"Who" - Ralph & Johnny Kolsiana

Andy Volk · From: Boston, MA

'Been thinking about my friend Ralph this week and listening to his 1936 recordings with Waikiki Swingsters.

https://soundcloud.com/aev/who

Ralph's execution was at times just slightly stilted but he had great improv ideas and swing feeling. Who did they have to listen to in the mid 30s? Lang & Venuti, Armstrong, Bix, Sol, Django and that's about it. I doubt King Bennie's records were very widely distributed. Johnny was clearly a Django fan trying to pull off licks that were just slightly over his technical horizon but they had their eye on the swing bullseye.
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Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com

David Matzenik · From: Cairns, on the Coral Sea

Solid! Thanks so much for that, Andy. I was only just watching the video again. Do you know how many sides the Swingsters cut?
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Don't go in the water after lunch. You'll get a cramp and drown. - Mother.

Andy Volk · From: Boston, MA

There are about 8 sides that were all recorded at RCA in Camden, NJ in 1936. The band was from Philly but had a gig at Steel Pier in Atlantic City where they were scouted and offered the chance to record. I'll post all of the Swingster sides I have for download as soon as I get the time.

For new members who may not have seen it, here's the video David referenced (in 4 parts). The editor and I cut it on the cheap on our lunch hours back in our corporate days in the early 90s.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jHr03TBklg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8lB2650rik
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGg_bHqcak0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mR0FPGwM8oE
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Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com

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