"Round The Town"

All Star Trio

Victor 18750

1921

Song by Victor Arden

From 1918 to 1922, this trio consisting of xylophonist George Hamilton Green, pianist Victor Arden, and saxophonist Frank Wheeler Wadsworth recorded popular numbers of the day.

It was known as Wadsworth's Novelty Dance Orchestra on Pathé records.

Solo performances by Green had been regularly issued by Edison since June 1917 but they were of a classical or semi-classical nature. Wadsworth and Arden were a recording team by early 1918, their Pathé recording of Handy's "Memphis Blues" (20378) issued in July 1918.

The trio began recording in the autumn of 1918 for various companies, covering "Just Blue" for Edison, Victor, Columbia, and even the new Okeh label. Edison issued it in January 1919 as Blue Amberol 3624. It was followed in February by "Hindustan" on Blue Amberol 3645.

"Arabian Nights" was issued on Blue Amberol 3667 in March 1919.

The trio's first Victor session was on September 20, 1918, though "Just Blue," cut on this date, was held for several months. The trio returned to the Victor studio on December 3, 1918, to record Creamer and Layton's "Sweet 'n' Pretty" (18520), and the March 1919 Victor supplement announcing its release states that here was "a new instrumental combination."

It adds, "The saxophone carries the melody supported by the piano, while the merry xylophone plays a fantastic obbligato all of its own." Many dance records at this time "introduced" a contrasting melody, in this case the All Star Trio performing bits of "I'm Waiting for You, 'Liza Jane." Victor characterized most of its All Star Trio discs as "medley fox trots."

This Victor debut record was followed with an April release of two fox trots, "I'll Say She Does" backed by "You're Some Pretty Doll" (18527). The Victor supplement for April 1919 states that from this combination of instruments "comes music that no self-respecting dancer could afford to ignore. 'I'll Say She Does' is a fox trot with a few sudden halts that will give the trotters an opportunity; but the time is perfect throughout. The medley introduces also 'Tackin' 'em Down'...There isn't a dull moment in the whole record. Notice the special 'Jazz' finish at the end of each number."

From the trio's first Victor session nearly a year earlier, "Just Blue" was finally issued in June 1919 on Victor 18547.

Blue Amberol 3696, featuring "Sand Dunes--One Step," was issued in April 1919. Edison promotional literature states, "The All Star Trio has made good with its modern dance records... You will find this rendition full of pep--an ideal One-Step number."

Among other numbers, the three musicians recorded for Edison "Sensation" (50541), first recorded in 1918 by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band for Victor (the only instrument used in both versions is piano).

Edison promotional literature praises the combination of saxophone, xylophone, and piano, with the May 1919 Blue Amberol supplement stating, "It seems to render Jazz music about as well as it can be given."

The trio's performances of George Hamilton Green's one-step "Fluffy Ruffles" and M. K. Jerome's "Poor Little Butterfly Is A Fly Gal Now" are characteristic.

Victor's February 1920 supplement states, "'Fluffy Ruffles' is irresistible if you know how to dance. If you want to learn the one-step, it is a good one to learn from; and if you don't want to learn, just listen. But we can't assure you that in listening you will be able to keep still."

Victor Arden (whose real name was Louis John Fuiks) also began recording with fellow pianist Phil Ohman in 1921. Whereas All Star Trio discs were marketed as dance recordings, Victor Arden-Phil Ohman discs were more often categorized as "instrumental records."

Victor's April 1922 supplement states that these four-hand piano recordings "can be used for dancing, but they also are expressions of the ragtime school of pianism, as developed in the United States."

Also popular was "Hand-Painted Doll" backed by "Lonesome Land" (Victor 18896), both numbers composed by Victor Arden and George Hamilton Green. Victor's July 1922 supplement states, "When these gentlemen can't find a fox trot adapted to their powers, they write one. In this case they have written two."

The sound in 1918 of the All Star Trio was something new in popular music, and though the group is not remembered as a jazz ensemble, it was among the first to record some songs now known as jazz standards, such as W.C. Handy's "St. Louis Blues," Handy's "Beale Street Blues," and Euday L. Bowman's "12th Street Rag."

The Bowman piece was issued in February 1921 on Victor 18713 with "Dotty Dimples" on its reverse side.

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