double bass); Fred Albright, William Dorn, Don Nyer (drums).
Audio Remasterer: John R.T. Davies.
Liner Note Author: Ross Wilby.
Recording information: New York, NY (06/08/1927-07/26/1929).
Directors: Frank Winegar; B.A. Rolfe.
Arrangers: Ernest Watson; Bill Haid.
Not a great many "hot dance" enthusiasts would automatically associate the name "Edison" with the genre; after all, old man Edison himself personally approved most of the Edison Records releases, and he didn't dig much in the way of hot jazz. But from 1917 until the demise of the Edison imprint in 1929, they did record hot dance music, especially after 1920, when the boss began to relax the reins somewhat. This Jazz Oracle disc, Edison Hot Dance Obscurities, Vol. 1, promises to institute a multi-volume series devoted to the hot numbers recorded by the Wizard of Menlo Park's personal label, expertly transferred by a modern-day wizard of audio restoration, John R.T. Davies. This first volume is devoted to two bands that are primarily known through their recordings on Edison, Winegar's Pennsylvania Boys and B.A. Rolfe & His Palais d'Or Orchestra. "Hot" sides are picked over semi-hot, or lukewarm, material, so there are no real duds here, whereas in the field, as advanced collectors of Edison Records will tell you, in B.A. Rolfe's case there are duds aplenty! The Winegar unit, originally based out of the University of Pennsylvania, is a gently swinging and lively territory band, whose work seems to get better as it goes along -- certainly they are less frantic and silly than their compatriots at Penn State, Fred Waring & His Pennsylvanians. By comparison, the Rolfe sides are played with a lot of gusto and polish -- while you can tell these guys are real recording pros, the jams are little stiffer than those proffered by Winegar and company. But certain individual solos, by Phil Napoleon, the leader, and others, do make this selection of Rolfe's work a rewarding and enjoyable listen. The sound throughout is excellent, exactly as an experienced ear would expect from late Edison Records without any additional (and unnecessary) reverb or juicing added. So overall, Edison Hot Dance Obscurities, Vol. 1 is a winning first volume in what one hopes will be a continuing series of discs that explore this under-investigated byway of 1920s hot dance music. ~ Uncle Dave Lewis