Ted Mazio Percussion Group - Dancing Percussion...Music of the 30's

Although the album's cover might not look particularly promising, Dancing Percussion...Music of the 30's is as fine a slice of space age pop as you could wish for.

This early 1960s LP on the International Award Series budget label is credited to the Ted Mazio Percussion Group. The name is probably manufactured as there is no other reference to Ted Mazio other than a couple of low-budget albums like this one.

In any case the real stars are percussionists Ted Sommer and Bill Lavorgna. Sommer, born in 1924 in New York City, played drums and other percussion instruments, including vibraphone. His name appears on some of the Command label releases by pianist Dick Hyman, Terry Snyder and others.

Lavorgna (1933-2007), as well as being a world class drummer, was a conductor and musical director for both Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli. Others he worked with included Frank Sinatra and Dizzy Gillespie.

Sommer and Lavorgna also collaborated on another budget label LP, Cole Porter in Pleasing Percussion. This album, from the same time period as Dancing Percussion...Music of the 30's, features a Lowery organ, which is somewhat of an acquired taste -- one that I have not embraced.

Interestingly Dancing Percussion...Music of the 30's had another release on a different budget label, Pickwick's Grand Award Series. The title was slightly altered to The Dancing 30's in Percussion and there was a different cover.

I believe that both the International Award Series and Grand Prix Series labels were products of the Pickwick group of budget imprints.

No matter what title it appears under, this album is one worth pulling out of those thrift store bins. Here's a sample track, in mono unfortunately. Still the sound quality is excellent considering that this was an LP that sold for less than $2 when new.

There's a Small Hotel



There's no indication that Dancing Percussion...Music of the 30's has received any kind of legal digital release. But vinyl copies seem to be very common and you shouldn't have to pay more than a couple of bucks to pick one up.