"Clementine" by Jean Goldkette

"Clementine" was recorded by the Jean Goldkette Orchestra in Leiderkranz Hall in New York City on Sept. 15, 1927. The session was supervised by Leroy Shield. The Goldkette Orchestra had been struggling financially and the members knew that this would be their last recording session.

The performance was adapted by the orchestra from a stock arrangement. Soloists are Bill Rank, trombone, Eddie Lang, guitar, Bix Beiderbecke, cornet, and Joe Venuti, violin. It is considered to be the finest performance of the Goldkette Orchestra captured on records.


The record player is an Orthophonic Victrola model VE4-4X, or "Granada". The "E" in the model number indicates that the Victrola is fitted with a synchronous A/C motor instead of a wind-up motor. The machine has a full "orthophonic" playback system (for electrically-recorded records) including the special orthophonic sound box with a duralumin diaphragm and a folded exponential horn inside of the cabinet. Although the gigantic Credenza Victrola produced deeper bass, the Granada had the most accurate overall frequency response of all the acoustic Orthophonic Victrolas. The serial number indicates that this machine was probably manufactured in 1926.

I shoot my video with a Sony Digital 8 format camera. For audio, I use a Shure SM-57 microphone on a stand placed about 4 feet in front of the Victrola horn. I use "soft tone" needles to keep from overloading the microphone. The mic is plugged directly into the video camera. The videos are edited with Windows Movie Maker. I use Sound Forge 9 to clean up the audio, but don't worry -- you're hearing the record exactly as the Victrola plays it!

For more great music, videos, and trivia from this era, please visit my website, http://www.virtualvictrola.com.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Clementine
• Jean
• Goldkette
• Bix
• Beiderbecke
• 1927
• jazz

[eldon12000]

Thanks so much for sharing this video. I have many digital recordings from the era, but nothing as meaningful as seeing the needle being set on the real thing....and such a wonderful record at that.....it really does bring tears to my eyes.

[cruddiestcrudever]

Wow no scratching or popping, thats a great record!

[jhb134]

I still think that some of Bill Rank's trombone solos should be considered, more-highly. In the early days of jazz, there were some GREAT, trombone soloists, and he deserves a better place. ... No need to comment on Bix; the Davenport fellow was a LEADER, unique and lamented. Thanks again for the upload!

[MegalopolisFilms]

I love the way Eddie Lang's guitar comes through.

[colette10ful]

The best. Everyone hits it at their peak. Of course Bix, but even Joe coming in with that unique sweet violin of his to take the piece through end..... And what a superb transfer to video.... Well done!!!!

[jhb134]

Nice, relaxed tempo ... Bix is easily-discernible in the ensembles, punctuating with his pithy originality ... and it all leads-to two, more fine solos by the Davenport fellow. Many thanks for the video!

[SatchmoSings]

Is this a variation on masturbation?

[Philflash]

That is amazingly clear!

[marvalhat13]

Isn't this the song that Goldkette used to blow Fletcher Henderson's band out of the water in a battle of the bands in N.Y.?

Thanks for posting some classic Bix! My great aunts were flappers in the 1920's and loved his music.

[InnAb109]

What a swinging band. And Bix just so silky and on it. Great video, mesmerising!

[jazzgirl1920s]

Thaks for correcting me and giving information on the recording.