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THE SHOW-DOWN Page 9 St. Louis' Spotlight By Smilin Dave 'ROUND TOWN: Jewel (Peaches) Belle is now a feature in the floor offering at the beautiful Ringside Annex the finest in the middle west. Al Mitchell and his melodeers swing the two shows nightly. Even the table service at this rendezvous is superb with "Freddie" the chief personality of the tray, a solid servant... Williams and Williams, a man and wife dance duet of adagio and tango stole shows for four weeks at the Golden Lily closing the third week in October to open at the cotton Club, Cincinatti. Little Nelda Hodges is still the song feature in the floor shows of this nite spot with Dewey Jackson's aggregation the swing department. Petitie Lorraine Brown the princess of song, formerly a sensation at Club Reno, Kaycee is breaking it up at the Four Roses...Calvin Dilliard and his swinging five is the newest feature at the Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club, supporting the McKinney sisters, two clever juveniles of the dance and Clarence Jarmon, the singing child guitarist...Marie Walker and Buddy Collins of Chicago are the solid senders of song at the 17th Ward Democratic Club with Charley Thompson the keyboard expert...S.H. Dudley is the kind of a producer for all modern first class clubs like the Plantation where Monette Moore and the Three Thunderbolts extend the shows from 20 to 30 minutes longer answering encores due to wild applause of satisfied patrons. Jeter Pillars "Ork" is still the Jazzy rhythm masters of the shows. The Dreamland Club, a new marvel is going with a bang. For taverns, Howards Place lead others follow in ole smoke town. Joe De Shons fourteen piece outfit broke all records for dance engagements around these parts the past month. This organization possesses the largest repertoire of stock and arrangements among the local bands... New Faces Seen Williams and Williams from the Coast, Golden Lily, Lorraine Brown, from Club Reno, Kaycee, Four Roses, The Personality Girls (Mayes and Morrison) Kaycee, Golden Lily. The "Three Shades of Tan" Laurie Cathrell Edwards, Billy Hayes and Pauline Rubye of Kaycee, are shooting high at the Four Roses. Jimmy Raschels band from Detroit. Show-Boat Ballroom. HERE AND THERE McMillan of the International Negro Press in his last letter informed me that he is now the publicity copy writer for Andy Kirk a sample of the real thing of sweet rhythm. DeLloyd McKay the queen of ivory an internationally known feature once a feature at Club Plantation is still around New York. Mary (Sweets) Hall formerly a songstress at the Ringside is now an idol at the Cincinati Cotton Club. Edith (Tita) Ganawai the song empress once a star at Club Plantation is back at Little Harlem Club Bufallo. RHYTHMANIA -- JIMMIE LUNCEFORD SYNCOPATION'S NEW RHYTHM KING By MAURICE DANCER JIMMIE LUNCEFORD, the new king of syncopation, in front of his orchestra, with it's plenty sweet and flowing versions, constitute a highly effective, ultra-modern medium of musical expression ideally couched for the class spots. Tempo has 'em gunning the hooves from the opening gong, which means dancers and romancers are equally salved. Jimmie Lunceford's dance engagement at Duke University last Spring rated the following, in the popular Durham, N.C. school's Chronicle: 'I still can't get over it and I'll bet I am not the only one-to say that they were grand, marvelous and unbelievably good, doesn't half cover it. Tommy Dorsey gave us a swell dance and he has a swell band, but Jimmie Lunceford and that crew of his gave us music supreme and included a show with each number in such a manner that Tommy Dorsey was completely forgotten. Beyond a doubt they are the greatest showmen in any band. Who can ever forget that non-beatable brass section with trombones and trumpets flying everywhere, the bass men. Crawford's marvelous drum work. Wilcox's piano, the full sax section, the - well, everything? Willy Smith,the boy who did the nursery rhyme, is the greatest alto man you ever heard. Mose Allen on bass cannot be equalled, while Joe's tenor work really shadows Berry's. Hawkins has an edge on him, but for showmanship he has them all outclassed. Tompkins and Oliver were excellent on the trumpets. Personally, I think its the best brass section working today. Brass execution such as those six have is seldom if ever heard. Each man in the band could be praised for his individaul work. Jimmie's direction was especially outstanding-few leaders know their men and music as he does. This outfit can't lose-they're on their own-they've all been together from the start, - in Jimmie they have a smart and determined leader. Jimmie Lunceford and his orchestra recently finished the Summer at his own Larchmont Casino in Larchmont, N. Y., then filling engagements in the Eastern theatres. Their recordings, "Organ Grinders Swing", "Sleepy Time Gal" and "Me and the Moon", "On The Beach at Bali Bali" are among the outstanding releases of today. On the 24th of October "Living From Day to Day", "T'aint Good" was released and after November 1st, "Can't Escape From You" and "Muddy Waters" will be listed among the best selling recordings. Jimmie Lunceford is booked by the Lunceford Artists, Inc., 17 East 49th St., New York City, which is under the personal direction of Harold F. Oxley.
