[Dixielandjazz] Hank D'Amico

[Stephen G Barbone]

In an off list note James Butler mentioned that he had a Hank D'Amico  
on a recording called "The Golden Horn of Billy Franklin". Billy  
Franklin was a pseudonym for Don Goldie.  Others on the album  are  
Harry DiVito,Johnny Varro,Whitey Mitchell and Mousey Alexander. Grand  
Prix l;abel circa 1964 and Jim says it is one of the best dixieland  
records he owns.

To hear Hank, in a more swing vein, go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPC9ZihV2_A

Note the length and coherence of his improv ideas.

Or hear him with the Johnny Guarnieri Orchestra "Exercise in Swing"  
circa 1944 at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDtayVD6yHE

His solo follows Lester Young's. Billy Butterfield is the trumpeter  
and Cozy Cole is the drummer.

Pianist Johnny Guarnieri is another excellent musician somewhat  
forgotten. I believe he was fatally stricken with a heart attack on  
stage during a performance with Dick Sudhalter in the mid 1980s..  
Besides being an excellent Classical pianist, sometimes mixing jazz  
with classical embellishment, he was a stride pianist and also played  
harpsichord with Artie Shaw's Gramercy Five. Very talented guy.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband