Joe Venuti & Eddie Lang: Wild Cat

[twindowlicker]

They make it look so easy!

[diddywahdaddy]

Been a fan of Eddie Lang's since 1980 - what an amazing guitarist!! All due respect to Joe Venuti, brilliant violin player as he was,but Venuti lived to be an old man and celebrated artist, while Lang died so young (some say this haunted Bing Crosby for the rest of his life, as he advised Eddie to do something with his tonsils, which went badly wrong).As much as I love and respect Reinhardt & Graphelli; Lang & Venuti were there first, and many seem to forget that. Both duos deserve honor, but..

[berCarBel]

virtud

[ImuhMusician]

I didnt know they had this good of recording back in the 20's or early 30's or whenever this was shot haha

[n64wilbert]

predates Django and Stephen

[MrDarwinsDog]

Music used to smile more. This is some - but not all - of the real, great 'shite'. If you like jazz violin do check out Stuff Smith as well.

[mrspriscillakat]

I love it !! THANX !!

[amsterjam66]

thanks- beautiful playing- L5 ++

[gabri3l367]

Incredibile !!!!! Precisi e grande musicalità. Belli gli accordi con i bassi e i suoi rivolti eseguiti da Eddie Lang .

[Osocooltwo]

To say this clip is at least 78 years old bears testimony to the skill of this duo...Eddie died in 1933 from the after effects of a tonsilectomy :-!

[jazzmessenger123]

Very Cool. Just added this to my favorites on my VIOLIN channel. To check out a wide selection of great violin stuff from jazz to rock to salsa to blues to bluegrass, and some genres you've probably never imagined, just click on the blue link below to the left for my jazzmessenger123 channel.

[jazzmessenger123]

The beginning of jazz violin.

I've just added this to my eclectic mix of VIOLIN favorites in various genres ranging from jazz to salsa to Cajun to rock to classical to blues and some you've probably never imagined. Check 'em out at my youtube channel in blue below to the left.

[marconjcp]

*double take*

[TheDarmardar]

wow. 

[movievaudeville]

I think this is from the film King of Jazz, when both worked with Paul Whiteman's Orchestra. Wicked Good!

[movievaudeville]

I think this is from the film King of Jazz, when both worked with Paul Whiteman's Orchestra. Wicked Good!

[kingoma61]

Eddie Lang is the undisputed Father of the Jazz Guitar. Eddie Lang composed "Wild Cat" with Frank Signorelli. Some of Eddie Lang's other compositions included "April Kisses", "Perfect", "Goin' Places", "Doin' Things", "Stringin' the Blues", "Cheese and Crackers", "Guitar Blues" with Lonnie Johnson, and "Pickin' My Way" and "Feelin' My Way" with Carl Kress. Lang was the first jazz guitar innovator.

[kingoma61]

@kingoma61 Eddie Lang composed "Wild Cat" with Joe Venuti. He composed "Perfect" with Frank Signorelli. The scene is from the classic 1930 movie The King of Jazz which starred Paul Whiteman and Bing Crosby.

[lexdepex]

Sounds like Hotclub the france to me...I'm starting to wonder who was first.

[furnesque]

@lexdepex Lang and Venuti were first, and a great influence on Reinhardt and Grapelli. Eddie Lang died in 1932, before Reinhardt's first recordings.

[furnesque]

@lexdepex Lang and Venuti were first, and a great influence on Reinhardt and Grapelli. Eddie Lang died in 1932, before Reinhardt's first recordings.

[shuquil73]

Venuti and Lang were the greatest !

[wisesatyr72]

these guys are like amercian version Django and Stephen Grappeli

[dennshor]

This is the first time i've seen the two of them though I've certainly HEARD them before. Thank you so much for making my day!

[snorkelbda03]

My violinist and I have a video of this song -as well as other Venuti Lang songs- and while we dont ( cant?) play it as fast as they do....it;s still worth a watch !

[godrodemyscooter]

thats so cool that people are making covers of a relative of mine

[snorkelbda03]

How exactly are you replated and where are you located?

[JimmyDeLocke]

Very perceptive of you, zalman595, and I think you're also right on about how it kinda "shows" eh? I can spot a lesson taker right off the bat.

[zalman595]

They've been taking lessons. I can tell.

[TuberOnTheLoose]

I wonder if their music teacher is available for lessons?

[nomis777]

heavy shit

[sclogse1]

I hear..."Oh sweet and lovely, lady be good.." sneaking around these chords.

[1969mets]

At 11-12 seconds, Eddie is playing lead and rhythm at the same time. Watch his right hand hitting the single strings and his fret/left hand pinky fingering the lead notes. This is not trick photography or overdubbing. This is Salvatore Massaro, showing us what we've all been deprived of because of his untimely death. I worship at the altar of Django, but the fact is, Eddie never had a chance to become a guitar god. Remember, he already went Hollywood with Bing. He would have been the greatest.

[snorkelbda03]

@1969mets I hate to burst your bubble, but theyre playing to a recorded track. He's not playing lead and rhythm and the same time, thats why his hands dont match.

No doubt he was one of the greatest and certainly ahead of his time,but this is the way the recorded movies and music back then.

Its quite evident because he's running down a C scale but his hands are forming and playing chords.

[Fretkillr]

@snorkelbda03 is correct. The descending scale we hear does not match Lang's fingering. A brilliant guitarist nonetheless.

[Morahman7vnNo2]

Now that's some serious comping!

[petersuki]

They did a few of these virtuoso things. Really high standard. I love the idiot who prefers Django - but does he have even the faintest idea how good Eddy was?

[KawhackitaRag]

c'mon guys, give it a break. This is beautiful, whimsical music, and you are supposed to be smiling and really happy right now!

[gabri3l367]

Fantastico. Che grande intesa che avevano.Grande JOE e EDDIE

[BrunoJazzmanLeicht]

Listened to Joe & Eddie first when I was 14 years old on German broadcast --- those were the days when there was no format mainstream radio.

I adore them since -- they've become part of my life, so to say.

Feel free to check out my jazz blog which was recently praised highly by Marc Myers of JazzWax -- for link see my profile.

Cheers,

Brewnuti

[7lucky777777]

this useles vincenz bum one ugly person YOU SHOULD CHANGE UR MASK NOW COZ THE HALLOWEEN ITS OVER BOY Django Reinhardt greatest guitarist first reason if u play with 2 fingers i give a oscar what django did was sick

[vincenz55]

YOUR LUCK IS ABOUT TO RUN OUT IGNORANT PRICK.

First learn how to spell. Then Your knowledge of music is a joke. I suggest you take toilet shit cleaning cause thats all your pea brain is capable of.

why do you hide behind a computer without revealing your sore ass ugly face.

Is it because you look like the farm animals stalls you clean and your picture would get banned from the internet?

YOU Always NEED A MASK BECAUSE YOUR NATURALLY BORN BUTT UGLY

[sclogse1]

Farm animal stalls...

Only on youtube.

Does this mean you're not going to have his baby?

[BrunoJazzmanLeicht]

Djano & Stephane would have given them a double thumbs-up. Perfect pairing, pure virtuosity.

Feel free to drop by my swing blog which was recently praised by the great Marc Myers of JazzWax -- for link see my profile.

See you, THX and All best,

Brewnuti

[F0nkyNinja]

@BrunoJazzmanLeicht

Django didn't like Joe and Eddie at all. He called Eddie's playing uninspired, and said there was nothing to learn from it.

[bfreeman42]

Now THAT sum fiddlin! WOW!

[Morahman7vnNo2]

Boy Am I glad I have one of his Books explaining his fingerboard harmony.

[jimihendrix1967]

I love the smile on Eddie Lang's face. :)

[flyingwombat83]

lang is sick

[earsoup]

2 masters at work, great vid !

[Cacophony89]

Inestimabile.

[marm847]

Eddie Lang was a true genius. He made everything possible. DOn't compare him with anyone. The others, would have never existed without Eddie.

[jazzgirl1920s]

I always like the violin jazz playing of Joe Venuti. Joe Venuti was a guest on the Dick Cavett show and I taped the show with my Betamax video recorder. Venuti told stories about Bix and the Paul Whiteman band on that TV show.

[sandyrothman]

To smemr: It's fast, but watch very carefully between approximately 0:10 and 0:12, and listen to the descending guitar run that Eddie isn't playing visually. Joe's playing seems to match the filming. But it would be entirely consistent with film technique if the producers had used the recording of this tune instead of a live performance for the movie.

[myjazzcorner]

Really fabulous! Where on earth did you find this gem?!! Really made my morning, as well as raised the hairs on my neck. Great video. Exactly what YouTube embodies.

[PlatypusofCalifornia]

Jomg haxor. This is ridiculous, how does he do it?

[pixaninny]

OK, I've received a message from one of the posters regarding the slanging match going on here. Any more slurs and slanging and the comments will be removed.

[ChristopherRosato]

Venuti and Lang were playing in the early 1920s. They were the models whom Grappelli and Django imitated. Lang and Venuti came many years before Grappelli and Django, who idolized the two Philadelphians.

[bestatrevas]

OMG!

[sandyrothman]

BTW: This clip is clearly dubbed, as some of the guitar runs Eddie plays on the audio track are not being played here. Does the film have more footage of them, and is it in true synch.?

[vincenz55]

who cares. appreciate it for what it is

[smemr]

I do not see how this is dubbed? It looks pretty authentic to me. At what point in the video are the runs you are referring to which you believe make this a dubbing?

[sandyrothman]

Don't fret — there will always be people like that who must measure one thing against another and cannot appreciate uniqueness for what it is. Possibly Django & Stephane wouldn't have been what they were if not for Joe & Eddie, but this commenter doesn't get that. Maybe some further education and maturity will change the outlook. Meanwhile, don't worry. Lang & Venuti were every bit as great as you know they were!

[beachhutblues]

Maturity?

Ive been playing Jazz guitar for over 40 years!

I know a darn sight more than you do buddy.

[sandyrothman]

You may know how to play jazz guitar, but you don't know your history...and you're very rude to boot.

[campocat]

that is funny

what they weren't French

this is not baseball

this shit is amazing

the French were copying it

and doing a hell of a job

I got to play with Stephen

great musician don't think in those terms

leave that stuff for Mike and the mad dog

[vincenz55]

they werent even french blood..django was a pure gypsy and grapelli was italian. Just like most of the french soccer team isnt even french

[jphoenix001]

Stupid comment...

[vincenz55]

why are facts stupid..facts are facts they are irrefutable..they are stupid to some people because they cant handle the truth

[jphoenix001]

It's fully stupid... Maybe the dumbest comment i've seen on youtube.

Grapelli was born in Paris, her mother was french and his father was italian. Django was born in Belgium but lived all his life in France and loved France. All his family lived in France (Babik, David..) And for soccer, maybe in your mind it's impossible but in France you can be black and french. Fatcs are facts right, but false facts are stupid.

[vincenz55]

your comment is even dumber..how do you know about Django did you know him personally.he was gypsy tzigno..see all of frances talent isnt really french its imported talent..

75 percent of the french soccer team arent really french..they are african blood..a true frenchman is pure freinch blood..born in france from generations..not imported talent thats not really french and you know it..

[jphoenix001]

You speak about blood as a nazi....

Think what you want, i don't care. For me being french it's not being white and catholic, it's just being happy to live in this country and share some values.

[vincenz55]

you sound like a disgruntled jew

[jphoenix001]

הכנס לשלום שוטה

[vincenz55]

i knew it lol i must have a second sense..do you call everyone a nazi or anti semitic that doesnt agree with your point of view? cause you shouldnt use those words.. they are just as bad as if someone says the holocaust never happened..so be careful what you accuse people of

[jphoenix001]

I'm not jew lol, i found that sentence on the internet. "A second sense ??" You just have one sense ahaha lol each human has 5 senses, really strange guy....

[vincenz55]

thanks i like to be different and the reason i didnt say 6th sense is because i dont want appear to be spiritistic lol

[beachhutblues]

They were obviously very accomplished musicians but they don't really have that special "thing" that Django and Stephane had.

They don't ebb and flow like the Hot club did, playing behind, and in front of, the beat, with that Gallic flair, as if they really dind't care too much!

No "Gypsy spirit" here.

Just very accomplished, but souless, playing.

[lowgrowl5]

That 'special thing' is just your own subjectivity and obvious passion for Django and Stephane blocking out all other contenders. Joe and Eddie had their own thing too though sadly it doesn't appear to reach you. It is totally normal that there wouldn't be any 'gypsy spirit' here as this is american swing which is what, as a matter of fact,the hot club in its hayday mainly played... ten years after Joe and Eddie. Have you even listened to other recordings apart from this one?

[vincenz55]

i agree with you. the more i listen to these two guys the more i appreciate their talent. he hasnt even listened to the lang lonnie johnson duet yet. i dare to find anyone that comes close to those two as a team in any era..its like 8 guitars playing..say goodbye django. No gypsy heart or passion? give me a break

[KawhackitaRag]

Dear beachhut,

please post a video of yourself playing the guitar with plenty of soul and Gypsy spirit, and let us pick it apart the way you do these guys.

RAGards,

Andrew

P.S. and leave Django out of this... Eddie Lang was his hero and he would be super pissed to see what you wrote here.

[knighterrantfilms]

Wow!

[bruceengelhardt]

Just amazing! Thanks for posting this classic film of some terrific jazz men.

[panamintjoe]

The clip is from Universal's "King of Jazz" (1930).

[gringo557]

NICE CLIP!!!! What movie is this from ?

[useryug]

That Mr Venuti sure can play!

Thanks for posting

Barry

UK

[fromthesidelines]

Bix had already left Whiteman in September 1929, a few months before the band went to Hollywood to film "King Of Jazz" at Universal...

[fuzzbear6240]

Wonderful! Thank you. Regards, J.

[zaddustt]

Wow! Forward motion ... playing together!  Insane speed!

[Jojobi]

WOW!! Eddie is the greatest there ever was.

[teasinthefrets]

Incredible,love those musicians of the 1920s. Timing, taste and tuning always seemed perfect.

[demonrex2006]

TNX!

[nanananajojojo]

wow o_o

[cuthbertdrinkwater]

to hear more of Eddie Land and Joe Venutti, listen to 1930's Boswell Sisters, and Bing Crosby records, and movies. You'll often hear them. In the movie The Big Broadcast,(1932) you'll see Eddie backing Bing. I'd like to see outtakes from the King of Jazz. There'd probably be some priceless stuff there.

[joed0423]

God, I miss those guys!! Why doesn't Joe Venuti have a plaque on the Walk of Fame in Philadelphia?? Eddie Lang has one!

[63Attila]

Joed423 I do not know why he is not on the Walk of Fame in Philly. It pisses me off also because he was my great uncle. And he was BORN IN PHILLY

[jassW]

This clip is from the Paul Whitman "King of Jazz" film - available on VHS. 1930. Bix was supposed to be in it as well. The whole band went to Hollywood, sat around, came back East, returned (w/o Bix).

[DonJulioBlanco2002]

Awesome - I can't believe a film of Joe and Eddie even exists!

[jhodges72]

In my opinion, joe was the best.

[Jonnyflatwound]

A classic, one to cherish. What swing! What Joie de vivre!

[ec00028]

Wonderful!!