Frank Westphal's Orchestra - Sing you Sinners

[fiddlerjess]

I love the guy who comes in the back at :40 and does a little dance.

[ednayarkspay]

Great clarity. It's as if it was recorded yesterday! A wonderful insight to fans of vintage music.

[crankityfrank]

What a fantastic band! Too bad they made no commercial recordings in the electric era. Aside from the hot music, I get a kick out of the guy who walks into the frame at 0:40 and does a little dance before retreating to the sidelines -- you can see the other onlookers cast him little smiles after that. Wonderful!

[brosro]

The musician right below the center of the bell of the tuba appears to be playing

into a reed mouthpiece. It could be Westphal had to get his band together quickly for the newsreel cameras. Besides, who could hear the reeds under that blaring brass.

[BennySax]

There are definitly reeds as well as strings. Typical Paul Whiteman style band for the time. Reeds would get heard, but the strings was another matter. They usually arranged to allow the strings to come out, but not much in this piece.

[KawhackitaRag]

I wonder who the drummer is -  look at all those melodic percussions around him! xylophone, marimba, vibes, etc. he was well-equipped!!!

[KawhackitaRag]

This is one of those great things that you hardly ever see - wonderful!!!

[willgonow]

where's the sin ?

top tune,thx

[luigiranalli77]

Invaluable document and great performance of that great song!

[bearcub410]

BORN TOO LATE .THANKS

[jostoll]

Frank Westphal is my grandfather. Does anyone know where I can get other recordings of him, either audio or video?

[78rpm78rpm]

Frank made a few recordings 1925-28 in Chicago

I will contact you if I find any. Played at the Marigold Ballroom and other local venues. Seemed to keep busy around town during his heyday. This clip is from a 1930 newsreel from some kind of function in Chicago either in the radio studios or some remote location.

[brosro]

@jostoll Frank recorded about three dozen songs from 2/22 to 4/24 all for Columbia, all in Chicago. He had a normal 10 pc. orchestra.I have some sheet music showing him as directing the WENR studio band. in 1926. He seemed to have some success as a composer, also. If you could send me your location, I would be happy to send you the sheet music which includes his picture. Unfortunately, I have no recordings. According to RUST, several of his recordings were listed as "of interest to jazz"

[KawhackitaRag]

There's a great recording of him playing his solo piano compositon "Pianola", reissued on the Folkways CD "Early Ragtime Piano". If you search Smithsonian Folkways for "westphal" you will find it.

My friend, pianist Vincent Johnson has a copy of the sheet music to this tune if you want it, and I'm sure he would be interested to talk to you! Did your grandfather leave any old artifacts, manuscripts, etc?

[78rpm78rpm]

House band-WENR radio-Chicago. Westfall also played around Chicago area 1925-35. Made a few recordings....newsreel clip. Looks like a formal gathering of some sort. I see only one reed player.

[FredrikTers]

I have trouble seeing any reed player at all. Unless the fellow to the extreme left in the back row is one - is he the one you're referring to? Unusual instrumentation anyhow.

[TeddyWilson]

wow . thank you - simply astonishing

Mauro

[santopec]

Thank you!

Fantastic!