[78-L] FW: A major Bix discovery

[Martin Fisher]

Can you save and send??

- -----Original Message-----
- From: 78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com [mailto:78-l-
- bounces at klickitat.78online.com] On Behalf Of David Lennick
- Sent: Friday, April 01, 2011 10:50 AM
- To: 78-L Mail List
- 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/pi
- c/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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