Jan. 2008 No. 25 Patrons: Sir Richard Rodney Bennett Eric Parkin, Susan Tomes, Peter Jacobs 3 2 Contents January 2008 Page No. SWCD33 Dizzy Fingers, Piano Rolls Selected & Played by Philip Legg The history of recorded performances of Dizzy Fingers Alex Hassan 3 to breathe life into, when in comes to rolls. player piano rolls, on LPs and Cds, is Sport Model Encore a review. Mike Harth 4 Forgive me, Phil, but I fast-forwarded indeed a checkered one. Whether the through said tracks...On the other hand, Sometimes when we touch. John Watson 6 Edwardian Musical Comedy Mike Harth 9 ghastly honky-tonked sound of there are some real dazzlers here: the title My Friend Bill John Archer 12 lacquered hammers striking poor, track, for example. Victor Arden, one of defenseless piano strings at runawa train Bugatti Step & Fidgety Digits Mike Lorenzini 15 the preeminent pianist-arrangers of the tempi on 1950s LPs, or the pathetic 20s, breathes imaginative life into what Editor : Mike Harth, artwork & layout : Mike Lorenzini, typing :Kathy Lorenzini attempts of Joseph "Sony Superscope" was to become a fairly tired chestnut of the ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tushinsky to reanimate classical pianists novelty repertoire. The uncredited of the past in his Keyboard Immortals arrangement of "It All Depends on You" is The BMS now has updated its website. www.billymayerlsociety.co.uk LPs of the 60s, or compilations of a wonderful toe-tapper. J.L.Cook's 1930s courtesy of BMS member Roy Wainwright ragtime/novelty, well into the 1970s, that Kern medley is gorgeous. Arden's "Toot to include a lot of the artwork covers to Billys music. spotlighted numerous poorly regulated Toot Tootsie" is a novelty-lick tour-de- All BMS members on the net please tell as many people as possible to set up links. instruments, in exceptionally spotty force, and the highlight of the disc, to This year's concerts will include Alex Hassan who will be playing audio, one was hard put to find these ears. I love "How Could Red Riding a pianistic tribute to Fats Waller including his take on performances that did ANY justice to this Hood", a fave tune from the 20s, and arr. The London Suite. one-time exceedingly popular recorded by the ever-hot, though elegant, Pete Exciting new talent discovery BMS member Christopher Duckett format. As anyone who has heard the Wendling (one of the most prolific roll will be playing an entirely Billy Mayerl concert , something never pianola "push-up" (aka "vorsetzer") can artists of the period, and a REALLY fine before achieved by anyone playing for the BMS. attest, the musical operatives at pianist as well,based upon pitifully few 78 Shellwood, Mike L., along with Phil Talented Pianolist Julian Dyer will be regaling us with some of the most rhythmic RPM examples) it doesn't disappoint. Legg, have made the humanizing of rolls piano rolls ever made played on Shellwood’s Aeolian NOW, if Phil could have access to the a true labour of love for some time now. 88 note push-up Pianola circa 1912 wealth of rolls in private collections in the The audio results speak for themselves, states, one can only imagine the treasures Our thanks go out to Mike Harth for providing articles and first in the well-received J. Lawrence a challenging word square. that he could apply his copious talents to Cook CD of a couple years back, and now (when he's not editing the glut of CDs by Also to Johns Archer & Watson for their entertaining and informative articles. with Phil's greatest pumped-hits. It was some character named Hassan...). But with some sense of anticipation that I sat that's a future project, I hope. Meanwhile, It remains only for the BMS to wish its members a very happy new year. back to listen to "Dizzy Fingers", my last enjoy the CD at hand! Alex Hassan Concerts are now £14 inc. Refreshments visit to Shellwood, early August. Mike placed the disc in the machine, and, Sunday Concerts & Meetings at Shellwood St Leonards Rd. Thames Ditton 3 - 6pm well....sheer delight! For the most part, Feb 3rd ................... AGM followed by a members' meeting Phil manages to make these March 2nd .............. Concert Alex Hassan piano performances sound like 1920s/30s piano May 18th ................ BMS members' meeting solo/duo 78s, in modern sonics. The Aug 10th ................ Concert Christopher Duckett piano tempos are all, well....human! The Sept 21st ................. BMS members' meeting evenness of the pumping/playing is, by Nov 2nd .................. Concert Julian Dyer pianola and large, remarkable. Needless to say, Dec 14th ................. Members' Xmas concert (£5 per person) we all have our favourites, when it comes to these sorts of anthologies, and Phil has Please try to reserve your programme at least one week before your chosen date. his own tastes. I actually like waltzes, but Members can bring 2 new guests to any concert/meeting subject to availability. Concert reservations are £14 per person and include refreshments. think they are somewhat more difficult Please phone 020 8224 1521 Reservations are not available at the door. 3 2 Contents January 2008 Page No. SWCD33 Dizzy Fingers, Piano Rolls Selected & Played by Philip Legg The history of recorded performances of Dizzy Fingers Alex Hassan 3 to breathe life into, when in comes to rolls. player piano rolls, on LPs and Cds, is Sport Model Encore a review. Mike Harth 4 Forgive me, Phil, but I fast-forwarded indeed a checkered one. Whether the through said tracks...On the other hand, Sometimes when we touch. John Watson 6 Edwardian Musical Comedy Mike Harth 9 ghastly honky-tonked sound of there are some real dazzlers here: the title My Friend Bill John Archer 12 lacquered hammers striking poor, track, for example. Victor Arden, one of defenseless piano strings at runawa train Bugatti Step & Fidgety Digits Mike Lorenzini 15 the preeminent pianist-arrangers of the tempi on 1950s LPs, or the pathetic 20s, breathes imaginative life into what Editor : Mike Harth, artwork & layout : Mike Lorenzini, typing :Kathy Lorenzini attempts of Joseph "Sony Superscope" was to become a fairly tired chestnut of the ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tushinsky to reanimate classical pianists novelty repertoire. The uncredited of the past in his Keyboard Immortals arrangement of "It All Depends on You" is The BMS now has updated its website. www.billymayerlsociety.co.uk LPs of the 60s, or compilations of a wonderful toe-tapper. J.L.Cook's 1930s courtesy of BMS member Roy Wainwright ragtime/novelty, well into the 1970s, that Kern medley is gorgeous. Arden's "Toot to include a lot of the artwork covers to Billys music. spotlighted numerous poorly regulated Toot Tootsie" is a novelty-lick tour-de- All BMS members on the net please tell as many people as possible to set up links. instruments, in exceptionally spotty force, and the highlight of the disc, to This year's concerts will include Alex Hassan who will be playing audio, one was hard put to find these ears. I love "How Could Red Riding a pianistic tribute to Fats Waller including his take on performances that did ANY justice to this Hood", a fave tune from the 20s, and arr. The London Suite. one-time exceedingly popular recorded by the ever-hot, though elegant, Pete Exciting new talent discovery BMS member Christopher Duckett format. As anyone who has heard the Wendling (one of the most prolific roll will be playing an entirely Billy Mayerl concert , something never pianola "push-up" (aka "vorsetzer") can artists of the period, and a REALLY fine before achieved by anyone playing for the BMS. attest, the musical operatives at pianist as well,based upon pitifully few 78 Shellwood, Mike L., along with Phil Talented Pianolist Julian Dyer will be regaling us with some of the most rhythmic RPM examples) it doesn't disappoint. Legg, have made the humanizing of rolls piano rolls ever made played on Shellwood’s Aeolian NOW, if Phil could have access to the a true labour of love for some time now. 88 note push-up Pianola circa 1912 wealth of rolls in private collections in the The audio results speak for themselves, states, one can only imagine the treasures Our thanks go out to Mike Harth for providing articles and first in the well-received J. Lawrence a challenging word square. that he could apply his copious talents to Cook CD of a couple years back, and now (when he's not editing the glut of CDs by Also to Johns Archer & Watson for their entertaining and informative articles. with Phil's greatest pumped-hits. It was some character named Hassan...). But with some sense of anticipation that I sat that's a future project, I hope. Meanwhile, It remains only for the BMS to wish its members a very happy new year. back to listen to "Dizzy Fingers", my last enjoy the CD at hand! Alex Hassan Concerts are now £14 inc. Refreshments visit to Shellwood, early August. Mike placed the disc in the machine, and, Sunday Concerts & Meetings at Shellwood St Leonards Rd. Thames Ditton 3 - 6pm well....sheer delight! For the most part, Feb 3rd ................... AGM followed by a members' meeting Phil manages to make these March 2nd .............. Concert Alex Hassan piano performances sound like 1920s/30s piano May 18th ................ BMS members' meeting solo/duo 78s, in modern sonics. The Aug 10th ................ Concert Christopher Duckett piano tempos are all, well....human! The Sept 21st ................. BMS members' meeting evenness of the pumping/playing is, by Nov 2nd .................. Concert Julian Dyer pianola and large, remarkable. Needless to say, Dec 14th ................. Members' Xmas concert (£5 per person) we all have our favourites, when it comes to these sorts of anthologies, and Phil has Please try to reserve your programme at least one week before your chosen date.