ArtistInfo

The New Princes Toronto Band

Band, CA
Jazz and Pop

In 1923 Sam Laschiver, who was the booking agent for fashionable 'Rector's Club' in Tottenham Court Road, London, met up with Toronto saxophonist Hal Swain in Canada. Swain gathered together a band of young jazz musicians, which Laschivier called "The Toronto Orchestra" and they were duly booked on a one year contract for the London club. This band were: Hal Swain (sax/cornet); Billy Hall (trombone/sax); Frank Walsh (piano/organ); Dave Caplan (banjo); Ran Garrison (sousaphone, trombone & sax); Ken Kenny (drums). On arrival in the UK the band found the club had closed. Laschiver got them a booking at the 'New Princes Restaurant' in Piccadilly and the band became resident there for two years - thus becoming "The New Princes Toronto Band". The band recorded in London on the Columbia label between Nov 1924 & Feb 1926. Some recordings were made for the Crystalate company under pseudonyms, as the band were contracted to Columbia. Labels for these were 'Imperial', 'Currys', 'Oliver', 'Pigmy' and 'Mimosa'. The 'disguised' band also issued on 'Regal'. Swain departed in 1926 and Caplan became the leader of the band (now with Harry Hoffman and Art Christmas) taking on his name as "Dave Caplan's Toronto Band". By the time this band toured Berlin in the summer of 1926 the line-up had changed further; Dave Caplan, Les Allen, Lorne Cole, Harry Hoffman, Laurie Day, Art Christmas, Arthur Lousley, Arthur Calkin & Jack Collins.

Members

	Hal Swain
	Les Allen voc, sax 1902-1996 GB
	Alfie Noakes tr, voc
	Dave Caplan
	Ron Garrison
	Ken Kenny