Harmonica Swing 1920s-1950s [Box set]

HARMONICA SWING

Double CD Compiled by

Alain Antoinietto & Dominique Cravic

First of all, before making my comment, there are two errors.

1. Track No. 5 is not by Borrah Minevitch but Max Geldray.

2. The inserted photograph of "Borrah Minevitch et ses Harmonica Rascals is taken from Albert Raisner's book "Le Livre de L'Harmonica" of 1961 which contains the error. The preface was written by Darius Milhaud.

The "French" group was accepted by Minevitch when living in Paris and not to be confused with the original "Harmonica Rascals" with Johnny Puleo.

Fernand Ammar / Claude Jourdan / Marius Vial / Vincent Amata / Jean Amata (the Conductor"). In the middle, Jean Rudel ("Johnny Cacao"), who was the midget.

Other information they used came from Max Geldray's book "The Goon with the Wind," and my website as I am named as one of their sources. The French section of the booklet is very extensive but the English section is less voluminous.

Please note that the second photograph in the booklet with Max Geldray, is the actual cover of a Larry Adler album on which he recorded four tracks with the Hot Club de France:

Djangologie 8; Pathe Marconi EMI C054-16008 (1938):

Body and soul - Lover come back to me - My melancholy baby - I got rhythm.

At the end of the French text they present the trends of the new generation....

including "Hugo Diaz." What a pity to make such a mistake.

Not in the liner notes, but very interesting, is the fact that Max Geldray playing in the Ray Ventura Orchestra, appeared in two movies:

A: Feux de Joie (1938)

B: Tourbillons (1939)

The 41 tracks on the CD-set are very interesting, and some are very rare recordings, all date back from the 20's-30's-40's and 50's.

1. Six by Max Geldray

2. One by Huibert Giraud

3. Twelve by Dany Kane

4. Seven by Larry Adler

5. Six by Borrah Minevitch

6. Two by Quintet Dupont-Durand

7. Three by Les 5 de L'Harmonica

8. One by The Harmonica Swingers

9. Two by The Hotcha Trio

10. One by Trio Marnhy

A must for any harmonica fanatic.

Buy it, you won't be disappointed!

Order from www.amazon.co.uk or

www.amazon.com

Best wishes to all from South Africa,

Art M. Daane.

artdaane@telkomsa.net

[...]

This compilation is hard to obtain -[...]. If you are a harmonica afficianado, or if you are a collector of vintage dance bands or early jazz as I am, this is a vital acquisition for your collection. The early Borrah Minnevitch stuff alone is worth buying it for. The only drawback I would say the set has is that it does leave out people like Jerry Murad, who deserve a place in a collection like this, but at the same time there are an abundant number of Harmonicats reissues out there anyway that are excellent.