Mal Hallett & His Orchestra - Beale Street Blues

Violinist and bandleader Hallett graduated from the Boston Conservatory of Music. During WW1, Hallett toured France as a member of the Al Moore Orch. In 1929, his career as a bandleader began when he started recording for Edison. Hallett's 1930's orchestra toured all over the New England states, usually in one-nighters. He was pioneering a "Swing band" before "Swing bands" had been invented. His bands included many musicians who would later achieve fame as great sidemen. Among these are: Gene Krupa (drums), Buddy Wise (sax), Toots Mondello (sax), Jack Teagarden (trombone) and many others. As for this amazing recording, it is one of those very first recordings, made in 1929. I could not identify the vocalist.