Strony's piston settings

After Walt Strony's concert at the Middletown Paramount, I wanted to get up there quickly to practice  on the organ so I could compare my piston settings to his.  I didn't have to make too many changes to my settings.  But the minor tweaks made such an improvement on my sound.  Now I just have to make some similar tweaks on the pistons that I use on the LL324 at Bristol Glen.

Strange dream

I had te strangest dream! I dreamt the my mom and I broke into Radio City Music hall so she could hear me play the organ.  We wandered all over the huge theatre and so no one. It took a while to turn on the organ but I was surprised how well I did playing it.  Strange dream.  I think I had the dream because the other day when I went to practice on he Middletown Paramount, I said to myself that I wish my mom was still around to hear me play it.

Strony at Middletown

I heard Walt Strony perform on the Middletown, NY Paramount's 3/12 Wurlitzer.  It was wonderful watching a master of registration play an organ of which I am very familiar.  I practice on it at least once a month.  I know which memory he used for his setup.  There a couple of sounds he created, I was not sure how he made them on that organ.  I hope he had a piston set for those few specific sounds.

It is such a pleasure watching someone who has total control of an instrument.

Fred

Found music

Acquired some more vintage music of fun tunes. First I acquired "What a Perfect Combination" from the 1930's song by Eddie Cantor.. Cost $14.50.  It is great that one can find so much vintage sheet music in England but unfortunately it costs more.  The other song is one I have been looking for, for a while, "Turkish Towel" by Sammy Fain. (not "the Turkish Towel Rag."). Unfortunately it is an arrangement for a small jazz combo.  At least it has a piano part that is a piano/conductor score so It should not be too hard to work out a decent organ arrangement...especially with the other instrument parts to fill it out.

What goes up must come down

I just received a vintage copy of "What goes up, must come down." from Cotton Club Parade. It was a tune Sidney Torch played.  Although it was a little pricey since I got it from a vintage music store in Great Britain, after looking at it, it will be worth it.  Cool beans!

Playing by ear

I have been struggling with playing by ear for yearscwith very little luck.  A number of years ago I worked out "Happy Birthday" because so many people have asked me to play it.  This morning while eating breakfast at the diner,  I figured out "Let's all go to the lobby." sitting at the counter with no keyboard. I couldn't wait to get home and play it. I only had one phrase partially wrong.  Wow.. i am very proud of myself.  It is strange that I always work them out inthe key of F.  I will have to work out my repertoire of two ear songs in other keys.  Off we go...

Quentin M. Maclean

I just acquired my first Quentin Maclean CD and WOW.  It is on a par to Sidney Torch's stuff of that era..  I think I even like it more.  I hope I can get some more recordings of his.

Organ Lesson - Ashely Miller Arrangement

My organ/piano teacher (John Baratta) has decided that I am finally ready to read a full theatre organ arrangement.   I have made large strides on reading three lines of music so I now can attempt a good arrangement.  We decided on "I saw the Harbor Lights" arranged by Ashley Miller.  There is such wonderful harmonies in the arrangement.  He did so much with so few notes.  I wish I had gotten to know him better before he passed away. 

Speaking of Ashley Miller, I ran into Jerry Mendelson at a GSTOS picnic recently.  He was a student of Ray Bohr and played at Radio City Music Hall with Dick Liebert and Ashley Miller.  A talkative guy with so many great stories to tell.

Wedgewood Blue

After listening to a Tom Hazelton recording of Wedgewood Blue by Ketelbey, I have decided to work on my own arrangement.  I was happy to see that my "Ketelbey Classics" book contained a copy of the song.  Tomorrow I will scan it to put on my laptop where all my organ music is now.