An Old Victrola Jazz Tune

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Inspired by my custodianship in the Seventies of an ancient, hand-cranked, spring-powered phonograph from a deceased relative. It may or may not have been a genuine Victrola, but the same idea applies: shellac recordings, a steel stylus, and all the fidelity you could want … and less.

As to the music, I was aiming for something along the lines of Duke Ellington’s “Black and Tan Fantasy” or perhaps Kurt Weill’s music for “The Three-Penny Opera.” Note the use of the banjo here as purely a rhythm instrument. You might also be reminded of Ennio Morricone’s epic score from “A Long Time Ago in the West.”

All I need now is Lotte Lenya (last seen being dispatched by James Bond in “From Russia with Love”) to handle the vocals.