RHYTHMTHE NEW VOGUE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 113, 6 February 1937, Page 23

RHYTHM—THE NEW VOGUE

By

SWING BASS.

Swing Bass Suggests . . . “When a Lady Meets a Gentleman Down South” (by Oppenheim. Cleary, and Krakeur).

Ranking high in the American list of favourites, this number has now reached New Zealand, and is destined for a good measure of popularity. There's something indefinable underlying the melody which is tlie requisite of popular numbers, and “When a Lady Mpets a Gentleman Down South” has jilenty of it. Written in the key of E flat, it will present little difficulty to the average player, and the pianist with a few ideas of ills own will find ample opportunity for improvisation. The music is scored in an attractive form, with a full treble, and the bass is really all that is needed. There is a particularly snappy eight bars at the end which finishes off a good tune in a proper way.

“There’s a New World” (by Jimmy Kennedy and Michael Carr). —Syncopation is the theme of this number. The tune goes with a real swing, and should be played fairly fast for tlie best effect. Actually, there is very little to the tune, but it is the unusual syncopation that gives it pep and makes it swing. It is similar to a Negro spiritual in theme and movement, and it needs the hint of Negro rhythm for the best expression, “There’s a New World” is particularly well suited for improvisation, and is constructed in such a manner that tlie p’anist can do almost anything with it. • “You’re Still Mine in My Dreams” (by Edgar Leslie and Joe Burke).— This time it’s a waltz —and rather a good one at that. Tlie melody dreams smoothly along, and it sounds at its best when played in the modern style. The tune is catchy, If only for its pleaant modulations. As it is set out in the sheet music arrangement the melody is rather ineffective, because of tlie thin buss, but. few pianists will encounter any difficulty in building up this section. Once that is done it is a waltz well worth featuring. Rhylliin- Picture. While attending a motion picture recently, I saw one of tlie most entertaining animated cartoons it has ever been my pleasure to witness. The name of tlie short subject is “Down At the Old Mill Stream,” produced by llarmonIzin Inc., Walt Disney’s only serious rival. Frogs, not mice, grace tlie screen in this film, and very funny-looking frogs they are. There are imitators of Cab Calloway, the Mills Brothers (four coloured frogs), Fats Waller, and other famous Harlem entertainers all represented in "The Old Mill Stream.” The theme song of this feature is “Down by the Old Mill Stream,” but then it is not long before Cab Calloway aud the boys are going through the motions of playing “Kickin’ the Gong Around.” The frog satirising Calloway ou the screen Is the dead image of him, and tlie shots of the band are indeed well chosen.

At the point where Fats Waller is mimicked, note how the artist on the screen (a big, fat, chocolqte-coloured, good-natured frog with a hat on) plays the very notes Fats Waller played when he recorded separately for the sound track. It’s all very ingenious. And, if you don’t split your sides laughing at the sequence where "Hold That Tiger’’ is played, you are utterly devoid of any musical sense of humour.

Don Bradman —Pianist. While Don Bradman was making his splendid stand for Australia in the second innings of tlie fourth cricket Test at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday, listeners to 4YA’s lunch programme were entertained with a record by Bradman himself. First he gave “a friendly chat” on cricket matters, and this was followed by a bracket of piano solos. The two numbers played, "Oldfashioned Locket,” and “Our Bungalow of Dreams,” were neither very new nor of great merit, but their execution showed Bradman to have a sound knowledge of the rhythmic style of playing. He displays a facile and dextrous touch, a sound knowledge of harmony and a pronounced sense of swing—iu fact he is more than equal to many of the alleged rhythm pianists of the flashy and noisy variety whom recording companies serve up. I don’t know if Bradman can sing, but if he can raise a croak of any sort lie should find no difficulty in obtaining engagement as a cabaret artist if ever his cricketing abilities should fail. Rhythm and Swindle? Information received from London reveals that even among rhythm clubs are to be found “shady” happenings, and nt present there is a decided “shady business” going on among such clubs in England. Tlie story runs that when the original British Federation of Rhythm Clubs wound up, a minority group, headed by Mr. Geoff narrower, decided that such an organisation was imperative, and that the only reason for its failure was that it had been managed indifferently. Mr. Harrower therefore got a new organisation going, but now, after several months, it .appears that many clubs have reason to complain bitterly of tlie conduct of the new federation. One club, it is stated, sent money in connection with special federation . offers of American records aud as yet lias received no acknowledgment. Another complains that it can get no receipt for its affiliation fee, nor any of the federation bulletins, for which it has paid in advance, and a third sent money for a copy of “Rhythm on Record.” offered by the new' Federation, and got. neither the hook nor the cash returned. “The Melody Maker,” a leading music weekly, has written to Mr. narrower several times seeking an explanation,' but. no reply has been forthcoming. “In all these circumstances, we have to advise rhythm clubs that the British federation must be considered as not being subject to our editorial approval,” stated a recent issue of “The Melody Maker,” which added: “It may be, of course, that Mr. narrower is ill. or out of the country, but that still does not account for the failure of anyone to acknowledge the correspondence and cash addressed to him, nor for the fact that the correspondence is not returned to the sender.” Deeper investigations are at present being this unfortunate situation. Answers Io Correspondents A. B-K. (Hastings) : It is impossible to convey by the written word just what swing is, or how to swing music That can only come through an intense study of the best swing pianists or bands, and a most Important factor is the germ of jazz which must be in the player. I would advise you to study as much as you can the performances of the best, swing pianists or bands over the radio or on gramophone records. lam making fuller inquiries regarding your other questions. I shall try to write more fully to you in the near future.