Art Hickman's New York London Five - Now and Then

This record is really very worn, but I've chosen to post anyway, because I find it to be a true, undisclosed gem in the early history of jazz on record.

The style of the ensemble is quite unique, with its smearing, refined lines woven in a rhythmically intensive, polyphonic jazz texture. Obviously, this is a written arrangement, imitating the auditive effect of a freely improvising ensemble - and still it swings like hell, in it's own peculiar, square manner. This band must really have shaken up the floors at the Criterion Roof Garden, where it performed from 1920 to 1921. This American band was formed as a replacement for Art Hickman's orchestra, as Hickman had to turn down the offer of going overseas, being occupied at the Ziegfield Follies, but he sponsored the new group with his name, already known and selling well, in Britain.

Pianist George Fishberg, later to change his name to Fisher, and saxophone player Jack Howard stand out in this recording.

Both Fishberg and Howard remained in Britain after the end of the had success as band leaders in Britain. Fishberg led a unit at the famous Kit-Kat Club from 1928 to 1929, and you may hear a recording by this band here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4pnU9pk0t8

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• 78RPM
• JAZZ
• 1921
• HMV
• B-1217
• George
• Fisher
• Kit-Kat
• Club
• Criterion

[CARLONCHO3333]

brilliant.. ♫

[nhsnc1]

Jack Howard is my great uncle apparently. Very interesting clip.