[78-L] FW: A major Bix discovery

[Cary Ginell]

The giveaway is Frits Palir, the Dutch "collector" who found the disc. His name is an anagram for "First" "April"

Cary Ginell

> Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2011 11:49:47 -0400
> From: dlennick at sympatico.ca
> To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
> Subject: Re: [78-L] FW: A major Bix discovery
> 
> 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.
> >
> > The original post has a scan of a beautifully mocked up Bix&  His Rhythm Jugglers Gennett label.
> >
> > Too bad today is April 1.
> >
> > 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>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 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!).
> >
> > 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.
> >
> > To be honest, he has never brought me anything of great importance but it is always nice to see what he comes up with.
> >
> > 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.
> >
> > 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.
> >
> > However, when I turned the Gennett over I half fainted, my legs turned to jelly and I sank back in my chair.
> >
> > "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".
> >
> > 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.
> >
> >
> > 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.
> >
> > 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.
> >
> > I was now trembling violently and with even greater concentration I put the arm on the outer rim of the record.
> >
> > The needle slid in the groove and after the hissy intro which seemed to last forever, the record came to life.
> >
> >
> >   We are now a few weeks later and after many sleepless nights it has sunk in.
> >
> > 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.
> >
> > After I made that first transfer I played it all night long, until daylight. Maybe a hundred times.
> >
> > 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.
> >
> > 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.
> >
> >
> > 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.
> >
> > The price will depend on the number that are pressed, therefore I would like to start a pre-order survey.
> >
> > 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.
> >
> > 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.
> >
> >
> > 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.
> >
> >
> >
> > Hans Eekhoff
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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