New York Syncopators - Dawning

  • 14 years ago
This pseudonym was used by many bands, but according to Rust this particular recording is a mere studio band, probably led by Justin Ring. Rust does not mention who is the vocalist, but I could identify him thanks to the Online Discographic Project. He happens to be Seger Ellis (1904-1995), a jazz pianist and vocalist, who sang with many of the best jazz musicians of the time including Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Joe Venuti, Eddie Lang, Andy Sannella and - on two occasions - even Louis Armstrong. On these records Ellis sang in a bittersweet alto, with which he was uncomfortable early in his career, believing his voice to be too high. Ellis's first recording career ended in 1931. In the late 1930s however, he returned with a big band of his own, known as his "Choirs of Brass Orchestra" with himself conducting and taking occasional vocals. This lovely record, however, was made in 1927.