A very early recording featuring the dynamic duo of guitarist Eddie Lang and violinist Joe Venuti. By my count, this was only their second record as a pair, following the 1926 release of “Stringing the Blues / Black and Blue Bottom” on Columbia.
While their playing here – as ever – is near faultless, I hear a slight tentative quality as they get into the tune – which improves as they warm up. While these two men had been playing together in Roger Wolfe Kahn’s band throughout 1926, playing as a duet without an orchestra’s support is certainly a different context.
Venuti and Lang today are unfortunately not as well known as they should be. When lists of jazz guitar greats are compiled, you’ll more likely hear names like Django Reinhardt and Charlie Christian than Eddie Lang. However – worthy of note – Lang preceded their careers by a good decade or more.
I thought this record would be a good starting point – and posting two subsequent versions of this same tune that they re-recorded 18 months later is a fascinating way to hear the transformation they made over this same period.
Recorded in New York City on January 24, 1927.
Released in the U.K. as Parlophone R 3330.
Released domestically as Okeh 40762.
Credits:
Joe Venuti – violin
Eddie Lang – guitar
Here are two later versions of this tune for comparison:
Victor 21561 (June 1928)
https://youtu.be/EDmF3W68FVQ
Bluebird B-10280 (June 1928)
https://youtu.be/n_H9VjPJKh8
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