Tag: California Ramblers

California Ramblers put out hundreds of records under a smokescreen of pseudonyms across a wide spectrum of labels. But their primary label from late 1923 onward under the California Ramblers moniker was Columbia.

While they recorded a few sides with Columbia in 1922, the relationship came to a head in the summer of 1923, when the Ramblers recorded five sessions for Columbia that resulted in seven sides that sold quite well – including this one, an energetic arrangement of Irving Caesar’s “Louisville”.

It features fine ensemble playing and solos – including some doo-wacka-doo-ing starting at 1:08, punctuated by Adrian Rollini’s hot breaks on the bass sax.

Based on the success of these records, in November of 1923, Ed Kirkleby signed an exclusive artist agreement with Columbia on behalf of the Ramblers. After this agreement, only Columbia could use the name “California Ramblers”. While they could record for other labels – they just could not use that name.

Recorded in New York City on August 8, 1923.
Released as Columbia A3979.

Credits:
Arthur Hand – violin, director
Frank Cush, Bill Moore – trumpet
Lloyd “Ole” Olsen – trombone
Bobby Davis – clarinet, soprano sax, alto sax
Arnold Brilhart – clarinet, alto sax
Freddy Cusick – tenor sax
Adrian Rollini – bass sax
Ed Sutton, Joe LaFaro, Sid Harris – violin (when used)
Irving Brodsky – piano, arranger
Ray Kitchingman – banjo
Stan King – drums

A fun early record by the California Ramblers, who seemed to record on virtually every label in the 1920s under one of 1,000 pseudonyms. This one was from a Paramount session that also was released on Puritan, Broadway, Triangle, and Famous labels.

A muted trumpet solo with some light growling and wah effects starting at 0:50 is followed by hot breaks featuring Lloyd Olsen on trombone and Rollini on bass sax. A second trumpet solo begins at 2:04 and leads us to the ensemble close.

Recorded in New York City on May 3, 1923.
Released as Triangle 11259.
Original released as Paramount 20232.

Arthur Hand – violin, director
Frank Cush, Bill Moore – trumpet
Lloyd “Ole” Olsen – trombone
Jimmy Duff – clarinet, alto sax
Freddy Cusick – tenor sax
Adrian Rollini – bass sax
Irving Brodsky – piano, arranger
Ray Kitchingman – banjo
Fred Henry – drums

A peppy classic by the California Ramblers using one of their many aliases: Golden Gate Orchestra. Great ensemble playing, hot breaks, and solos throughout.

As with many Perfect discs, this one has some shortcomings – surface noise notwithstanding, the bass rolloff seems to be around 200 Hz so Rollini’s bass sax is not as prominent in the rhythm section as it is on other recordings.

Recorded in New York City, June 9, 1926.
Released as Perfect 14646.

Credits:
Roy Johnston – trumpet
Abe Lincoln – trombone
Bobby Davis – clarinet, soprano sax, alto sax
Bunny Drown – tenor sax
Adrian Rollini – bass sax
Jack Russin – piano
Tommy Felline – banjo
Herb Weil – drums
John Ryan – vocals

California Ramblers generally played stock arrangements of song sheets – though dazzling improvised solos began to appear on records starting in 1923.

“Sittin’ On A Corner” from late 1923 is one of those sides: things start off elegantly as the theme is stated – but at the 1:00 mark we hear something quite different: a hot and lively interchange between Adrian Rollini’s bass sax and Frank Cush’s trumpet. The conversation lasts for over 30 seconds, with each instrument effortlessly crisscrossing over the lines of the other. The “saucy” melody and “bouncing” rhythm create new musical ideas that bring this tune to life and make it so much more than a stock “dance orchestra” number.

Recorded in New York on September 18, 1923.
Released as Columbia A3994.

Credits:
Arthur Hand – director, violin
Frank Cush, Bill Moore – trumpet
Lloyd “Ole” Olsen – trombone
Bobby Davis – clarinet, soprano sax, alto sax
Arnold Brilhart – clarinet, alto sax
Freddy Cusick – tenor sax
Adrian Rollini – bass sax
Ed Sutton, Joe LaFaro, Sid Harris – violin (when used)
Irving Brodsky – piano
Ray Kitchingman – banjo
Stan King – drums