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Once touted as the "Toast of New England," Edwin J. McEnelly's Orchestra traveled throughout the Northeast playing to packed dance halls for nearly forty years. This CD contains the complete recorded output of the band, 21 selections released by Victor from 1925-1929. The accompanying 20-page booklet by Bryan Wright contains rare photographs, a detailed history of the band and Director McEnelly, as well as a complete discography. Features pianist Frankie Carle and cornetist Waino Kauppi. 67 minutes.
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Best of "hot dance" genre!
Review Date: January 5, 2005
Reviewer: Steven Phillips, Ada, OK United States
This CD represents the complete Victor recordings of the New England-based, McEnelly's orchestra. The rendition-style is "hot dance" on the up-tempo tunes, and "sweet-with-rhythm" on the slower sides (which are mainly waltzes). The orchestrations are somewhat complex and employ the artifice of a subtle-but-pronounced rhythm section to drive the performances. The highly proficient musicians are capable of both performing virtuoso solos and playing well together in tight, ensemble work. It is interesting to listen to the various obbligati, counter melodies, or rococo embellishments behind the solos or section work, as there is always musical activity on multiple levels at all times. It seems as though every time I play this CD I hear something I haven't heard before. The musical experience one gains from hearing McEnelly's recordings is equivalent to a mid-point between the sounds of the George Olsen and Nat Shilkret orchestras. McEnelly's sound is original and unique: it is tamer than Olsen's but peppier than Shilkret's.
These recordings include keyboard pyrotechnics by piano-wizard, Frankie Carle (who lead one of the great, big bands from the 1940s into the 1980s), brilliant lead-trumpet work by Waino Kauppi (who later played with Paul Whiteman), and excellent vocal refrains by Henry Burr and Billy Murray (two great, early recording stars). Although I have heard of this orchestra only tangentially before, on the "B" side of a George Olsen recording, I feel that McEnelly's orchestra is one of the great musical aggregations of the 1920s and is vastly superior to many other, better-remembered orchestras of that time. It is unfortunate that the onset of the Great Depression ended the recording careers of many fine orchestras - McEnelly's included. The tracks on this CD have been lovingly, digitally remastered: these seventy-five year-old Victors have never sounded better! If you are a fan of 1920s dance music, you will probably play this CD often.
A Must for Collectors
Review Date: May 7, 2004
Reviewer: ,
It's surprising to me that a band that played this long and extensively left only 21 recordings, and that no reissue existed until now. Excellent audio restoration. Painstaking research in the accompanying booklet. This disc is a "must-have" for collectors and fans of early dance band music.
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Best of "hot dance" genre!
