FAMOUS JAZZ BAND

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 30, 10 February 1928, Page 2

FAMOUS JAZZ BAND

JOH ARONSON AND HIS GANG. Some hundreds of New Zealanders have obtained many hours of delight from. Joe Asonson and his jazz band, which plays at 81.0, Melbourne. Some particulars of this clever musical combination will interest many New Zealanders’ Joe Aronson himself is from the United States, but the other playets are Australians, Of his team Aronson writes:-First there is Roger Sinith, who as a trombonist and violinist has no equal when it comes to ver-satility-an essential in modern otchestration. He is deputy-conductor, aud an expert arranger Percy Code, solo cornetist, needs no introduction. He stands alone as a musician and composer, and my combination is enriched with his silver-toned trumpet to such a degree that I now regard him as indispensable. Ned Tyrell, who plays the banjo and ukulele, and is the comedian of the party, was for years a vaudeville artist of popularity. Neville Stoneham plays violin and saxophone; Colin Turner, saxophone and organ; HH. Hallam, trumpet; Les Whitty, saxophone; Andy Robertson, sousaphone; Les Richmond, popularly known as ‘‘The Wizard at the Piano," is well-known for his pianoforte syncopations; whilst last, but not lease, is Clarence Aronson, drummer, xvlophonist, and tympanist, who provides the wonderful effects for which the orchestra is noted. Most of them can play atly instrument put before them, and that accounts, to a large extent, for the versatility of the orchestra in producing variety turns and novelty numbers." ° Perhaps some of our New Zealand jazz band directors will take a itint from the above combination of instruments. , ARONSON’S CAREER. Joe Aronson’s career has been a remarkable one. He drifted into the land of crochets and quavers when ten years old. At the age of twelve he formed a smal] band among the bovs in the little American town in which he was born. A visiting circus fired his imagination, and his services with the circus

hand were eagerly availed of. Before the show he plaved outside the big tent, and then took his turn in the ring as clown, acrobat, and a rider. Tater he secured an engagetnent as a saxophonist in the famous Rector’s Cafe in New York. [T‘rom there he went to Karl Fuller’s Orchestra, and was one of the first plavers to make jazz records for the Vietor Gramophone Company. Their immediate success was the forerunner of the present-day catalogue of dancing fazz numbers. Arouson’s Band has plaved in New York, San Francisco, Shanghai, Japar,. and all through the East. Their remarkable snuecess at 8L0, Melbourne, has made them famous throughout the world.