Cornell Smelser, “Rhapsody in Blue,“ jazz accordion & banjo (1929) – USC MIRC

Excerpted from Fox Movietone News Story 4-342 “Adagio dancers--outtakes“ Filmed November 29, 1929 on top of the Chanin Building in New York City. The original film is preserved and made available with permission from the University of South Caroline MIRC: Moving Image Research Collections Full clip and documentation here: Cornell Smelser was a jazz accordionist and session-musician in 1920s and 30s New York. This is a short clip of him and a banjo player rehearsing a fragment of “Rhapsody in Blue.“ George Gershwin is said to have granted Cornell special permission to play “Rhapsody“ after they met in an elevator. The accordionist played and recorded with Jean Goldkette, Jack Teagarden, Jimmy Dorsey, Gene Krupa, and many others. He recorded his most well-known composition, “Accordion Joe“ a number of times, including once with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. (Did Ellington make more recordings with accordionists?) Any help identifying the banjo