Personnel includes: Gene Kardos (leader, violin); Joel Shaw (piano); Nat Brown (alto & tenor saxophones, clarinet); Gabe Galinas (alto & tenor saxophones); Moe Cohen (alto saxophone); Red Hymie (trumpet); Pete Salemi (trombone); Sal Sussman (banjo, guitar); Dick Robertson (violin); Max Goodman (bass); Smith Howard (drums). Recorded in 1931 & 1932. Includes liner notes by Randy Skretvedt.

.com Gene Kardos led a popular dance band in New York in the early 1930s, but most of the records he recorded were released under a variety of names on different labels, which made it difficult for him to get proper credit for his accomplishments. The songs on this CD, for example, were released on the Crown label under the name of Joel Shaw and His Orchestra. Crown was a budget label that was started during the Depression--its slogan was "Two Hits for Two Bits"--and most artists who recorded for them used pseudonyms, particularly if they had recording contracts for other labels, as Kardos did. The Joel Shaw Orchestra, which was named for the band's piano player, had a propulsive rhythm. On tracks such as their cover of the Cab Calloway classic "Minnie the Moocher's Wedding Day" and on standards ("Dinah"), they were capable of playing some fine jazz. And selections like "Barnacle Bill (the Sailor)" and "Call of the Freaks" reveal a goofy sense of humor that only adds to the band's raucous, but good-natured sound. No matter whose name is on the label, the music of Gene Kardos and his band deserves to be heard. --Michael Simmons Product Description Kardos & Shaw's group was an important part of a small number of depression era bands whose musical styles led way to the swing era. Volume 2 in this 4 volume series features the band's Crown recordings (Crown is the short-lived label that introduced the public to 25 cent records - "Two Hits for Two Bits"). Kardos & Shaw played more outright jazz on Crown than they did on Victor, so the full power of the band is heard on these extremely rare recordings.

Personnel includes: Gene Kardos (leader, violin); Joel Shaw (piano); Nat Brown (alto & tenor saxophones, clarinet); Gabe Galinas (alto & tenor saxophones); Moe Cohen (alto saxophone); Red Hymie (trumpet); Pete Salemi (trombone); Sal Sussman (banjo, guitar); Dick Robertson (violin); Max Goodman (bass); Smith Howard (drums). Recorded in 1931 & 1932. Includes liner notes by Randy Skretvedt.