Shellac Stack No. 54 celebrates the 125th birthday of Ted Lewis with several of his early jazz records. We take a brief trip to Hawaii, listen to some “Sugar” songs, and relax with vocalists “Whispering” Jack Smith, Jane Green, and Peggy Lee.

This week marks the release of Ted Lewis: Runnin’ Wild (The Early Years, 1919-1926) on the Rivermont label. It’s the first-ever CD retrospective of Ted’s years as leader of a “hot” jazz band, a group formed in the late 1910s to rival the Original Dixieland Jazz Band. The 40-page booklet is packed with never-before-seen photos from the Ted Lewis Museum and a detailed account by Mark Berresford of Ted’s early career, from his first days in Vaudeville through his initial success as the “King of Jazz” (before Paul Whiteman!) in the early ’20s. The CD also includes 6 previously unreleased recordings taken from unique test pressings from Ted’s own collection. The music is fresh, vibrant, and exciting, and it may have you reconsidering what you thought you knew about Ted Lewis. I may be biased since I had a hand in its production, but I highly recommend this CD. Your purchase of the disc directly from Rivermont Records will also help keep the Shellac Stack going. Thank you for your support!

Podcast: Download (Duration: 54:31 — 25.0MB)

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Shellac Stack No. 53 salutes “Ragtime Season” with more than a dozen rags. From string bands to accordions to pianos to xylophones to Hawaiian guitars to vocal quartets… explore the many styles of ragtime in this super syncopated session! We’ll hear from Jelly Roll Morton, Wally Rose, Ted Hawkins and Riley Puckett, Guido Deiro, the American Quartet, Brun Campbell, George Hamilton Green, the Eton Boys, and more!

The Shellac Stack will take a short hiatus after this program; look for Shellac Stack No. 54 in mid-June. In the meantime, for those in the area or able to travel, I encourage you to check out the World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest (May 21-25 in Peoria, Illinois) or the Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival (June 3-6 in Sedalia, Missouri).

Podcast: Download (Duration: 59:27 — 27.3MB)

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Shellac Stack No. 52 celebrates the 100th birthday of bandleader Van Alexander, features some mandolin records, and packs a “punch” with Frankie Franko’s Louisianians and Mutt Carey. We’ve also got records from Muggsy Spanier, Chick Bullock, Smith Ballew, Mel Blanc, and a 1917 Earl Fuller disc that will mow you down!

Podcast: Download (Duration: 54:59 — 25.3MB)

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Shellac Stack No. 51 observes that “Bees Are Humming Around the Flowers” while reminding ourselves to keep “Painting the Clouds with Sunshine.” We hear from boogie-woogie pianist Montana Taylor, singers Franklyn Baur and Bob Roberts, Benny Goodman, Jean Goldkette, Louis Armstrong, Lester Young, Harry Reser, and lots more. “Heah Me Talkin’ to Ya?”

On a serious note, as many of you know, this has been a distressing week in the ragtime community. On Thursday, April 9, we lost too suddenly and too soon Tabitha Lazenby, my friend and the energetic, buoyant new director of the Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival. I’m still numb with shock. She was only 35. Although this would have marked her first year as Festival Director, she’s been a dedicated volunteer for years, and her cheerful smile and welcoming personality went a long ways in making the Festival such a happy place to be. I can’t imagine it without her. Aside from the festival, she was a well-loved K-12 music teacher. She leaves behind her husband and 9-year old daughter who meant the world to her. My heart aches for them both. Gifts of food and flowers to the family are soon gone. My friends Martin Spitznagel and Stacy Purvis had the wonderful idea for a much more lasting tribute to this remarkable woman. They have established a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to be put into a 529 Education Savings Plan to help Tabitha’s daughter Haylie pay for college in a few years. This is completely on-the-level, and even if you didn’t know Tabitha, I hope you will join me in this small gesture of love and support for her daughter, who must now face a lifetime grappling with with this horrific tragedy.  Thank you for taking a moment to read this, and thanks for sharing it with your own friends if so inclined.

Podcast: Download (Duration: 53:10 — 24.4MB)

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Shellac Stack No. 50 wants you to get “In the Mood” with two seldom-heard versions of that classic, plus two different pieces called “Sugar Plum.” We head over to England to hear Claude Bampton’s Bandits, Cab Calloway sings about April, and Boyd Senter and Eddie Lang team up for the “Sigh and Cry Blues.” We’ve got plenty more on this edition of the Shellac Stack!

Claude Bampton

Podcast: Download (Duration: 53:19 — 24.5MB)

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Shellac Stack No. 49 has the post-St. Patrick’s Day “greens.” We’ve got Irish piper Michael J. Gallagher, hot dance from Jack Shilkret, Roger Wolfe Kahn, the California Ramblers, and Harry Reser, and some scintillating piano solos from Frank Banta and Pauline Alpert. Lots more too!

Following an ode to spring by Olive Kline (under the pseudonym “Alice Green”), I reference a YouTube post of an interview with Ms. Kline in her later years. She reminisces about her days recording at Victor, and, despite her gravelly voice, it’s well worth a listen. If you are so in-Klined (zing!), you can hear it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMMIx-RBrYg

Podcast: Download (Duration: 57:08 — 26.2MB)

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Shellac Stack No. 48 endeavors to put a spring in your step with some hot titles by the Castle Jazz Band, pop treatments of music from Bizet’s Carmen, some unaccompanied male quartets, a sprightly musical saw duet (YES! A saw duet!), a tribute to Barney Fife’s “other” girlfriend, and more. From Lee Morse to the Archibald Brothers to Nat Shilkret, it’s another hour of musical surprises!

In the program, I reference the following 1926 advertisement from Mussehl & Westphal, makers of musical saws. We also listen to both sides of the free record offered in the ad. Click to enlarge:

Podcast: Download (Duration: 58:20 — 26.8MB)

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Shellac Stack No. 47 features Irving Berlin songs from Fred Astaire’s film Follow the Fleet, a country classic from Jimmie Rodgers, hot fiddle from Eddie South, a Stephen Foster celeste solo by Felix Arndt, Ted Lewis, Anthony Trini (who?) and plenty more. That calls for a fancy fanfare!

Podcast: Download (Duration: 56:07 — 25.8MB)

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Shellac Stack No. 46 salutes Valentine’s Day, celebrates pianist Cy Walter, explores the origins of electric recording, and presents J. S. Bach in unusual settings. From jazz greats Art Hodes and “Red” Allen to singers Margaret Whiting and Dick Robertson, it’s another musical variety hour from 78 rpm records!

For everything Cy Walter, be sure to visit the Cy Walter webpage operated by the pianist’s son, Mark Walter: www.cywalter.com

Podcast: Download (Duration: 56:15 — 25.8MB)

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