Piccadilly Strut - The Kit-Cat Band, At The Kit-Cat Club, London - HMV B. 5020

An absolutely fantastic recording by Al Starita's Kit-Cat Band. This song was written by Van Phillips in 1925, and perfectly encapsulates jazz age London at that time. Some great solos and a very jaunty arrangement makes this one of my favourite ever recordings.
THE KIT-CAT BAND, AT THE KIT-CAT CLUB, LONDON
Al Starita, cl, as, dir: Tom Smith, Edwin Knight, t / Ted Heath, tb / Jim Kelleher, as / George Smith, cl, ts / Hugo Rignold, vn / Sid Bright, Fred Hardley, p / Len Fillis, bj / Alfred Field, bb / Eric Little, d.
Small Queen's Hall, London, December 2, 1925

[@StevenSmith-nq5xe]

An aural and visual delight.

[@telmar98]

A great jaunty melody with Al Starita's combo on great form, with a brilliant arrangement, possibly by Van Phillips himself.

[@PopsCoffee]

Tremendous!

[@1920sman]

Also one of my favourites. I think it's Fred Hartley (not Hardley) of later novely quintet fame on piano

[@bixlives]

Thanks for posting this fine recording !

[@JonathanHolmesjazz]

@@bixlives my pleasure!

[@jourwalis-8875]

Is this a very early electrical recording? Sounds a such.

[@Phaaschh]

Yes, it is. HMV made the switch just a few months earlier. There is a clear "room sound ", which was all but unachievable with even the best acoustic recordings. Someone may want to correct me here, but I don't believe that the SQH was ever used for acoustic recording.

[@1920sman]

Also - does anyone know if Piccadilly Strut was ever published? I'd love to play it and may do a transcription. I know the Gilt Edged Four also recorded it

[@JonathanHolmesjazz]

@@1920sman Martin Wheatley has written out this record to play at the Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party this year. I don’t think any stocks were published as far as I know

[@jourwalis-8875]

So this was Jack Hyltons band?

[@JonathanHolmesjazz]

@@jourwalis-8875 Jack Hylton hired the band at the club but Al Starita was the director

[@kingpetra6886]

Red label RCA record.

[@alexmckenna1171]

It's not an American record, or an RCA. It's made in England.