[ Gregor and his Gregorians ]
Overview
Recorded 1929 - 1933. Gregor the vocalist/leader did not play any instrument. A flamboyant and controversial leader who employed some of the best of the French musicians during his brief career; -with Philippe Brun and Edmond Cohanier being especially talented in the Jazz idiom. At times, the orchestra included such sidemen as; Philippe Brun; trombonists Leo Vauchant and Guy Paquinet; Alto saxes Roger Fisbach; Clarinet/Alto Edmond Cohanier, and Charles Lisee; and Stephane Grappelly who also played piano. Heavy debts and broken contracts caused the demise of the band in the mid-thirties.

Gregor made his first recordings in 1929. Listen now to "My Mother's Eyes", played by 'Gregor et ses Gregoriens', rec'd in Paris, 1929 - Gregor singing English lyric. The tune was the trademark of the American singer/actor (and "Toastmaster General of the United States"), Georgie Jessel. Some of the cuts were later re-released by Warren K. Plath in 1980. Among the liner notes on that album Plath wrote:
        "Regarding the sessions...(done over 4-5 days during one week), Edmond
        Cohanier recalls that the Edison Bell employees arrived from London
        with portable equipment and set up at 'Le Moulin de la Galette', a
        popular Parisian dance hall, where these eight-inch records were made.
        According to Cohanier, despite the language barrier, the musicians and
        the technicians got along famously and a great deal of wine and cognac
        was consumed. Due to that, or lack of correct technique with the
        portable equipment, considerable distortion resulted in the original
        recordings and Cohanier remembers how disappointed the band was when
        they heard the tests. At any rate, these are prize examples of
        Philippe Brun at his very Bix-best, a style he was to lose shortly
        after being "stolen" from Gregor by Jack Hylton toward the end of 1929.
        On "Happy Days Are Here Again", we find the band, somewhat changed in
        personnel, and finally in a legitimate recording studio, executing an
        excellent Lucien Moraweck arrangement."

The musicians on these 1929 records were:
     Philippe Brun, -cornet;
     Georges Samuel, Andre Tayals, -trumpets;
     Vladimir, -trombone;
     Lucia Veintroub, -trombone/violin;
     Edmond Cohanier, -alto/clarinet;
     Rene Cezard, -tenor;
     Lucien Moraweck, Raphael Deck, -pianos;
     Michel Glod, -banjo;
     Nicholas Erchoff, -bass;
     Joe Lucas, -drums.
     Soloists are Brun and Cohanier.

Paris, April 1929.
     "Sonny Boy" (88858) Edison Bell Radio test
     "There's A Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder" (88853) Edison Bell Radio F165
     "Making Whoopee" (88862) Edison Bell Radio test
     "Pouet-Pouet" (88861) Edison Bell Radio F237
     "Doin' The Racoon" (88854) Edison Bell Radio F414
Probable personnel:
     Pierre Allier, Georges Samuel, Gaston Lapeyronnie, -trumpets;
     Vladimir, Veintroub, -trombones;
     Roger Fisbach, Charles Lisee, Alex Combelle, Roger Allier, -reeds;
     Michel Warlop, Sylvio Schmid, -violins;
     Stephane Grappelli, Stephane Mougin, -pianos;
     Edmond Masse, -banjo;
     Nicholas Erchoff, -bass;
     Joe Lucas, -drums.

Paris, probably December, 1929:
     "Happy Days Are Here Again" Columbia (French) DF 47. Solos: alto/clarinet, Fisbach; violin, Michel Warlop.