Joe Venuti and Bobby Maxwell

Here are some of the more obscure recordings made by jazz violinist Joe Venuti, along with sides by swing harpist Bobby Maxwell, before he become Robert Maxwell and wrote "Ebb Tide" and "Shangri-La".

All were made for the small label Tempo - the Venuti items in 1949, and the Maxwell tunes from about the same time. This 10-inch LP is from slightly later.

Joe Venuti

Venuti made his name from his 1926-33 recordings with guitarist Eddie Lang, who died young. While Venuti perhaps never reached the same heights, he did enjoy a very long career. These records were made during what is sometimes considered a fallow period - although it should be noted that about this same time, he was still well known enough to be a featured performer on Bing Crosby's radio show.

Brother Bones

Although these may not be Venuti's most notable recordings, they still are quite good, and musically interesting with their unusual instrumentation. Besides Venuti, they feature Maxwell and flutist James Briggs. For a swing version of Saint-Saëns' "Danse Macabre," they are joined by another Tempo recording artist, Brother Bones, best known for his fantastic version of "Sweet Georgia Brown," which became the Harlem Globetrotters' theme song.

The Venuti items all were issued on Tempo 78s, under the names Joe Venuti, Bobby Maxwell, Jimmy Briggs & the Joe Venuti Rhythmists, Joe Venuti and Bobby Maxwell, and Joe Venuti and his Orchestra.

Bobby Maxwell

The Bobby Maxwell items are more straightforward - mainly vehicles for Maxwell's virtuosity, which is well worth hearing in itself. These sides do not include Venuti and the other instrumentalists. I would assume they also were issued on 78, although I don't have evidence that was the case.

As mentioned, Maxwell went on to become a composer of a few hit tunes and to make numerous LPs in the 1950s and 1960s under the more dignified name Robert Maxwell.

The sound on this LP is excellent, and the record was pressed on red vinyl - which is always welcome. I don't know why I love colored vinyl, but it's the simple things that make me happy, I guess.