Les Rois Du Fox-Trot: Moten's "Rumba Negro"

[Cody K]

Probably most of us have from time to time wondered what favorite performances might be like if not constrained by the (roughly) three-minute time limitations of 78rpm records. Obviously a hot jam in a nightclub might well have gone on much longer than that, especially if an orchestra was having a good night.

One favorite performance of mine is Bennie Moten's 1929 Rumba Negro, which clocks in, in its Victor incarnation, at just under three minutes. I don't own a copy of the 78 (yet), so occasionally I'll just look it up on YouTube, and listen to it that way. This morning I ran across this very creditable performance, recorded in 2013, by the French orchestra Les Rois Du Fox-Trot -- the Fox-Trot Kings -- which runs to almost seven minutes. It may lack some of the heat and swagger of the original Moten version, but here's a group of folks who obviously love -- and know -- what they're doing, and to hear this fine extended version is, to me, a real treat, so I thought I'd share it here.

The Moten original:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0CGfDbORCM

Les Rois Du Fox-Trot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cAHq4r-aqI

[VintageTechnologies]

It is great to hear modern groups revive the hits of yesteryear. A lot of them can be heard on YouTube.

I also listened to Les Rois Du Fox-Trot play "Deep Henderson", one of my favorites.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJCPnO7A3E8

It is alright, but if you really want to hear something to set you dancing, listen to "Deep Henderson" played by a small group named Tuba Skinny. Watch the crowd. Wow! I need to visit New Orleans.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ijHlKQ4fSU

[Cody K]

Wow, thanks for the link to Tuba Skinny! That's some youthful creative energy right there -- they're alive and great! Reminds me once again that the records I enjoy most, jazz from the 'twenties, were made mostly by people in their twenties. Sometimes the haze of time makes me forget that it was always a young people's music. Off to check out more Tuba Skinny...

[Roaring20s]

Great renditions!
I was taken away and enjoyed not jumping out of my chair the flip the record.
I love this music!

James.

PS:
I recently had an chance to buy some records. The group was late 30s and 40s swing era and are normally out of my range. The titles and condition begged me to take a longer look. I gambled and choose more that I normally would have. It was a gamble and I was pleasantly surprised. The original owner of the collection had mainstream swing taste, with an interest in dixieland, boogie woogie, r&b, and cool jazz. Here are two of the surprises that my 1920s ear liked.

Muggsy Spanier and his Ragtimers (1942)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4N8HOulmxI

Chu Berry and his Stompy Stevedores (1937)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fQDmos9H4g

[phonojim]

Because Benny Moten's Kansas City Orchestra has been my favorite band of any era since I discovered it ca 1970, I was skeptical about any modern band covering anything Moten. I was pleasantly surprised; they aren't Moten but they are very good and a welcome addition to my ever growing list of trad jazz bookmarks on Youtube. Tuba Skinny is an excellent modern group and is U.S.A. based for once. (so many of the best bands aren't) Some of my other favorite modern bands are:

The Brataslava Hot Serenaders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddRr6Ey9r58(Herr Ober, zwei Mocca)

The Original Prague Syncopated Orchestra: https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/pl ... mp=yhs-001(Pleasure Mad)

The Peruna Jazzmen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqUH0ElyV5Q
(Ham and Eggs)

The songs posted are are examples as each of these bands has a large group of postings on Youtube, almost all are great listening, but since most were recorded live the sound quality varies greatly. Regardless, they are all enjoyable.

I think the link for the OPSO may be the longest I have ever seen!

Jim

[Cody K]

Well Jim, with those links I went down a rabbit hole, and there went my Sunday morning! (Which was fine because it was snowing again and I needed something badly to help me ignore it.) I was really impressed by Henry de Winter's polished delivery with the Bratislava outfit, and did an image search. He sure seems to have managed to create a life for himself back in the '20s and 30's -- today. It appears that he stays in character, and mighty well dressed to boot, all of the time! Some real old-school star quality there: http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=hen ... ORM=HDRSC2

The Peruna Jazzmen are terrific, too. In case VT pops up again, another version of "Deep Henderson" from them:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoiW5Hv3YL4

And heck, while I'm at it, the same title from Les Rois, to round out the thread:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJCPnO7A3E8

Thanks all, for all the links!