[Dixielandjazz] Ladd's Black Aces was Durante

Stephen Barbone barbonestreet at earthlink.net
Sun Nov 30 10:15:21 PST 2003


BTW, if you are a record collector and don't have anything by Ladd's
Black Aces, you might  check out "Timeless Records" via google  for a 2
CD set of the Black Aces work from 1921-1924. They are about 2 and 1/2
hours worth of wonderful, swinging for the times, danceable jazz.

Their lineup includs the Original Memphis Five personnel, plus Jimmy
Durante (1921 sides) plus a bunch of others. Many believe that the Black
Aces swung more than any other band of the period.

The music itself has been reviewed as a precursor of Bing Crosby's
singing style and the dance music of the 1950s. There are 52 songs on
the two CDs, all of them immensely popular during the 1920s.

The album comes with an impressive, enlightening booklet of original
material, inclusive of a period discography by Mark Berresford and John
R.T.Davies in which, for example, there is an explanation of why the
Black Aces were really a group of white musicians.

CBC 1-077 - LC 5326
http://www.timeless-records.com

No, I do not have a financial interest in Timeless Records. Just that
IMO, the Black Aces are largely overlooked by lovers of OKOM. They kind
of got lost in the shuffle and popularity of the Memphis Five.
Just like Durante.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone




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