Paul Whiteman Orchestra - LIVE at the Royal Albert Hall in 1926
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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- Rare, unissued LIVE performances of Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra recorded by HMV at a concert given by the band at the Royal Albert Hall, London in 1926.
PAUL WHITEMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA
Henry Busse, Walter Holzhaus, Teddy Bartell (t); Boyce Cullen, Wilbur Hall (tb); Harold McLean (as, bassoon); Chester Hazlett (as, bassoon); Charles Strickfaden (ts); Eddie Sharpe (as); Kurt Dieterle, Mario Perry, Matty Malneck (vn); Harry Perrella (p); Ray Turner (p, celeste); Mike Pingitore (bj); John Sperzel (bb); George Marsh (d). Recorded by HMV at the Royal Albert Hall, London, April 11th, 1926.
HMV CR-273-1 Linger Awhile (unissued)
HMV BR-271-1 Nola (unissued)
(NOTE: As these are "live" recordings, I decided to link the two performances, with "Linger Awhile" first. The original recording of "Nola" is in the collection of the noted bandleader Vince Giordano).
The Royal Albert Hall concert of April 11th, 1926 was one of the most important performances that Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra gave during its second European tour. The concert was sold out and the 8,000-seat hall was packed to capacity; 5,000 people had to be turned away! No previous orchestral concert had managed to fill the venue to capacity.
The entire concert was recorded by HMV engineers on ten 12 inch masters and four 10 inch masters using portable electrical recording equipment set-up under the stage, linked to several condenser microphones strategically situated near the band. It was a technological triumph, but for some reason HMV decided not to issue the results. It has been suggested that the sides were rejected because of the audience's applause, but as HMV must have been aware that the audience would signal their appreciation in-between (and sometimes during) numbers this seems illogical. Whatever the reason, the recordings remained unissued, save for complete sets of the 14 sides given to each member of the Whiteman band as a memento. In addition, at least one set was retained by HMV, though so far I have been unable to establish if any of the sides still exist within the EMI archives.
In addition to these two performances, the HMV engineers also recorded "Oh! Lady Be Good", "St Louis Blues", "Tiger Rag" (said to include a fantastic hot trumpet solo by Teddy Bartell), Ferde Grofe's "Mississippi Suite" and, most importantly, George Gershwin's "Rhapsody In Blue", as well as several other numbers.
That must have been quite a thrill for Whiteman, to perform his Rhapsody in Blue in England! Great find. Thanks for sharing! Mike Pingatore plays that same tune, "Linger Awhile" in the talkie, "King Of Jazz". And strums his banjo just as furiously! Must have been a special spot in Paul Whiteman's program for years.
Also, I once owned a concert program from this same year, (1926) from a San Francisco performance of Paul Whiteman's orchestra! I've forgotten the details but think it was in May, probably the first concert after Whiteman returned from this triumphant performance in England! It was a large expensive multipaged program as big as a magazine! Had a great caricature of Whiteman done by somebody like Diego Rivera inside. Wish I still had it.
Amazing, what a shame the full set hasn't surfaced anywhere. Thanks for posting this
Incredible- I never thought I'd hear these!
Historic and just great!
Amazing. Are there any known surviving recordings from the concert? I would like to listen to the unfiltered, raw transfers of these two each if possible.
There may or may not be a full set in existence. In any case no one has ever been allowed to hear it.
23 skidoo that's the cat's pajamas!
How unbelievably tantalizing! The artistry of Messrs. Pingitore on banjo and Harry Perella and partner on piano, are of course, beyond reproach. But they only whet my appetite for the FULL concert!! Can't someone, pretty-please-with-cherries-on-top, turn up the test pressings? It's only been ninety years! Geez!
What an amazing find! Brilliant - a priceless piece of sound history, thank you so much for sharing, the banjoist is something else!
Thanks for sharing these recordings and the information regarding the other recordings made at The Royal Albert Hall concert of April 11th, 1926. The fidelity of these recordings is remarkably good. From this sample and the list of the other songs played, it seems to me that this concert mirrored very closely to the previous Paul Whiteman concert at Aeolian Hall in February 1924 where "Rhapsody In Blue" was first introduced. A recreation of that concert was recorded some years ago, based on much research. The recordings of "Linger Awhile" are strikingly similar.
How did you come by these records, if I may ask?
And how are they transfered to the modern, digital medium?
Incredible artifact. I knew about HMV not releasing the recordings back then. Happy that you have one of the discs from that performance.
THE INTERPRETATIONS OF MR WHITEMAN ARE PERFECT TO HAVE A NICE DREAM
Fantastic playing. What a treat to hear!
Savage