HIAWATHA RAG - The Charlie McNair Skiffle Group

[golsno147]

Charlie was a popular leading trad trumpeter in Edinburgh for many years but appeared to have concentrated on his daytime business rather than become a full time professional. He was my classmate and friend as was bassist "Dizzy Jackson" at the Royal High School which had already produced a remarkablyy large number of top players from pupils of the 1940s including Sandy Brown, Al Fairwearger, Stan Greig, and, if I recall correctly ,Alex Welsh and Archie Semple.

[19bossy9]

If I am not mistaken this band might have been known as the Medowside Jazz band fro Edinburgh, I herd them play in the St Andrew's Hall in Glasgow.

Sashtosh

[tinman3804]

I wish one of those areodynamic Hudsons could have made it past the scrap yard.

[sideslide23]

the Hiawatha that cruised at the zephyr's was the Steam powerd high speed train believe it or not, it cruised 112.5 MPH for 14 miles and in after a 1939 upgrade which claimed the locomotive had a reserve speed of 125 MPH, so America was the first one to have the High speed train so there for, the Hiawatha was the very first high speed train exist and second came the jap shinkansen that reach 165 MPH when it came in the 1960s

[Keeper1st]

"Hiawatha -- A Summer Idyll" (Charles N. Daniels) is from the ragtime era but isn't a rag, as it is not syncopated (though they do syncopate their embellishments in this performance). This intermezzo is indeed about a trains, though, named after the railroad hub town of Hiawatha, Kansas. The beat in the A strain was mistaken by bands to be representative of indian drums, accidentally spawning a popular style of music called indian intermezzo.

[duke4dushess]

Takes me back to my home city. If I remember about the time of Sandy brown Archie Semple and the great Alex Welsh. Great jazz from Charlie McNair

[DADRENO]

@duke4dushess I have a nice EP by Sandy Brown and Archie Semple of the music from 'Pete Kelly's Blues' a great film of the fifties!

[mcksmittyg]

I reckon that'll be my late father Joe Smith on clarinet there!

[zeldaveneer]

Charlie McNair was (is?) an Edinburgh jazz musician and for his day job ran a great sandwich bar in Edinburgh (Forest Row if I remember correctly, which was opposite Meadow Lane in Edinburgh)

Kenneth

[DADRENO]

I have found that BELTONA was a Scottish label and covered many other Scottish artistes.

[wolfiejazz]

I love this skiffly trad band, never heard of them before,great to practice my clarinet to. Thanks.

[DADRENO]

I can't find any reference to Charlie McNair on t'internet. Does anyone know anything please? This record was on Beltona BL2670

[nikanco]

Charlie McNair is legend in Edinburgh he's still alive and loved lots by his family and friends. Respect.

[TheRussianShop]

@DADRENO I played drums with Charlie in the seventies in Edinburgh but I have had no contact since around

1990

[MoleDFigg]

Nice one Dad!!