[78-L] FW: A major Bix discovery

[David Lennick]

A variant from Norman Field:
http://www.normanfield.com/gnt5652-b.jpg

dl

On 4/1/2011 1:22 PM, Malcolm Rockwell wrote:
> Got the scan, but I had to sign in to Yahoo! to get it. Thanks.
> To be a really authentic fake the issue would have had to be Ge
> S-5652-B, not just Ge 5652-B. I have a scan of Ge S-5652-A, but no
> supporting -B side info. But maybe it's a fake, too.
> Sorry, no cigar!
> Mal
>
> *******
>
> On 4/1/2011 5:49 AM, David Lennick wrote:
>> 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
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> _