[78-L] FW: A major Bix discovery

[David Lennick]

Here's the label (I hope non-TONYites can open this):
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ToastOfNewYork/photos/album/1812661211/pic/1122081345/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=81&count=20&dir=asc

dl

On 4/1/2011 9:43 AM, Cary Ginell wrote:
>
>> From our mischievous Italian friend, Enrico.
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> The original post has a scan of a beautifully mocked up Bix&  His Rhythm Jugglers Gennett label.
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> Too bad today is April 1.
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> Cary Ginell
>
> Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2011 10:18:01 +0200
> Subject: A major Bix discovery
> From: enrico.borsetti at gmail.com
> To: enrico.borsetti at gmail.com
>
> IS IT A FAKE?
> WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Hans Eekhoff<oriole at zonnet.nl>
> Date: 2011/4/1
>
> Subject: A major Bix discovery
> To: Hans Eekhoff<oriole at zonnet.nl>
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> It happened after returning home from Racine, having enjoyed four wonderful days at Phil's "Tribute To Bix" bash and with a nice pile of 78's in my suitcase (including an Autograph of "Prince Of Wails" by Lampe's Orchestra, found in Chicago!).
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> My Dutch friend and neighbour Frits Palir, although a jazzfan but not a 78 collector, is often in the US on business and usually keeps an eye out for records which he thinks could be interesting for me.
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> To be honest, he has never brought me anything of great importance but it is always nice to see what he comes up with.
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> One early evening, a few days after my return, Frits dropped by and handed me five 78’s.
> "From a second-hand book and record shop near Boise, Idaho" he added.
> I didn't immediately look at them but poored him a glass of wine and we chatted about my trip to Racine.
>
> After half an hour Frits had to go home so politely I looked at the records - the first one was a Banner by Sam Lanin, the second "Stack O' Lee Blues" by Waring's Pennsylvanians on Victor and the third a Gennett: "Diego Montes" by Nathan Glantz and his Orchestra.
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> And then I looked at the other side of the Gennett.
> I had stood up to see Frits out and had picked up the records from the table to have a quick look before he went.
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> However, when I turned the Gennett over I half fainted, my legs turned to jelly and I sank back in my chair.
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> "Very nice this one Frits" I mumbled, "very nice".
> "Yes" he said, "I know you're keen on Bix and thought you might like it".
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> Not bothering to look at the last two, I carefully put the records back on the table.
> All I wanted was to be alone with the Gennett and for Frits to go away.
> I'd explain to him later.
>
> Half dazed I saw him out and went back into the room.
> I did not immediately dare to look at the record again, half afraid that I was dreaming.
> Instead I switched on the amplifier (it takes a few minutes to heat up) and the pre-amp.
> I then turned to the records again. I lifted the Banner and the Victor and there it was.
> The label looked me straight in the face.
> "No One Knows What It's All About" by Bix and his Rhythm Jugglers it said. Gennett 5652.
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> I broke out in a sweat. This is serious. This a lost Bix recording. But it cannot be in one piece - such things do not happen.
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> With trembling hands I took it out of the sleeve. Good heavens. E condition and undamaged.
> "Careful" I said to myself, "Don't drop it. Before you do ANYTHING else, make an MP3 transfer and email it to yourself. If a bomb drops on the house (and it probably will) at least the music will be safe on the World Wide Web.
>
> I turned on the digital recorder and lifted the cover off the record player.
> With superhuman concentration I managed to place the Gennett on the turntable and switched it on.
>
> Suddenly it went through my head. "I haven't looked at the number in the wax - what if it is mis-labelled and just another Glantz side?" Too late now. It was already spinning and I had to play and record it first.
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> I was now trembling violently and with even greater concentration I put the arm on the outer rim of the record.
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> The needle slid in the groove and after the hissy intro which seemed to last forever, the record came to life.
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>   We are now a few weeks later and after many sleepless nights it has sunk in.
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> A third Rhythm Jugglers side exists. Forget Zulu's Ball, forget the Mona Lisa - this is the most important work of art in the history of mankind.
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> After I made that first transfer I played it all night long, until daylight. Maybe a hundred times.
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> I will not dwell now on everything that happens on the record - except that Bix and Don Murray both have solos and that it is the "blank" take, just like the other two issued titles from that session.
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> I have now cleaned the record and done a full audio restoration which turned out very nice;  the disc is in a beautiful E condition and well recorded.
>
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> I will of course make the side available on CD but the plan is also to manufacture facsimile (vynil) 78 rpm copies of Gennett 5652 - with the exact labels and the same Glantz title on the reverse side.
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> The price will depend on the number that are pressed, therefore I would like to start a pre-order survey.
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> Please let me know if you are interested so I can get an idea of the quantity I need.
> Before I place the order I will let you know the costs.
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> And before you ask - yes, Frits Palir will receive half of the money and the last two records were a Nat Shilkret Victor and a Harry James red Columbia.
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> I have send this email to as many collectors and Bix enthousiasts as I know but I’d be grateful if you could also spread the word today.
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> Hans Eekhoff
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