Thank You Joe Venuti!

[@onenightintunisia9338]

The inverted bow thing is impressive but most of people cannot realize how much this guy changed the history of violin. Even Grappelli said that he learned how to swing on violin by listening to Joe's recordings. Joe Venuti was a true genius and one of the most underrated jazz legend of all time.

[@ericdivenuti257]

My great uncle joe died two years before I was born. I knew some of his brothers. I am about to watch this for the first time.

[@billyakin3301]

I found his album in a box, in a thrift store, in South Carolina, in 2010. I'm a big fan...

[@rogerdarcy7330]

I am a huge admirer of Joe's work but even more so of his irreverent spirit (Your distant cousin via Joe's Italian roots and my 96 year old French mother-in-law) - first time viewing for me too, fabulous.

[@MrJoealesi]

1973-74 is about the time I saw Joe Venuti, two different times in Boston as a twenty year old college student. One of those times I saw Stephane Grappelli in the same week. How fortunate I was!

[@hollywoodjoe123]

hello from hollywood joe

[@earthtear9586]

Mental. Why doesn't this have millions of views? What a genius idea.

[@sailcvl3976]

that thing with the inverted bow.... daaaaang

[@kurtkaufman]

Thank you for making this film available!

[@jonnelson6446]

I was fortunate to have met Joe Venuti twice in the late 70s just around the time this home video of him was done. I'm not a violinist, but I idolized him the first time I heard him in the sixties, when I was a little kid. I got his autograph and had a couple of interesting talks with him.

[@sexliesandgaffatape7030]

I AM a violinist and he was the best, took risks, innovative. Stephane Grappelli, who I once provided a PA for, had all that charisma and was technically a perfect player, but once you listened for a while it was just a series of setpiece riffs really.

[@FenceThis]

@@sexliesandgaffatape7030 nonsense, and I’m a musician too

[@jwilke123]

Definitely, one of the most unforgettable characters I've ever met! I booked him on a few gigs around Seattle and did a New Year's Eve broadcast from the Pioneer Banque with him in 1976. Great story teller!

[@Naydzart]

Are you familiar with "Vito's" in Seattle by any chance? As a lifelong Venuti fan, had quite the experiecne there.

[@4588ron]

Joe Venuti was my Dutch uncle not blood uncle but he live with us for four years during his divorce. Early on from Dorothy. He was a man's man and an absolutely fabulous guy on all levels he and my dad were both violinist and met each other in the early 1920s Joe was a mentor to me in all regards. I miss him very much but love to see and hear him on KZbin postings now.

[@colorred5383]

who did you meet who was even more unforgettable? ("one of the most unforgettable")

[@ericdivenuti257]

It’s in the blood to be able to tell a story

[@Bixfan78]

This is so wonderful. I have dozens of Venuti records from the '20s but it's amazing to see him playing so magnificently almost 50 years later. Thank you for filming this and posting it.

[@johnathandavis3693]

This is a PRECIOUS video. I love this guy...thank you for posting.

[@TheWSAmusic]

Thank you so much for posting this. It is incredible to watch him play.

[@mufilmfest]

A wonderful film I used to check out from the Seattle Public Library to watch. I am really happy to see it again. The footage with the New Deal Rhythm Band was shot at the District Taven at 50th and Roosevelt in Seattle. The building as since been demolished. The front man of the NDRB was Phil Shallat. The leader was John Holte. On each side of him in the middle of the sax section was Louie Healy and Ron "Mr. Froggie" Nations. Craig Schroeder on trumpet, Bill Owens guitar and Michael Trullinger drums.

[@amusicment4829]

Thank you for this info!

[@Pneuman1ac]

She looks so fine and happy. I really love this man! He is super talented with his Jazz hands!

[@KawhackitaRag]

I don't even know what to say about the New Deal Rhythm Band, but Joe Venuti is fantastic!

[@silvanasales1114]

Some day i will gonna play like he played

[@robertadinolfi4217]

This is the greatest.

[@sneddley]

Larry Stair, Thanks so much for this! Lovely documentary. So great to see and hear Joe Venuti like this. And starting at 6:00 wow! The most extensive 4 string piece by "Joe" I have now ever heard!!! An early, if not the absolute original creator of a..."Band-in-a-Box"! Much Appreciation, Eric

[@googleuser3319]

what is that tune at 6:00, wow, beautiful!

[@dantep4966]

Mighty Lak a Rose by Ethelbert Nevin

[@googleuser3319]

Classic dope track

[@rickbarker4121]

Brilliant!

[@osocool1too]

Amazing little movie 😎

[@4588ron]

Joe is my Dutch uncle not blood related but very close to my family he lived with us for years during his early divorce period from Dorothy. A fantastic man a man's man and a terrific father mentor to me he and my biological dad were the closest of friends both were violinists. Ron loscalzo

[@lindyhoppers]

Ron, are you related to 1920's pianist Mike Lo Scalzo?

[@4588ron]

@@lindyhoppers Actually I don't believe that I am although I am not fully aware of the relatives who have a name Like my name which is Ron loscalzo . If you Google me you will see that I am a pianist. As a kid I got to know Joe Venuti and Crosby Bob Hope and some of the beautiful Musicians and performers from the twenties thirties and forties. Joe lived with us for a number of years as he went through some trials with his wife Dorothy. My dad was also a violinist and he and Joe were like 2 fathers to me.

[@giorgiocolombo1459]

gradirei sapere chi e' (lo sprovveduto) che ha dato pollice verso ad un simile ARTISTA, avendolo conosciuto, ritengo sia demenziale dargli pollice verso, oltre che grande Musicista anche come persona era splendido, io l'ho conosciuto al Capolinea a Milano (1973) che grande persona e che grandissimo musicista, (grazie Joe )per essermi stato amico, e per avere incrementato la passione per il Jazz, ciao AMICO riposa in pace nella tua Seattle.

[@amusicment4829]

Amazing film. Thank you!

[@robertotusa8464]

I must try this on my violin

[@rodrigocecchetto]

Only 1 minute into the video and I'm already crying

[@bobhutchinson9094]

Bob Hutchinson Thank you Larry for Thank You Joe! I'm glad to see that your homage to Mr Venuti has made the transition into the digital age and will continue to inform and entertain for generations to come.

[@pissmypantsbro]

How?! How is he playing chords on violin? This man is my new idol!

[@giorgiocolombo1459]

poveretto quello che ha dato pollice verso, si ascolti la ( musica ) ( si fa per dire ) d'oggi, fortunatamente coloro che ascoltano la buona musica sono ancora PARECCHI, grazie per la vostra sensibilita' ed intelligenza.

[@EnricoMarasea]

Bravi

[@andrewbarrett1537]

How has TwoSetViolin not commented on this yet???!?

[@Franchsauce]

Bc they are dumb and dumber

[@philnewton3096]

Anyone zny ideas on the key limitations? C maj G maj D? Minor?

[@phredl]

Who's that fabulous drummer!

[@65attila]

Joe is my biological great uncle - what a guy/John Ruggeri from Philadelphia.

[@Naydzart]

Awesome! I've seen Joe play dozens of times when I lived in upstate New York. He played at Don Averill's Cocktail Lounge, Delmar, New York in the late "70"s. In his eighties, he was amazing. Played all night( standing too)and I will remember and cherish the times forever.

[@masalsburg]

65atilla - are you now living in Phila? Or did I not understand your comment? I play jazz violin in the Phila area and would love to talk to you. Joe Venuti is a guiding light for me.

[@arifahmed9544]

Grunkle Joe Venuti

[@65attila]

Micheal- I live in Philadelphia 65 attila

[@ericdivenuti257]

Sup cuz

[@philnewton3096]

5:28 sounds like his opens are a semitone up?!

[@ordix44]

Joe...it was only a cigarbox on your chair....😜😎

[@oxoelfoxo]

I wonder if he uses a moderately priced bow for that

[@excavator4955]

Офигенный чувак! джаз на скрипке - это вам фил Киркоров...

[@Roadtripmik]

7th/fitz 🇮🇹 🇺🇸

[@giorgiocolombo1459]

mi piacerebbe sapere chi e' il ( genio ) che ha dato pollice verso ad una simile MERAVIGLIA, comunque degustibus che non e' una malattia venerea come pensa costui che ha dato (ribadisco) pollice verso a cio', pazienza la mamma............. addio Dowstoievsky.

[@philnewton3096]

My guess is that it's not historically unique. Why , 100s of years ago a lyre and a horsehair might have met by accident when someone thought of picking up their hunting bow after a meal for some poliphony to a song??

[@philnewton3096]

Why not teach kids the 4 string way?? Guitar beginners play chords don't they?

[@harryoakley]

Fabulous Venuti - but what a dreadful band....

[@andrewbarrett1537]

I mean, it’s a showband but yes terribly kitschy. Maybe it wasn’t far along enough in time yet for there to be really good vintage style 20s and 30s style dance bands that were authentic again and not kitschy, sort of like ragtime went through a “honky rink” period before being brought back to something resembling authentic performance practices. At any rate, Joe kicks their ass here so thanks to the uploader for sharing! At least the drummer keeps good time. I can only imagine if he had gotten to play with Vince Giordano’s band in New York just 15 years later.

[@andrewbarrett1537]

* I wrote “honky tonk” but it autocorrected to “honky rink” which is a hilarious portmanteau of that and “rinky tink”.

[@monicabella7894]

Spoiling this great clip.

[@JimmyMarch]

Drummers having a ball

[@123jozef]

Evan Price does that weird shit too......I dunno.... to be weird? It doesn't sound good...maybe they're just bored silly

[@johngeddes7894]

Some ‘shtick’ happenin’