Efi • Rr J'cji M Master Records, Inc. to Organize European Office Records

July, 1937 AUTOMATIC AGE 45

Notes of Interest to Phonograph Operators Efi • rr J'cji m ries which will musically demonstrate Master Records, Inc. to Organize the advance jazz has made during the last decade. Duke Ellington, who lec European Office tured for Percy Grainger several ^O M P L E T IN G the organization of 000 records during the first two months years ago at N.Y.U.’s School of Mu Master Records, Inc., in America, of operation. The increasing demand sic has recorded several selections Irving Mills, managing director, em for the platters plus additional chain showing what the future generation may expect in its syncopation. In a barked for Europe on the S.S. Queen store outlets now being contracted group showing how jazz may be writ Mary, which sailed June 23, where he give indications of sales soon reaching ten with an ultra-modern touch, Ray- will establish his own record company a steady weekly total of 100,000 or mon Scott, whose Jazz Quintet recent in London for the purpose of distrib more. ly gained recognition in the music uting Master and Variety Records When Master Records, Inc. was world for its performance of “Minuet throughout the Continent. launched by Irving Mills, who has in Jazz,” “Powerhouse” and others, The suprise decision to enter the guided many musical personalities to has recorded another group of platters foreign market as an independent pro stardom and donated to Tin Pan Al with his own instrumental combina ducer and distributor was a result of ley scores of song hits through his tions. the rapid success experienced in the music publishing activities, he was of States by Master and Variety Rec the opinion that new names and new Other bandsmen, including Cab Cal ords. Casting aside all conventional music would result in new interest loway, Red Nichols and Red McKen routines and modes in creating his and consequently new and increased zie, are in a group showing the vogues disk catalogs, Irving Mills emerged sales. His convictions were confirmed in jazz during the last ten years. The with many outstanding musical items, when the best selling disks turned out Hudson-De Lange Orchestra, which in among them some of the top selling to be those made by initiates in the a poll was voted the most popular phonograph attractions of the season. recording field, playing new music on band among the eollegiates, will dem Master records has been enjoying a a new record label. The wide sale of onstrate the present day style of jazz. large “best selling” sale with such records have brought forth several “Solo instrumental styles are most personalities as Duke Ellington, Hud- new musical hits, top most among important in jazz,” explained Irving son-De Lange, Raymond Scott, Cappy them being “Peckin’,” recorded by the Mills, “and for the purpose of exhib Barra’s Swing Ensemble, Willard composer Ben Pollack and his orches iting this phase of jazz, we have a Robison and Franklyn Marks. On tra. Also rising to popularity are series showing the ultimate in impro Variety Records, top sellers were rec “Caravan,” recorded by Barney Bi- visations. ‘Cootie’ Williams, trumpet ords made by Cab Calloway, Barney gard’s Jassopaters; “Lullaby to a er, Barney Bigard, clarinettist and Bigard, Red Nichols, Midge Williams, Lamp Post” and “Merry Widow on Billy Kyle, pianist, each head small Benny Fields, George Hall, Dolly a Spree,” recorded by Irving Mills ‘jam bands’ for this group. Although Dawn, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart, Swyngphonic Orchestra. comparatively unknown in the public Billy Kyle, Noble Sissle, Frank New On arriving in London, Irving Mills light, they are each highly regarded ton, Red McKenzie, Chu Berry and will establish temporary quarters in in jazz circles.” . Joe Marsala. In all it has been tabu Regent Street, where he will begin the Showing that jazz can be played on lated that Master and Variety Rec initial work in forming the new Lon instruments other than the conven ords sold collectively more than 500,- don Company. tional ones used in orchestras, Leslie Leiber will “wax” records playing a “hot” tin flute. (Leiber participated Records to be Provided For School in the Belgium Rhythm Concert, spon sored in October, 1936 by King Leo Jazz Lectures pold, while acting as Paris corre spondent for the New York Times.) TN accord with the plan presented by ries of phonograph recordings to ac Adrian Rollini will, also in this cate Dr. G. H. Gartlan, director of mu company the discourses. The idea was gory, demonstrate jazz talents on sic at the Board of Education, in suggested by Richard Himber, prom vibraphones and Casper Reardon will which he announced his intentions to inent bandsman. duplicate this on “hot” harp. The present lectures on jazz in the New Cappy Barra Harmonica Ensemble, The “hot” jazz department of Mas York high schools, next Fall, Irving which won high honors in the Swing Mills, managing director of Master ter Records, Inc., which has devised Concert, held in 1935 at the Imperial Records, Inc., has offered to supply sevei’al groups of swing recordings, is theatre, will show how jazz is ac class rooms with a representative se- at present working on a suitable se complished on the reeds.