Lorenzi – 1939
Mario “Harp” Lorenzi
A film of the first jazz harpist
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Few jazz collectors today have ever heard of Mario “Harp” Lorenzi (1894-1967), jazz’s first great harpist (as opposed to harmonica player).
Lorenzi was born in Italy, spent much of his career based in England, and played both swinging jazz and classical music.
He recorded in the late 1920s with Fred Elizalde, predating Casper Reardon (often thought of as jazz’s first harpist) by several years, and led a series of swing-oriented dance music in the 1930s that really display his virtuosity and ability to take jazz solos.
Lorenzi was filmed for British newsreels several times in the late 1930s and ‘40s, including this 1939 medley.
One gets to hear him talk briefly, play some hot passages, and finally put a device over his harp that makes it sound like a cross between a banjo and drums.
-Scott Yanow
Ella Fitzgerald