An unsung hero of early jazz: trumpeter Francisco Saverio “Frank” Guarente taking a beautifully exquisite solo on “Dancin’ Dan” with The Georgians in this session for Columbia from December of 1923.
Guarente was born in Italy but emigrated to the US and spent some time in New Orleans in 1914 befriending Nick LaRocca and King Oliver before eventually making his way to New York where he played in Paul Specht’s orchestra. Specht started featuring small-combo hot sets in between the full orchestra sets which proved quite popular. The Georgians – a “band-within-a-band” – were born.
Guarente recorded many excellent sides with The Georgians on Columbia from through 1924, when he left for a long fruitful period of touring and playing in Europe. Upon returning to the U.S. in 1928, he found a very different scene than the one he left and although he continued to work with Specht and Victor Young in the 30s, was never quite able to re-establish himself as the leading man he once was.
Recorded on December 28, 1923.
Released as Columbia 62-D
Credits
Frank Guarente – trumpet, director
Archie Jones – trombone
Johnny O’Donnell – clarinet, bass clarinet, alto sax
Dick Johnson – clarinet, tenor sax
Harold Saliers – clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax
Arthur Schutt – piano
Russell Deppe – banjo
Chauncey Morehouse – drums
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