The Raymond Scott Dimension

[Teasing the Korean]

We've had a number of threads devoted to the album "The Unexpected." I wanted to start a thread where we could talk about the range of Raymond Scott compositions and recordings, from the Quintette era to the electronica era, also encompassing tribute projects by the likes of the Metropole Orchestra, Beau Hunks Sextette; and related things such as Carl Stalling's WB cartoon scores.

I will start by saying that I find RS's electronic stuff on "Manhattan Research" and the three "Soothing Sounds for Baby" volumes endlessly fascinating. It is hard to believe that some of these recordings are from that era; they are so forward thinking.

I also love the Quintette stuff, although I generally have to listen in fairly small servings to really appreciate it. Each of those compositions is so rich in compositional and arranging aspects that I feel like I need to hear it sandwiched between two unrelated pieces with lots of breathing room.

I think that Raymond Scott is undoubtedly one of the oddball American music originals of the 20th Century, and I'm glad that he has gotten his due in recent decades.

[flat5]

I sent the threat to Jay Corre.

Here is his response:

Do you think the following would be interesting to the discussion on the raymond- scott- dimension ?

If so, possibly you could get it on..

regards, Jay Corre

Raymond Scott was a task master and extremely complex..In 1946 I joined him in AC while he was playing the Steel Pier and I was playing at the Globe Theater, a burlesque house on the boardwalk. We had three sax's,(Gene Quill lead alto) 2 trumpets. one trombone and a leader, Merrick Valenote who played violin(?) and led the band with his violin bow. We played in a pit for the strippers and the comedians... Ben Cotey, owner of the Dude Ranch got me the gig with Scott.

We went on the road with 16 men and girl vocalist Dorthy Collins. We sang a song together: Dorthy:"Met a girl in calico," Jay:"Down in Sante Fe."

Raymond was a rehearsal fanatic and we would rush to the next engagement and the band boy, Huey Mc Farland would set up the stands, microphone etc. Scott was sort of a sound genius;he had a tape recorder at that time that played for one minute..He would record the 3rd trumpet player and the fourth tenor player together and exclaim,"Listen to that! (got the idea)

On the gig if the sax section would stand up to play ,the parts had to be memorized. If a player would "take a peek," he would turn the player's music over. If I played a jazz solo, he would stand behind me and whisper in my ear:"Go high,,,, now go to the lower register..... After many strange incidences, I quit the band and

went back to AC and didn't play again for about a year.

---

AC = Atlantic City

I also asked him to become a member...we'll see :-)

Edited February 28, 2011 by flat5

[Bigshot]

I wish someone would do a proper release and sound restoration on the Quintet sides. I have a few of the original 78s on the Master label and they sound great- explosive percussion, nice bass, a real sense of depth- then I put on the CD and it's all flattened out and opaque sounding.

It would be great if there was a box set of all the Scott followers- Joe Daniels and his Hotshots in Drumnastics, John Kirby and Ambrose and his Orchestra.

[Teasing the Korean]

I think there were at least two releases of the the Quintette sides with the same cover art. The second supposedly has better sound, but I have only the first issue, so I can't compare.

[Teasing the Korean]

I recently picked up both the Beau Hunks Raymond Scott tributes, one on the Basta label and the other on Koch. They do incredible recreations of the Quintette sides, getting both the notes and spirit right. It's cool to hear this stuff in hi-fi.

[flat5]

Yes, they are a talented bunch of guys.

You might like to hear the Laurel & Hardy CD too.

http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=8173545

[kh1958]

I recently came across an LP called One Night Stand with Raymond Scott 1940. It's a radio broadcast, released on the Joyce Music Corp. label. Performed by a thirteen piece band, and they play a number of songs recorded by the small group (like Powerhouse and the Toy Trumpet). It's a pretty fun record.