This is a delightful exotic novelty piece definitely already annoucing the 20's. Although this orchestra was popular in his day, I hardly found any information. Dismuke.org writes: "Joseph Knecht's Waldorf-Astoria Dance Orchestra and Yerkes Jazarimba Orchestra were two of the more popular dance orchestras on the Columbia label in the late 1910s. Musically, the era was a transitional period when ragtime was on the verge of being replaced by jazz as the dominant force in American popular music. It wasn't until about a half decade later when the jazz influence was more firmly entrenched.". As for the vocalists, Irving and Jack Kaufman, were prolific early twentieth century singers, recording artists and vaudeville performers. Sons of Russian Jewish immigrants, they were members of The Kaufman Brothers. This cheerful record was made in 1919.
