Jazz
Eddy Duchin
Buddy Clark - Vocals
Frances Langford - Vocals
Harold Arlen - Vocals
Jerry Cooper - Vocals
Lew Sherwood - Vocals
Patricia Norman - Vocals
Stanley Worth - Vocals
The Band - Vocals
The DeMarco Sisters - Vocals
* Geoff Milne - Liner Notes, Producer
* Mick - Graphic Design
* Tall Order - Processing
Walk up New York's Fifth Avenue until you reach 70th Street, then pause. A short distance into Central Park is the Rumsey Playfield and the Naumburg Bandshell, and a little to the left, the Mall. Imagine, if you can, the scene in 1929, a scene that was very different. Overlooking the Mall was the Casino which, after years of dereliction (and at enormous cost to Mayor Jimmy Walker and his musical-comedy mistress Betty Compton had been transformed into a costly and exclusive restaurant and night club. It opened with Emil Coleman's band in the main ballroom and Leo Reisman and his Orchestra in the Terrace Room. Leo and his men drew bigger crowds and soon replaced Coleman. New York's society were attracted to the leader with the wild waving, black locks who punched, chopped and sliced the air with his baton. But very soon there was an even greater attraction for the socialites to fawn over, a handsome young musician with dark wavy hair and a flashing smile. The news travelled fast amongst the 'Four Hundred' club - "Have you heard that adorable new pianist who plays in Reisman's band? My dear, but you must" The young man who set the debs (and their mothers) a-fluttering was Eddy Duchin. |
