“POLKA DOTS AND MOONBEAMS“: THE THREE WORLDS OF MARTY GROSZ IN UNDER FIVE MINUTES ()

POLKA DOTS AND MOONBEAMS (Martin Oliver Grosz, guitar, vocal; Bob Saltmarsh, cardboard box, ) Ah, Marty: the surprisingly tender balladeer, the sophisticated orchestral guitarist summoning up Kress and McDonough, the hot vaudevillian rocking (and mocking) the ballad in the best Fats manner. We are blessed by his multiple musical personalities. This tape comes from the collection of the late John L. Fell, and traces its provenance back to John Steiner (who recorded it) and Joe Boughton (who saved it). I treasure it. When this tape was played for Marty in 2021, thanks to his friend and musical colleague Jim Gicking, he remembered going to a room above Steiner’s garage for what he called “clowning around“ that was preserved on tape. There’s comedy here but also swing and romance: the gifts of Grosz. Presented by Michael Steinman for JAZZ LIVES ().