The New Leviathan Oriental Fox-Trot Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The New Leviathan Oriental Fox-Trot Orchestra is an American
revival orchestra
, that performs authentic orchestrations of vintage American popular music from the 1890s through the early 1930s. The orchestra plays particular attention to the music of New Orleans, Louisiana
, where it is based. In addition to the well known compositions of jazz
and ragtime
composers like Jelly Roll Morton
, Fletcher Henderson
, and Eubie Blake
, the orchestra's repertory includes the work of less well remembered New Orleans Tin Pan Alley
composers such as Larry Buck, Joe Verges, Paul Sarebresole
and Nick Clesi.
Taking its name from the SS Leviathan
, a transatlantic ocean liner with a well regarded dance band at the start of the 1920s, the orchestra was founded in 1972. Their first performance was at Tulane University
, presenting a rather tongue-in-cheek concert of "best loved Oriental Foxtrots" (a then largely forgotten early 20th century dance music genre
), partially satirizing the then current revival of scholarly interest in classic ragtime.
The orchestra has appeared in Europe and throughout the United States. Recordings were featured in the soundtracks of Woody Allen
's 1994 film Bullets over Broadway
and Storyville (1992), directed by Mark Frost
. New Leviathan performs frequently, and makes a fondly anticipated yearly appearance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
. The exact personnel of the orchestra varies, but it frequently features 18 or more pieces. In 2007, the musical director is Greg Merritt, associate music director is Larry Jones and managing director is John Craft.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
revival orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
, that performs authentic orchestrations of vintage American popular music from the 1890s through the early 1930s. The orchestra plays particular attention to the music of New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, where it is based. In addition to the well known compositions of jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and ragtime
Ragtime
Ragtime is an original musical genre which enjoyed its peak popularity between 1897 and 1918. Its main characteristic trait is its syncopated, or "ragged," rhythm. It began as dance music in the red-light districts of American cities such as St. Louis and New Orleans years before being published...
composers like Jelly Roll Morton
Jelly Roll Morton
Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe , known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American ragtime and early jazz pianist, bandleader and composer....
, Fletcher Henderson
Fletcher Henderson
James Fletcher Hamilton Henderson, Jr. was an American pianist, bandleader, arranger and composer, important in the development of big band jazz and swing music. His was one of the most prolific black orchestras and his influence was vast...
, and Eubie Blake
Eubie Blake
James Hubert Blake was an American composer, lyricist, and pianist of ragtime, jazz, and popular music. In 1921, Blake and long-time collaborator Noble Sissle wrote the Broadway musical Shuffle Along, one of the first Broadway musicals to be written and directed by African Americans...
, the orchestra's repertory includes the work of less well remembered New Orleans Tin Pan Alley
Tin Pan Alley
Tin Pan Alley is the name given to the collection of New York City music publishers and songwriters who dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th century and early 20th century...
composers such as Larry Buck, Joe Verges, Paul Sarebresole
Paul Sarebresole
Paul Sarebresole was an early composer of ragtime music.Sarebresole was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. His French ancestors spelled the family name "Sarrebresolles"....
and Nick Clesi.
SS Leviathan
SS Leviathan, originally built as SS Vaterland, was an ocean liner which regularly sailed the North Atlantic briefly in 1914 and from 1917 to 1934...
, a transatlantic ocean liner with a well regarded dance band at the start of the 1920s, the orchestra was founded in 1972. Their first performance was at Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
, presenting a rather tongue-in-cheek concert of "best loved Oriental Foxtrots" (a then largely forgotten early 20th century dance music genre
Music genre
A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other types of music...
), partially satirizing the then current revival of scholarly interest in classic ragtime.
The orchestra has appeared in Europe and throughout the United States. Recordings were featured in the soundtracks of Woody Allen
Woody Allen
Woody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
's 1994 film Bullets over Broadway
Bullets Over Broadway
Bullets Over Broadway is a 1994 crime-comedy film written by Woody Allen and Douglas McGrath and directed by Woody Allen. It stars an ensemble cast including John Cusack, Dianne Wiest, Chazz Palminteri, and Jennifer Tilly....
and Storyville (1992), directed by Mark Frost
Mark Frost
Mark Frost is an American novelist, television/film writer, director, who is best known as a writer for the TV show Hill Street Blues and co-creator of the show Twin Peaks.-Personal life:...
. New Leviathan performs frequently, and makes a fondly anticipated yearly appearance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, often known as Jazz Fest, is an annual celebration of the music and culture of New Orleans and Louisiana...
. The exact personnel of the orchestra varies, but it frequently features 18 or more pieces. In 2007, the musical director is Greg Merritt, associate music director is Larry Jones and managing director is John Craft.
Discography
- An Oriental Extravaganza (1972)
- I Ain't Gonna Give Nobody None o' This Jelly Roll/Rebecca Came Back From MeccaRebecca Came Back From MeccaRebecca is a popular song, with words and music by the prolific songwriting team of Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. The song was published in 1921 by EMI Mills Music, Inc...
(1975) 45 rpm single - From New Orleans to Constantinople on the S. S. Leviathan (1975) Remastered and reissued in 2007
- Old King Tut (1977) Remastered and reisssued in 2001
- I Didn't Mean Goodbye
- Here Comes The Hot Tamale Man
- The Nina, The Pinta, and the S.S. Leviathan
- Favorites
- Burning Sands