BARBARY COAST ORCHESTRA Dartmouth College Dec 7, 1942

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From the 1943 Aegis, Dartmouth College Yearbook

"With the beginning of the college year came the reorganization of the Barbary Coast Orchestra of Dartmouth for it's twenty-fourth season, as the orchestra once again gathered into its ranks the best available instrumental talent in the college. It was most encouraging to find that all twelve men from the 1941-42 "Coast" were on hand to carry on the fine reputation enjoyed by this organization. This edition of "Dartmouth's own" orchestra has surpassed all its predecessors in its musicianship - both collective and individual. One of the outstanding features of the Coast has been its complete library of special arrangements. This "book" is the product of former pianist, Relly Raffman, and Norman Simpson. It is hard to narrow such a group down to a few men worthy of special mention, for each man has done his job and done it well. Briefly noted, Leon Chapman continued to amaze his listeners with his beautiful lead and solo tone, and with his technique and ideas. Charlie Lazo, a much improved musician, played some of the most amazing tenor that this writer has ever heard. A word of praise is due both trombonists: to Norman Simpson for his consistantly fine sweet and to Jim Rudnick for his inspired rides. This Coast may well be called "the best college band in the east". " From the 1943 AEGIS - Dartmouth College Yearbook
Record 1
MORE THAN YOU KNOW Download mp3 Watch YouTube	ELMER'S TUNE & DO YOU CARE? Download mp3 Watch YouTube
Record 2
NIGHT AND DAY & ALAMO Download mp3 Watch YouTube	SWEET SUE Download mp3 Watch YouTube
Record 3
PEACEFUL IN THE COUNTRY Download mp3 Watch YouTube	HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON? Download mp3 Watch YouTube
Record 4
SENT FOR YOU YESTERDAY Download mp3 Watch YouTube	DAYBREAK Download mp3 Watch YouTube

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Here are some studio recordings offering swing and jazz numbers by the Barbary Coast Orchestra from Dartmouth College, recorded December 7, 1942. As far as I know, these are the only known recordings from this orchestra. They were recorded at a studio in Hanover, New Hampshire and cut onto vinyl coated glass disc records. The war caused a serious shortage of the shellac normally used to make records so other compounds were tried, including glass. This wasn't a very successful experiment as the glass records tended to break really easily (DUH!). There were a couple of these glass disc blanks with these recordings. See below:

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The band members are listed as:
Saxophones
Rudolph G. Whitten, Russell E. Chase, William M. Stahl, Charles R. Lazo

Trumpets
Leon J. P. Chapman, George W. Miller, Walter H. Olin

Trombones
James E. Rudnick, Norman L. Simpson

Piano
Herbert F. Storfer

BASS
Eugene Roitman

Drums
Kenneth F. Eldredge

I don't know any of these names but they are pretty tight. Smooth swing and jazz, worth a listen.

I've done substantial searching of the internet and have come up with very little information on this particular group or any discography for them. As far as I know, these are their only known recordings. Probably wrong... If you can shed any light on this group of musicians, please email me at:

BarbaryCoastOrch@cdbpdx.com

Enjoy!

UPDATE
Just acquired a 1943 AEGIS, the Dartmouth College yearbook and there is a fine article about this group. The photo at the top is from this book.