Frank Victor – presentation of an unknown jazz guitar pioneer, in the 1930´s! For biographical info – visit great homepage “venutilang.com”: From The Archives — VenutiLang.com. Here I present articles, ads, and almost all available transcriptions from that time! The transcriptions are from different sources: own collections, Robbie Young (England), Mario Bazarelli (USA), venutilang.com (Mike Peters, USA), Mel Bay´s book “Masters of the Plectrum Guitar”.
Article in British magazine “Swing Music”, June-1935
Photograph of Frank Victor with Adrian Rollini Trio, ca 1938
Frank Victor feature in British Jazz Magazine “Tune Times”, Oct-1934! Cover from Dec-1934!
Gibson ad in “Radio Guide”, Dec-1938, with Frank Victor!
Volpe/Victor “Grand Barre & Thumb Method” ad, magazine “International Musician”, Sept-1934; “The New Handy Guitar Method”, 1937!
TRANSCRIPTIONS, RECORDS, ADS:
“Stringin´ Along With Annabelle”, 1933; page 2-3 excerpt from Mel Bay´s fantastic book “Masters of the Plectrum Guitar”!
“Frets and Strings”, 1933
“Guitar in Blue”, 1933 (reissue 1961)
Harry Volpe – “June Memories”, 1933
Volpe, “June Memories”, reissue 1961
Gibson catalogue, 1934; Volpe & Victor nr 10.
“Happy Mood”, 1935
“Beat Off and Swing”, 1935
“My Waltz”, 1935 (sheet music cover only); Victor feature in English magazine “B.M.G”, July 1938.
“Guitar in Harmony”, 1935
“Pick it and Play it”, 1936
“Sweet Strings”, 1936; page 1 from Mel Bay´s great book – the transcription is another five pages!
YouTube link – “Sweet Strings”
“Easy Like”, 1936
“Pagan Fantasy”, 1936
“Swingin´ The Scale”, 1936
“Etude 1”, 1936
Gibson catalogue, 1937; two different catalogues same year!
Gibson ad, Downbeat Sept-1937; Sheet music ad, British magazine B.M.G. March-1937
Sheet music ad, Downbeat April-1940; original sheet 1938, front & back cover – guitar method by Victor/Volpe!
“Fretted Harmony”, 1938
“Beautiful Melody”, 1938
Metronome magazine articles, written by Frank Victor Sept-Nov 1933, presenting jazz guitar colleagues!:
Metronome magazine, Sept-1933: Harry Volpe
Metronome magazine, Oct-1933: Carl Kress
Metronome magazine, Nov-1933: Dick McDonough
CD:s with recordings of Frank Victor!:
CD ”Adrian Rollini; Trio, Quartet and Quintet; 1936-1947” (Vintage Music Productions, 2005):
Recordings with Rollini Trio w. Frank Victor, guitar: “Vibrollini”, “Driftin´”(1936); “Rebound”, “Jitters”(1937); “Estrellita”, “Dark Eyes”, “Moonglow”(1939); Rollini Quartet w. Frank Victor, guitar: “Alexander´s Ragtime Band”, “Crazy Rhythm”, “China Town”(1938).
CD “Guitar Rarities, Volume One” (IAJRC, 2003):
Recordings with Frank Victor-Harry Volpe duo: “Sweet Strings”, “Easy Like”, “Pagan Fantasy”, “Swinging The Scale”(1936); “Fretted Harmony”, “Fantasy On Old Folks Home”(1938).
Gibson catalogue, 1942
Volpe feature, Downbeat Oct-1939; Volpe with Django 1946 – picture from Delaunay biography on Django, 1981
Harry Volpe feature, B.M.G. Jan-1945
Smith “Guitar Interpretations”, volume 1, 2, 1946 – sheet music edited by Harry Volpe!
Volpe in “US School of Music” catalogue, 1950
Epiphone ads, Metronome Feb-1955; flyer 1955
