Vienna Sonora Band: Lied von der Wunderbar (Vienna 1930)

The Vienna Sonora Band was founded in 1923 by Viennese reed player Heinrich Blaser, who had heard Bobbie Hind's London Sonora Band in England a year before. In 1930, when the Viennese counterpart of the London Sonora Band cut 12 sides for Austrian Columbia, the band consisted of basically 7 to 10 musicians, probably including Josef Fiedler (p, arr, ld), Oskar Hrazdijra (tp, acc), Hans Veith (v, as), Bert Strasser (bj), Hermann Bodem (dr), and, of course, Blaser on ts and cl. They toured Europe extensively, but one of their main venues was the Weihburg Bar in Vienna. In 1931 they recorded at least 29 sides for Edison Bell in Paris. Today, their Austrian Columbias are hard to find. The 'Wunderbar' song (Columbia DV 4) is not only very typical for their sound, but also a bit jazzy. Note the short solos by tp and as. Vocal chorus is by Otto Neuman.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Vienna
• Sonora
• Band
• Wunderbar
• Farkas

[parlophonman]

I have a few records of the Sonora-Band with Otto Neuman, but most of them are boring...

This one is really GOOD !!

[Stompy23]

Thank you for your comment. There are several better Columbias, but they are quite rare. What turns up are mostly the boring waltzes and tangos. Similarly good ones are 'For You', 'Du Hast So Blaue Augen' and 'Schenk Mir Ein Bisschen Sonnenschein'.

[kspm01]

fantastic, rare and highly interesting post! What a find.

[Stompy23]

Yes, these Columbias are quite rarely heard today. I am pleased you like my country's hot dance pioneers, kspm01 ...

[jurek46pink]

VERY interesting - have it in German rec. with Leo M.

Thanks.

[Stompy23]

Well, with Monosson it is by Paul Godwin, isn't it? Fine you like this version!

[muscleco]

A GREEN Columbia! A rare bird indeed. And lovely to hear. Many many thanks! Now if only we can find those Paris Edison-Bells....