This second volume of the Guide to Musical Instruments explores the history of musical instruments in the period from 1800 to 1950. Its purpose is both to discuss improvements and transformations of instruments dating from before 1800 and to investigate all the novelties thought up by instrument makers during this era. All these developments took place in a context in which the process of instrument making moved from artisans’ workshops to commercial firms which became veritable factories, typical of the ‘age of industrialisation’. The majority of the musical examples are recordings of individual instruments that allow us to hear timbres often lost under the weight of the orchestral mass.This second volume of the Guide follows the same principles as the first.
This 2-CD set truly demonstrates what was defined as the "West Coast style of jazz" but, in fact, was the Shorty Rogers style. We can hear arrangements of a loose variety, played by the most outstanding group of musicians of the Los Angeles jazz scene. The music presented here is a major example of Shorty Rogers' great talent, and a milestone in the orchestral idiom of modern jazz. Shorty's writing and playing were a pretty honest reflection of his own personality. If there was ever an individual to be selected as the head of the West Coast school, it definitely would have been Shorty Rogers.
Here's one of the great untold stories in American music, revealed at last! Harry Choates was a natural-born musician. He's famous as a Cajun fiddle player, but he could play matchless Western Swing fiddle and jazz guitar to rival Django Reinhardt. His fellow musicians say he played piano and mandolin superbly, too. In 1946, Harry Choates recorded the Cajun classic Jolie Blonde, forever mistitled Jole Blon. It was cut for a tiny local label, but became a nationwide smash, inspiring numerous cover versions, sequels, and prequels. For the first time, the story is revealed here.
50 Hi-Octane Cuts From The Golden Age Of The Automobile - Fantastic Voyage dips into rock ’n’ roll’s hotwired legacy of automobile anthems and highway love serenades in the latest tarmac-scorching compilation put together with Wild Wax Show DJ ‘Jailhouse’ John Alexander and Lucky Parker. Since the birth of rock ’n’ roll, the car has occupied a special place in teenage rampage and backseat romance, rock ’n’ roll music essential as both soundtrack pumping out of the radio or celebration of heaven on wheels. Over two discs, revving up engines and screeching brakes introduce 50 road-worthy classics, including lesser-heard gems rarely encountered on CD (if at all) by names such as the Storey Sisters, Don Pearly, Burt Keyes, Eddie Ringo, Dave ‘Diddle’ Day, Rocky Davis…