Bass sax was "trademark" of a big band

[paulwl]

I've been listening to a fascinating dance band of the early 1930s that used a bass sax as its stylistic hallmark. The Bert Lown Orchestra featured (who else) Adrian Rollini, and he was all over that band: in short solos, rhythm parts, underpinning the sax section bari style, or anchoring all the horns like a 2nd trombone. Result: a huge powerful sounding ensemble, even if only 12 pieces.

Spencer Clark succeeded Rollini and for a time, both of them played in this band - Clark on rhythm, Roly as clean-up man!

The CD is on The Old Masters label (a fantastic source of '20s/'30s jazz & related musics). Website: www.theoldmasters.com - not sure if CDs are still sold thru them, but a google search should turn it up elsewhere.

[Brendan Muse]

:notworth:

I only wish that my CD budget was more than $0.

[retread]

Thanks for the memories, Paul. My father had a several records featuring Adrian Rollini. Rollini, Red Nichols and Joe Venutti were his favorite musicians.

[sopsax]

Paul Woltz is a terrific modern interpreter of the bumptious Rollini style. He plays with the Uptown Lowdown Jazz Band in the Seattle area, and can be heard on bass sax and bassoon on recordings of The Cheap Suit Serenaders.

[Dave Dolson]

Sopsax: Hey! Another SOTW who knows of Paul Woltz. Isn't he a great player? I've known Paul since he was a teenager just getting into trad jazz in SoCal (with the Fink Street Five - talk about your mouldy fygges!!).

I've had the privilege of playing in bands with Paul Woltz and have spent lots of time in the audience marvelling at his early-jazz HOT playing. I often am invited on stage to do saxophone trios with Paul and Uptown Lowdown's other terrific reed player, John Goodrich. What a blast!

I used Paul one night on bass sax when our tuba player took ill. Paul put about a foot of bass all over the stage - and no microphone.

If you think his bass sax is good, try his alto style. Wow! And, Paul is a good repair-tech. He did my MKVI alto and Buffet clarinet a while back - and they are still as good as ever. DAVE

[Paul Coats]

Yeah, and I know Meg, in Calamity Jazz.

The Stan Kenton Orch had bass sax for many years until they began using Yamahas, and went with two low A baris.

[Bass Kid]

Dave,
Paul is a heck of a hot player and I just had my Conn tuba into his shop for some minor work that was completed inside of 15 minutes. He is to alto what George Probert is to soprano. For those who might have not have heard George, he can out play almost any other reed man with HUGE trills known by some as "Tuh-Dil-Ya". I heard Paul on tuba in November with Uptown Lowdown, and he is very good there too. Yeah, the Fink Street Five was a long time ago, but most (if not all) of them are still playing. That band was an interesting spinoff of the Firehouse Five Plus Two in the late 60's, and oddly enough, I purchased Don Kinch's helicon last February, and am really enjoying it.

BTW, who was your tuba player?