[Dixielandjazz] Jess Stacy

[Stephen Barbone]

Listmates & Jim

Thanks for the insight Jim. I was not aware of that. Never connected he dots as to
why Stacy left Goodman and always wondered what happened. Come to think of it,
Stacy in a trio or quartet format with Goodman would have been very exciting.

Makes me wonder if Goodman:

A) Known for his demanding ways and for his insistence on precise musical
performancs by his sidemen,  perceived Stacy, because he was mostly self taught,
as lacking the ability to perform in such a manner in a small group setting.  And
so, Henderson, a lesser pianist but more formally trained would better fit the
mold?

B) Known for his business acumen, wanted to keep the small groups integrated which
would  mean more commercial success while enhancing his place as a forward
thinking personality, even if sacrificing jazz musicianship of the pianist. Was he
that cynical?

C) Just didn't like Stacy beause perhaps Stacy pushed him by letting him know that
Stacy felt he could help the trio/quartet performances with his "strong left
hand"? Goodman certainly had enough ego to think: "I don't need no stinkin' strong
left hand".

D) None of the above.

There is a book out on Jess Stacy, published by "Jazzology Press" that may shed
some light on things. One thing for sure, it is a shame that this man, who
exhibited such great talent in that solo on "Sing Sing Sing,  went into virtual
retirement after about 1947.


Cheers,
Steve Barbone

Jim Denham wrote:

> Steve,
>
> As I understand it, Stacy was always frustrated by Benny Goodman's refusal to
> let him work with the Trio and Quartet. He (Stacy) never said a bad word about
> Teddy Wilson (or anyone else, come to that - except Lee Wiley!), but he let it
> be known that he thought his strong left hand would give a propulsion to the BG
> small groups that Wilson failed to provide. The final straw came when Wilson
> left and BG started using Fletcher Henderson (fine arranger, weak pianist) with
> the small groups: Stacy left the BG band and joined the more agreeable ambience
> of the Bob Crosby Orchestra and Bob Cats.
>
> Stacy was one of the great pianists, to rate up there with Hines, Waller and
> James P. What a pity he more or less retired from music in later years. I have
> a CD of a Marion McPartland broadcast "with guest Jess Stacy" from December
> 1981, where Jess plays and reminisces. His playing is very rusty and no-one
> should judge him on the showing of this broadcast: but flashes of the old magic
> are still there.
>
> Yours,
>   --
> Jim Denham