The 1930s Jazz Recording Project - Clip

In March 2010 we initiated a project to recreate a small band Jazz recording of the 1930s. The idea was not to try to recreate a particular band but to evoke an era and a 'sound'. For the session we used a single authentic 1938 RCA Ribbon Microphone and valve equipment. We also selected a group of musicians who were experienced in, and sympathetic to, the era: Andy Woon (tpt), Ian Bateman (tmb), John Hallam (reeds), 'Spats' Langham (gtr, bjo, vocal), Martin Litton (pno), Richard Pite (dms), Malcolm Sked (bass). Variously they have experience is playing in vintage and swing bands such as The Pasadena Roof Orch., The Charleston Chasers, The Back To Basie Orch., The Kings Of Swing, etc. The session was filmed for a documentary and this is a 4 minute sample clip. The full CD of the session is available from www.fellside.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Lake
• Records
• 1930s
• Jazz
• Recording
• Project
• Andy
• Woon
• Ian
• Bateman
• John
• Hallam
• 'Spats
• Langham
• Martin
• Litton
• Richard
• Pite
• Malcolm
• Sked

[midgebitten1]

The documentary hasn’t been completed as we’re waiting for someone to commission it. There is some interest from TV people and it might be competed in the next few months

[midgebitten1]

No more clips at the moment but there maybe something in the future

[syncopeter]

Many of these mikes are still in daily use. Last year I watched a podcast of a radio broadcast, where they used a single late 30s Neumann mike for the orchestra and only 2 support mikes for the percussionist, who sat separate and for the accordeon player. The orchestra, the Nederlands Blazers Ensemble sounded absolutely marvelous, because they had to do all the internal balancing themselves. I really prefer the 'minimal miking' method over the current way of recording.

[RhythmJunkie]

Where can this be purchased in the US ?

[drummerboy531]

@odietarceo get in touch with the guys at fellside.com - email: info@fellside.com - they're great people, I'm sure they'll either be able to sell you one directly or point you at a US distributor if it has US distribution

[odietarceo]

Help I can't find the cd! is it available in the states? thank you

[syncopeter]

This clip proves that true high fidelity sound was possible much earlier than most HiFidiots believe. Those RCA ribbon mikes had a frequency range from 20 to 16,000 Hertz and were incredibly linear. They were hard to set up, but they sound marvelous. Only when the huge German Neumann's came was it possible to get a better sound. Those were less sensitive to placing and had better 'plop' resistance.

[takisfuego22]

ahhh music to my ears, i love this music!!!!

[AlanRM1000]

Actually, I am a bop and post-bop jazz lover, but this is great. As I have an interest in electronics, I am fascinated by valve amplifiers and the history of sound recording, so I have bought the CD & really enjoy it - nice that cornet was used as well as trumpet as cornet, an instrument used by brass greats of the 30s like Rex Stewart.

On a personal note - though it isn't - the drummer looks like my old headmaster at school (a very stern man called "affectionately" Hitler Hastings!)

[MsTappingtoes]

I would love to see the full documentary on (Swedish) tv or at our local film club, but I need some more details, before I start emailing people. I couldn't find it at IMDb.

[fluttrbbyplant]

CD is for sale: called '1930's project' from Lake Records available from Amazon and all good record stores!