Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
British dance band music meets Harlem jazz as Madame Tussaud's Dance Orchestra wax lyrical on the Duke Ellington classic "Old Man Blues", one of a series of Ellington compositions the band recorded during, and the wake of, the Duke's highly successful visit to London in 1933. The result, as one might expect, isn't exactly 'the real thing' but Mme. Tussaud can be justly proud of this facsimile.
The band played in a restaurant with a small dance floor situated at the waxworks, this facility being part of the new Madame Tussaud's building on Marylebone Road that was opened in 1928, following a catastrophic fire in the original building in 1925.
Edison Bell issued the band's recordings on its handsome gold and black "Edison Bell Winner" label, examples of which are now rare. The company had not long been bought out by Decca Records, who continued releasing various Edison Bell issues until 1935, including several on associate labels that were marketed in Europe, in this particular case Disclair.
Stanley Barnett was the house dance band leader at Edison Bell at the time, with records under his direction being issued under various credits. In addition to Madame Tussaud's Dance Orchestra, these included Howard Flynn And His Orchestra, The Capitol Band and Stanley Barnett's Rhythmic Orchestra. Howard Flynn was a composer and also a director at Edison Bell (1933) Ltd., to give the company its full name!
MADAME TUSSAUD' S DANCE ORCHESTRA
Stanley Barnett, tenor sax, clarinet, directing: Alf Bowes and unknown - trumpet / Abe Walters - trombone / Harry Constable and Danny Levy - alto sax, clarinet (one of these also plays baritone sax) / Jack Dent - piano, arranger / Albert Harris - guitar / Al Foreman - string bass / Claude Dawson - drums / Harry Bentley - vocals
Recorded in London, November 17, 1933
EB-1089-11D.......Old Man Blues…….Disclair K1769
British dance band music meets Harlem jazz as Madame Tussaud's Dance Orchestra wax lyrical on the Duke Ellington classic "Old Man Blues", one of a series of Ellington compositions the band recorded during, and the wake of, the Duke's highly successful visit to London in 1933. The result, as one might expect, isn't exactly 'the real thing' but Mme. Tussaud can be justly proud of this facsimile.
The band played in a restaurant with a small dance floor situated at the waxworks, this facility being part of the new Madame Tussaud's building on Marylebone Road that was opened in 1928, following a catastrophic fire in the original building in 1925.
Edison Bell issued the band's recordings on its handsome gold and black "Edison Bell Winner" label, examples of which are now rare. The company had not long been bought out by Decca Records, who continued releasing various Edison Bell issues until 1935, including several on associate labels that were marketed in Europe, in this particular case Disclair.
Stanley Barnett was the house dance band leader at Edison Bell at the time, with records under his direction being issued under various credits. In addition to Madame Tussaud's Dance Orchestra, these included Howard Flynn And His Orchestra, The Capitol Band and Stanley Barnett's Rhythmic Orchestra. Howard Flynn was a composer and also a director at Edison Bell (1933) Ltd., to give the company its full name!
MADAME TUSSAUD' S DANCE ORCHESTRA
Stanley Barnett, tenor sax, clarinet, directing: Alf Bowes and unknown - trumpet / Abe Walters - trombone / Harry Constable and Danny Levy - alto sax, clarinet (one of these also plays baritone sax) / Jack Dent - piano, arranger / Albert Harris - guitar / Al Foreman - string bass / Claude Dawson - drums / Harry Bentley - vocals
Recorded in London, November 17, 1933
EB-1089-11D.......Old Man Blues…….Disclair K1769
