Lud Gluskin 1924-33 CD

(2-CD set) This is the first in a series of CDs documenting what has colloquially become known in collecting circles as "EuroJazz." Lud Gluskin was one of the most successful American jazz musicians to cross the Atlantic in the 1920s to work in Europe. T

Personnel: Lud Gluskin (drums); Eddie Ritten (vocals, trumpet); Barry Curtis (vocals, drums); Dréna, Kearney Walton, John Thorne, Freddy Johnson , Leslie Sterling (vocals); Emile Christian (bass voice, baritone saxophone, trombone); Spencer Clark (guitar, clarinet, baritone saxophone, xylophone); Mike Danzi, Don Baird (guitar); John W. Castellucci (banjo, violin); Freddy Bouvier, Mischa Lewandowsky (banjo); Rapha Brogiotti, Fred Zierer (violin); Leo Vauchant (cello, trombone); Maurice Cizeron (flute, clarinet, oboe, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Felix Passerone, Serge Glykson (flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Billy Bartholomew (clarinet, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Merrow Bodge (clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Paul Gason, Max Blanc, Buzz Gragg, Danny Polo (clarinet, alto saxophone); Georges Charron, Charles "Coco" Kiehn (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Maurice Fallet, Billy Laurent (reeds); Marcel Baudran (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Julien Porret, Faustin Jeanjean, Jascha Strijevsky, Johnny Dixon, Bob Leroy, Alex Renard, Maurice Giegas, Arthur Briggs (trumpet); Guy Paquinet, Howard Mulvaney, Ben Pickering, Rene Weis (trombone); Arcady Lynn, Paulie Freed, Joe Wismer, Jack O'Brien , Reuel Kenyon, Lucien Moraweck, Joe Kreklow (piano); Georges Marion, Ted Goebel, Andre Taylor, Jim Kelly (drums); Howard Kennedy (tenor, banjo); Eddie Ritten, Emil Christian, Gene Prendergast.
Audio Remasterer: John R.T. Davies.
Liner Note Author: Andreas Schmauder.
Recording information: Berlin, Germany (10/18/1924-02/27/1933); Paris, France (10/18/1924-02/27/1933); Vienna, Austria (10/18/1924-02/27/1933).
Arrangers: Paulie Freed; Julien Porret; Paul Weirick; Art Mac Kay; Lucien Moraweck; Jimmy Dale ; Irving King.
New horizons in historic jazz reissuing were revealed in 2005 when Jazz Oracle came out with a double-CD compendium of recordings made for about a dozen different labels between October 1924 and February 1933 in Vienna, Paris, and Berlin, all involving bandleader Lud Gluskin (1898-1989). Andreas Schmauder, apparently one of the world's leading Gluskin authorities, was asked to paw through literally hundreds of 78 rpm platters to designate the 48 titles included in this package, which is loaded with precious photographs and fascinating information. Gluskin first appears as a drummer with Paul Gason and His Versatile Orchestra. "Ain't She Sweet?" is performed by the Playboys, a Detroit-based band that would soon morph into an expanded and more versatile orchestra under Gluskin's direction. Subsequent billings list the perpetually evolving group as Lud Gluskin and His Versatile Juniors, Lud Gluskin et Son Jazz Orchestre Lud Gluskin, "Lud" Gluskin Ambassadonians, Lud Gluskin and his Ambassadors Orchestra, Jazz-Orchester Lud Gluskin, and finally Lud Gluskin et son Orchestre, which is the name they appeared under most often when serenading patrons at the Casino de Paris. The sound of the band often brings to mind great old-time jazz heroes like the Original Memphis Five, Red Nichols, Miff Mole, Bix Beiderbecke, Frankie Trumbauer, Frank Teschmacher and Jean Goldkette, whose arrangements were in fact used by Gluskin from time to time. Material ranges from hot novelty dance music and traditional pop tunes to substantial jazz numbers like "Tiger Rag," "Milenberg Joys," "Clarinet Marmalade," W.C. Handy's "St. Louis Blues," Fats Waller's "Whiteman Stomp," and Fud Livingston's "Feelin' No Pain." Jazz Oracle continues to astonish and delight all who are fascinated with obscure jazz records from the early 20th century. This installment is particularly rewarding. ~ arwulf arwulf