THE WAYNE ADAMS’ OLD ‘CLASSIC’ BANJO COLLECTION 1897-1952

Prepared by Gérard De Smaele, an eminent five-string banjo specialist, this anthology clears the field in revealing older recordings by the great forgotten modernizers of the so-called “classical” banjo, among them Fred Van Eps and Vess Ossman. The selection here unveils a major chapter in the history of this famous instrument, some of whose technical aspects are still in evidence today in modern bluegrass. Drawn from sources collected by Wayne Adams (Toronto, 1929-2013), this is a brand new historical exploration of the repertoire of the North American continent’s popular instrument of reference.
Patrick FRÉMEAUX 

CD 1. VESS OSSMAN: BLAZE AWAY (1900) • A BUNCH OF RAGS (1910) • CALIFORNIA DANCE (1903) • COLORED MAJOR (1908) • COON BAND CONTEST (1901) • EL CAPITAN MARCH (1902) • FLORIDA RAG (1908) • FUN IN A BARBER SHOP (1908) • INVINCIBLE EAGLE MARCH (1909) • MAPLE LEAF RAG (1908) • A MEDLEY OF OLD TIMERS (1900) • THE MOOSE MARCH (1909) • THE MOSQUITO PARADE (1901) • MOTOR MARCH (1906) • PEACEFUL HENRY (1903) • PERSIAN LAMB RAG (1911) • PETER PIPER (1906) • RUSTY RAG MEDLEY (1901) • SILVER HEELS (1904) • SAINT LOUIS TICKLE (1908) • SUNFLOWER DANCE (1906) • TURKEY IN THE STRAW MEDLEY (1909) • WHOA BILL (1902) • WILLIAM TELL OVERTURE (1897) • YANKEE DOODLE (1900).

CD 2. FRED VAN EPS: BOLERO (1952) • CHINESE PICNIC & ORIENTAL DANCE (1923) • COCOANUT DANCE (1923) • CUPID’S ARROW (1917) • DALY’S REEL RAG (1916) • DIXIE MEDLEY (1930) • FROLIC OF THE COONS (1915) • GRACE AND BEAUTY (1924) • I’M ALWAYS CHASING RAINBOWS (1918) • INFANTA’S MARCH (1913) • MAURICE TANGO (1912) • THE NEW GAIETY (1952) • MY SUMURUN GIRL (1912) • NOLA (1952) • PEARL OF THE HAREM (1911) • PERSIFLAGE (1925) • RAGGIN’ THE SCALE (1916) • A RAGTIME EPISODE (1911) • RAGTIME ORIOLE (1924) • RED PEPPER RAG (1911) • RONDO CAPRICE (1952) • SING LING TING (1918) • SMILER RAG (1914) • TAMBOURINES AND ORANGES (1952) • TEASING THE CAT (1916), • WHIPPED CREAM (1913) • THE WHITE WASH MAN (1912).

CD 3. OTHERS: FRED BACON / MASSA’S IN THE COLD COLD GROUND (1917) • FRED BACON / MEDLEY OF SOUTHERN AIRS (MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME / DIXIE / OLD FOLKS AT HOME) / (1920) • BILL BOWEN / OLD STONE HOUSE (CA. 1950) • BILL BOWEN / VALSE DE CONCERT (CA. 1950) • FRANK BRADBURY / DANCE OF THE HOURS (CA. 1950) • FRANK BRADBURY / DONKEY LAUGH (CA. 1950) • H.C. BROWN / CLIMBING UP THE GOLDEN STAIRS (1917) • ALFRED CAMMEYER / CHINESE PATROL / (1912) • BERT EARLE / THE BACCHANAL RAG (UNKNOWN) • ALFRED FARLAND / CARNIVAL OF VENICE (1917) • PARKE HUNTER / DIXIE GIRL (1903) • E. JONES / POMPADOUR (CA.1925) • E JONES. / NIGGER TOWN (CA.1925) • ALFRED KIRBY / HEATHER BLOOM (UNKNOWN) • ALEXANDER MAGHEE / JOLLY DARKIES / (CA. 1950) • JOE MORLEY / JAPANESE PATROL (1918) • OLLY OAKLEY - BOLERO (1907) • OLLY OAKLEY / A BANJO ODDITY (UNKNOWN) • OLLY OAKLEY / THE PALLADIUM MARCH (1923) • WILL PEPPER / DINKY’S PATROL (1904) • JOHN PIDOUX / A PLANTATION EPISODE / (1919) • TED SHAWNEE / BLACK AND WHITE RAG – (CA. 1950) • SHIRLEY SPAULDING / A FOOTLIGHT FAVORITE (1922) • SIDNEY TURNER / ADANTE ET WALTZ (1913) • SIDNEY TURNER & CLIFFORD ESSEX / A BUNCH OF RAGS (1914).

DIRECTION ARTISTIQUE : GÉRARD DE SMAELE