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  • 11/20/2015
Actually at Toronto's New Princes' Restaurant played two different bands, i.e. Dave Caplan's Toronto Orchestra aka Dave Caplan & His New Princes' Band and the other, led by Hal Swain, aka the New Princes' Toronto Orchestra. However, half of the members played in both outfits so it is often difficult to make a distinction. The situation is even more intricate since another, distinct outfit, aka The Toronto Band (led by Swain, later by Caplan) performed in Britain, whereas Caplan toured in Germany as The Toronto Band from Canada. The personnel of the New Princes' Toronto Band was remarkably stable throughout its more-than-two-year span. Late in 1925, Art Christmas was added to the sax section in Feb. 1926. Swain left the orchestra in Feb. 1926. Harry Hoffman, who played alto sax and violin, was brought over from Toronto to replace him. In March 1926, Caplan took over the band. It then obtained further engagements around London. This excellent record was made in 1926 in Germany. The vocalist allegedly is Les Allen. However, these credits also appear on other recordings by this band where obviously another vocalist is singing (possibly Hal Swain), which makes the situation definitely confuse. Since this disc was recorded during the orchestra's German tour late in 1926 and that it is known that Swain left the band in February of that year, it is likely though that this is actually Les Allen on vocal.

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