Harry Roy And His Band In “Basin Street Ball“ (1942)

Titles read: ’Pathe Musical Miniatures presents - HARRY ROY and His Band IN “BASIN STREET BALL“’. Pathe Studio, London. This is probably Harry Roy and His Tiger Ragamuffins, a six piece traditional jazz band / combo. They play ’Basin Street Ball’ with Harry Roy on clarinet. Band are dressed in casual clothes. Towards the end of the number voice-over says: “Now if you’ll excuse the band while they change...“. There is a dissolve to band in evening dress, still playing. Close shot musical notation, then follows short animated sequence of dancing notes while words of song appear, sing-along-style, at bottom of screen. “Ev’ry body, I mean ev’rybody / Has a body, swaying round the hall / Ev’ry body who is any body / Fillin’ up the place in at the Basin Street Ball“. Nice example of easy swing number from British jazz band - and a choice of casual or dressed-up musicians! Pianist wears trilby hat pushed back on head in first section - looks the quintessential laid back jazz musician. SL. T