Tango Havana - Abe Lyman's Orch., 1924

Lyman's California Ambassador Orchestra - Havana - Tango (Lyman /Schonberger) Brunswick 1924 (USA)

NOTE: I don't know why the Anglo-Saxon culture of the Roaring 1920s and 30s produced so few tangoes - comparing with myriads of remarkable foxtrots, charlestons, shimmies or the swing. Prehaps, in the very beginning the sweet rhythm of tango had been reserved for Southern Americans, who have been the first and the best tango players and dancers in history, once and forever. Yet, in 20th century there were also other nations that in certain periods tried to compete with Argentinians or Uruguayans in their love for tango - I mean, the phenomenon of the so called "Polish tango" in years 1920-39 - the unique blend of the Slavonic and Jewish musical talents and sentimentality, put into one pot. These tangoes - played, composed or sung by many Polish artists of the Jewish origin, have become a solid part of the 20th century cultural heritage of Europe. Also, I have to mention numerous German and French tangoes, which also drove people out onto the dancing floors of bars and restaurants of Europe, in the 1920/30s.
However - very little has always been heard of the English or the American tangoes...! So, to repair that bad reputation, here is the rarest of the rarest renditions of an American tango - composed and played by a fine Californian jazz band leader of the 1920s, Abe Lyman!

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[camille885]

I totally agree with your text. Polish tangos are the more mysterious and intensive tangos with Argentinian tangos. English (and American!) tangos are so rare, that your video is a gem

Thanks for sharing

[240252]

@camille885 How sad, people like Henryk Gold, Hanka Ordonówna, Marian Hemar, Petersburski, Aston or Włast - who created the fame and glory of the Polish tango - had good air to work and to issue products of their geniuses only in that shot period between 1920-39. After atrocities of the 2nd WW, these who survived woke up in 1946 in a completely new world, where nobody cared for their "sentimental old tangoes" any more.

[eruptionista]

I love that early Brunswick label - superb illustrations as always.

Thank you - you really brighten the day.

[240252]

@eruptionista Indeed, that label is a masterpiece! So well balanced, so much of artistic taste. No comparison with that later brown & gold, which for me looks somewhat like a name plaque on a (- sorry to say so) grave.

[bambi68735]

Super!! Wspaniale się słucha, znakomite zdjęcia i ryciny i znów czegoś nowego nauczyłam się o tangu! Dziękuję

[240252]

@bambi68735 Oni trochę grają właśnie tak, jak jazzband by grał argentyńskie tango. Bardzo mocno wybita synkopa, ostre blachy, podczas gdy tango lubi skrzypce i akordeon - jesli tony trochę się rozlewają. Ale taki styl gry ma też swój niepowtarzalny urok. Jakis czas temu zamieściłem inne amerykańskie tango Orchids in the Moonlight w wykonaniu ork. Rudy Vallee. Bardzo polecam, to kompozucja Youmansa z f-mu Flying Down To Rio i jest dla odmiany takim cudnym "europejskim" tangiem, aż dech zapiera

[1920sbuff]

What a surprise!

[dzheger]

Hot, romantic, and so Latin. Love those sizzling dancers too.

[abendstunde49]

Love this record! It certainly has an early '20s feel to it!

[knapsuck]

thanks again

[eruptionista]

@240252 Absolutely!

[n64wilbert]

Cool!! 

[n64wilbert]

@240252 Did you consumed this track from Montevideo or Buenos Aires?

[Markink]

Dear Grzegorz :-) you problably know, how much I'm into this kind of rhythm songs ***** this one especially! Thank you very much with kind regards ;-) Mark