" Syncopation " and Dance Band News .sx SENSATIONS AT THE KIT-CAT .sx Change of Leader .sx ALTHOUGH the news may be thoroughly stale by now to West End musicians , others will be astounded to hear that Reggie Batten , who made such an auspicious debut there on May 14th , is no longer at the Kit-Cat .sx As most know , Reggie climbed to the very top of the dance band tree in the days when Debroy Somers had his famous Orpheans at the Savoy Hotel .sx At that time Reggie led the " opposite " band , the Savoy Havana , and later himself led the Orpheans .sx When this broke up , Reggie retired from the limelight , and for the next few years little was heard of him .sx Then he reappeared , to step into the leadership of the newly formed Kit-Cat band , details of which were given in our May issue .sx Reg was simply bubbling over with enthusiasm for his new job , and had all sorts of schemes for making his boys comfortable and the band a success .sx And on the first night , with the Kit-Cat packed to suffocation , everyone voted the musical arrangements all that they should be .sx But things did not go so happily after-wards , for some reason or another .sx Little pinpricks , of no magnitude in themselves , aggregated to upset the feeling of esprit de corps which is an essential factor of a successful band .sx Two of the boys left to go to more remunerative jobs , and this rather negatived the careful rehearsing which the band had embarked on so enthusiastically .sx The white dinner suits , which had seemed such a good idea at first , rapidly became an irritation .sx The structure of bandstand and the lighting focused upon it made playing conditions insufferably hot .sx Such things as these , trifling in themselves and mostly unavoidable , began to discourage Reg and the boys .sx Finally , Reg felt he would be happier elsewhere , and resigned his leadership .sx But after much discussion with his superiors he was transferred , for the time being , to the Astoria , Charing Cross Road , which is also controlled by Gaumont-British , in charge of Joe Loss's Harlem Band .sx There , in a different and more lively-environment , Reg regained his enthusiasm and started in with all sorts of ideas , such as a marimba played by several of the boys , and so on .sx Joe Loss , who had been leading the band with every efficiency , stood down like a sportsman to make way for Reg , who was , of course , still under contract to the Gaumont-British Corporation .sx And Joe's band rallied round nobly .sx But what of the Kit-Cat ?sx There , a band of first-class men , but without a leader .sx In the circumstances , it is understandable that there was a little tension , and the selection of a new leader was a delicate task .sx Ernest Grimshaw , musical adviser to Gaumont-British , showed his acumen by making a choice which met with absolutely unanimous approval Percival Mackey , whose cheery countenance appeared in the very first issue of THE MELODY MAKER and countless times since .sx A striking sidelight on Mac's personal popularity with musicians was provided on the occasion when Mr. Grimshaw bought him in to the bandroom to " introduce " him to the boys .sx They had heard the news about Reg and were a little apprehensive who the next leader would be .sx Speculation was rife .sx But when Mr. Grimshaw strode into the room , with Mackey's horn-rims gleaming over his shoulder , before he had a chance to say a word , the boys burst into a simultaneous and utterly spontaneous cheer !sx So much so that the head waiter came running down from upstairs to see what all the noise was about !sx One of the first things Mackey ( who is still fulfilling his post as Musical Adviser to Paramount Films at Elstree ) did was to get rid of the white ( ?sx ) suits , and substitute more ordinary , but far smarter , evening dress .sx The lights on the band-stand were altered , more comfortable chairs provided , a vocal trio ( Mac him-self , Geoff Howard , and Jim Easton ) formed , and intensive rehearsals embarked on .sx It seems now as if the band is going to settle down into a top liner , and if Ted Lewis were to put his famous question , " Is everybody ?sx " there is no doubt that the answer would be a unanimous " YES !sx " QUICKWORK .sx A Scot's Arrival .sx BILLY MASON propounds the theory that Scottish musicians make good modern dance players because of their long training in eightsome reels and other Highland dances which , so Billy insists , have the same bedrock rhythm as the modern , rhythmic fox-trot .sx There is no argument that the Scotties do seem to have the flair witness Arthur Young , Billy Mason and many others and this very probably accounts for the news of another young Scot who recently came to London to seek his fortune .sx This time it was a saxophone player , one David Shand , who , a few months ago , was leading his own band at the Beach Dance Hall , Aberdeen .sx Thanks to an introduction , he soon received a week's deputising in the Marius B. Winter bands at Selfridge's and Roman's .sx This brought him to the attention of Vic Filmer , who fixed him for the Road-house Club .sx A raid on this establishment soon put finish to that job , and David then did a week at the Gargoyle Club , where Freddy Bretherton , the pianist , formed a high opinion of the Scot's abilities and recommended him to none less than Jack Hylton .sx The result of this social climbing is that David Shand is now in the Hylton organisation , at present playing in Jack's quartet at the Phoenix Theatre , and rehearsing with Hylton's band to prove his ability to become an additional member of the sax team therein .sx If he pulls this off , even allowing full marks for his abilities , David will have been singularly lucky .sx Not all young musicians even Scotties however talented , can expect to crash into such eminence in so short a time .sx BACK in the STRAND .sx Rosebery and Romano's .sx ON the 28th of August , Arthur Rosebery will return to Romano's for the winter season with a ten-piece band .sx Arthur's' reputation for doing things thoroughly is well known , so perhaps we need hardly emphasise that the band will be exceptionally versatile .sx The combination will include three trumpets and trombone , making a very formidable brass ensemble , and there will also be a section of three violins , which will be " doubled " by the sax players , but which will , Arthur assures us , be " real violins , and not the lousy scrapers who make fiddle their fifth , and worst , double .sx " One surprise is the fact that Stanley Andrews , the red-hot fiddler who was with Hylton's Band , and who has been working for Jack in another capacity , will be joining Rosebery .sx Besides fiddle he will play trumpet and tenor saxophone .sx Len Lees , the noted vocalist and drummer , will also be associated with Rosebery once again in the Romano's job .sx In the meantime , as announced last month , a coloured band holds the stage at the famous Strand resort .sx It is led and directed by G. Ruthland Clapham , the well-known coloured pianist and composer .sx Apropos Arthur Rosebery it is interesting to note that he has fixed a hand with the touring version of " Wonder Bar , " which will open at the King's Theatre , Hammersmith , on August 10th .sx This band is led by Tim Casey , who plays violin and trumpet .sx With him are Ken Gray , late of Mackey's " Cochran's 1931 Revue " Band , first alto ; Bob Batt , tenor sax ; Harry Cocker , trumpet ; Jack Jones , trombone ; Norman Pont , piano ; Jack McKenzie , drums ; Joe Dickson , bass ; Jerry Moore , guitar , and Les Julian , violin .sx BREAK for COTTON .sx Of Paramount Importance .sx BILLY COTTON is into his stride again .sx Recovered in health , and with a band reformed and coaxed into its old efficiency , he has been stepping through variety engagements with success and distinction .sx That he is now an established drawing card there is no question .sx For additional evidence of the fact we have news this month of his latest appointment , an eight months' contract with Paramount to tour their London and provincial theatres with his band act .sx It is a great opportunity and one which should fit Billy like a glove .sx One of the first to exploit the kinema stage with a dance band show , he has mastered the psychology of picturegoers .sx That he can " keep it up " for eight months , or ten times that long , we have no doubt .sx We shall be very surprised in fact , if within a very short time he doesn't form a second band to cope with the manifold calls upon his services .sx PAYMENT BY RESULTS .sx At the Monseigneur .sx WHEN other West End establish- .sx ments are finding it necessary .sx to offset falling business by making salary cuts in all departments , including their bands , the new Mon-seigneur is flourishing to such an extent that , recently , the management there renewed Roy Fox's contract at increased terms , to the advantage of all the boys in the band .sx It may be thought that the novelty of the Monseigneur has not yet worn off , and that this is the sole reason why business is so good during " the close season .sx " This is doing far less than justice to the band , however , which is a definite hit , both in the ballroom and generally .sx Its O.B. broadcasts and the recent one from Savoy Hill have been a great success , and that Decca are satisfied with its services rendered in the recording studios is apparent from the recent renewal of the contract which the directors have signed .sx Rumour has been busy in connection with the Monseigneur , reports being circulated that a temporary closing during August would be necessary in order to allow for the installation of an air shaft .sx No such closing is contemplated .sx During August , however , there will be no tango orchestra on duty , the outfit led by Jean Pini having been dispensed with .sx There is a probability that another orchestra of this type will be engaged in September .sx Roy Fox's band has only had one change of personnel since it was installed , Ernie Rine having left Joe Kaye's band at the Berkeley , to lead Roy's sax section in place of Mickey Amstell , who has left .sx Ernie's abilities are too well known to need further recapitulation .sx BLACK and WHITE POLICY CHECKED .sx Sovrani's " All-Whites " .sx CHANGES have affected the personnel of the new band which , as reported last month , has recently started at .sx Sovrani's Restaurant , in Jermyn Street .sx At first the outfit was a mixed one , and contained three coloured performers in the persons of Ellis Jackson , Leslie Thompson , and J. Appleton .sx These players have now , however , departed to different spheres of activity .sx Jackson being , of course , on tour with Billy Cotton , and the hand is now made up as follows :sx - Gerald Moore , piano and leader " Jerry " is a very modern pianist who needs no introduction .sx Then there is Jack Clapper , 1st alto , and brother of Lionel Clapper Ike Levine , 2nd-alto ; and Bennie Winestone , tenor .sx Les Stirling is drummer and feature vocalist , whilst lastly , Jock Strachan is an efficient trumpet who is well known both in town and out .sx INGENUE'S INGENUITY .sx A Super-Versatile Girls' Band .sx " SENSATIONAL " is the only way of describing the reception given to the twenty-two " Ingenues " on the occasion of their recent performances at the London Palladium .sx This long-heralded and unique band of girls emphatically " stopped the show , " and it is interesting to examine the causes of their great success .sx Musical virtuosity was certainly not the reason , although the girls played well outstandingly well considering their sex and many of them undoubtedly possess excellent instrumental technique .sx The real honours , however , must go not to the girls' musicianship but to their surprising versatility , slickness , and showmanship , and also to the ultra-efficient production of the whole turn and the unusually effective and well-conceived lighting arrangements .sx The show opens with the full band playing in darkness behind the curtain .sx As the stage is gradually lighted the band softens down and a very delicately played vibraphone chorus of the old favourite " Moonlight and Roses " is heard .sx The contrast and the artistic lighting make even this eminently simple conception highly effective .sx As the show goes on the versatility of the performers asserts itself at every turn .sx