Rich Conaty has hosted his weekly radio show The Big Broadcast since 1973, featuring jazz, dance music and singers from the 1920s and ‘30s. Since 2006 he has compiled and written the extensive liner notes for a reissue series for the Rivermont label that is also titled The Big Broadcast. In recent times, Vols. 9-11 have been released. Programmed in chronological order, the typical CD in this program begins in the early 1920s or earlier, working its way to the mid-1930s and concluding with selections from a rare radio broadcast. Each set includes an informative and colorful 20-page booklet that discusses each selection.
Volume 9 starts with a piano solo by Felix Arndt from 1914 (“Desecration Rag” which turns a few classical themes into ragtime) and includes among its highlights Fletcher Henderson’s “Do Doodle Oom” from 1923, Jan Garber’s early jazz group playing ‘What Do I Care What Somebody Said,” Snook and his Memphis Stompers romping on “Sweet Georgia Brown,” very rare versions of “Constantly” and ‘Casa Loma Stomp” from the Casa Loma Orchestra, and Red Nichols’ intriguing rendition of “Rockin’ In Rhythm.”
While none of the performances are common, particularly rare are Irene Taylor’s previously unreleased rendition of “I Must Have That Man,” an unknown test pressing by Irving Aaronson’s Commanders, Fred Astaire singing “I’ve Go
