California Ramblers (as Golden Gate Orch) - The Pay Off

The California Ramblers (as the Golden Gate Orchestra) play "The Pay Off", a 'hot' composition by banjoist Howdy Quicksell, long term member of the Jean Goldkette orchestra. It was original called "Dustin' The Donkey", and was recorded by the California Ramblers under this name in 1925.

The longer recording time offered by Edison Diamond Discs allows for extended solos on hot numbers, and this side is no exception. The excellent trumpet soloist is probably Mickey Bloom (compare with his solo on the band's excellent "Third Rail", recorded in January 1928). It certainly isn't Bill Moore, who had left the California Ramblers to join Ben Bernie's band in 1925. Al Duffy plays a fine 32 bar hot violin solo, and Spencer Clark weaves in and out of the ensemble on bass sax a la Adrian Rollini, but with his own style. The underrated Pete Pumiglio plays a typically fine alto sax solo.

This is an electrically recorded Edison Diamond Disc. The Edison company developed its own electrical recording process in 1927, probably adapting technology from General Electric, to get around the Western Electric patents. However, it suffered from a rather boxy sound quality compared to Victor and Columbia, who used the Western Electric system.

THE CALIFORNIA RAMBLERS (AS THE GOLDEN GATE ORCHESTRA)
Ed Kirkeby directing: Tony Gianelli and ?Mickey Bloom - trumpet / Carl Loeffler - trombone / Pete Pumiglio and Freddy Cusick - alto sax, clarinet / Sam Ruby - tenor sax / Spencer Clark - bass sax / Al Duffy - violin / Jack Russin - piano / Tommy Felline - banjo / Herb Weil - drums

Recorded in New York, December 28, 1927.

18138-B…….The Pay Off…….Edison 52181