The Hotel Paradise Orchestra joins us for Music from the Great Gatsby Era.
Featuring:
- Jari Villanueva, Music Director, Conductor, and Music Arranger of the orchestra
- Janet Paulsen, Lead Vocalist and Manage of the orchestra
In this section
Program
- Happy Feet, music by Milton Ager, lyrics by Jack Yellen
- Baltimore, music by Jimmy McHugh, lyrics by Danny Healy and Irving Kahal, arranged by Jari Villanueva
- Ain’t We Got Fun, music by Richard A. Whiting, lyrics by Raymond B. Egan and Gus Kahn
- Sheik of Araby, music by Ted Snyder, lyrics Harry B. Smith and Francis Wheeler, arranged by Vic Schoen
- A-Tisket, A-Tasket, music by Ella Fitzgerald and Al Feldman, lyrics were based on a nursery rhyme
- I’m Just Wild about Harry, music by Eubie Blake, lyrics by Noble Sissle, arranged by Jari Villanueva
- Memories of You, music by Eubie Blake, lyrics by Andy Razaf
- Them There Eyes, music by Maceo Pinkard and Doris Tauber, lyrics by William G. Tracey
- Minnie the Moocher, music and lyrics by Cab Calloway, Irving Mills, and Clarence Gaskill, arranged by Jari Villanueva
- Keep Your Sunny Side Up, music and lyrics by B. G. DeSylva, Lew Brown, and Ray Henderson
About The Hotel Paradise Orchestra
The Hotel Paradise Orchestra is a 15-piece ensemble that authentically recreates the sound and style of the 1920s and 1930s. The orchestra feature two violins, tuba, banjo, two trumpets, two trombones, three saxophones/clarinets, piano, and drums—all performed by professional musicians.
The orchestra’s repertoire highlights the timeless music of Duke Ellington, Baltimore’s Eubie Blake, Cole Porter, Fats Waller, and the Gershwin brothers, presented as the composers originally intended.
In addition to concert performances, The Hotel Paradise Orchestra appears at charity galas, ballroom dance events, private parties, and foreign embassy functions. Programs can also be customized to meet the specific needs of any event.
The orchestra’s next performance is the “Downton Abbey” Dance Event at Rams Head On Stage, Annapolis, Sunday, November 30, 2025.
Contact Janet Paulsen for more information or booking, 410-456-7010, jlwpaulsen@gmail.com
Fun Facts About Tonight’s Songs
Happy Feet was featured in the 1930 film “King of Jazz” and was a popular tune of the era, performed by artists like Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra and Bing Crosby.
Baltimore was composed in 1927 and is a hot jazz tune. It is not a tribute to the city but rather a popular dance craze from that time. Popular recordings of “Baltimore” from the era include those by artists like Louis Prima and Joe “Wingy” Manone.
Ain’t We Got Fun was first performed in 1920 in the Fanchon and Marco revue Satires of 1920, then moved into vaudeville and recordings. The song became symbolic of the Roaring Twenties, and it appears in some of the major literature of the decade including “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald and in Dorothy Parker’s award-winning short story of 1929, “Big Blonde.”
Sheik of Araby was composed in 1921 in response to the popularity of the Rudolph Valentino feature film “The Sheik.” The song was a Tin Pan Alley hit, and was also adopted by early jazz bands, especially in New Orleans, making it a jazz standard. A verse also appears in the 1925 novel “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
A Tisket A Tasket was first released by the famous Baltimore drummer Chick Webb and his orchestra in 1938 featuring Ella Fitzgerald. It was one of Ella’s first recordings.
I’m Just Wild about Harry was written in 1921 by Baltimorean Eubie Blake for the Broadway show, “Shuffle Along,” in which Baltimore jazz singer Blanche Calloway made her professional debut singing this song. The show was the first financially successful Broadway play to have African-American writers and an all African-American cast. In 1948 Harry S. Truman selected it as his campaign song for the presidential election.
Memories of You is a beautifully nostalgic song that was introduced by singer Minto Cato in the Broadway show “Lew Leslie’s Blackbirds” of 1930. A version that was recorded by Louis Armstrong featuring Lionel Hampton is the first known use of the vibraphone in popular music.
Them There Eyes was made famous by Billie Holiday, who recorded her version in 1939 for Vocalion Records. Billie Holiday was raised in East Baltimore, moving to Philadelphia at age 14. She became a jazz icon and was one of the first black women to work with an all-white band.
Minnie the Moocher was recorded in 1931 by Cab Calloway and his orchestra. Cab and his sister Blanche were raised in Baltimore.
Keep Your Sunny Side Up is from the 1929 original movie-musical “Sunny Side Up” featuring Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell, and was the first “talkie” musical film.