[Dixielandjazz] Jess Stacy

[Jim Denham]

According to Vic Belerby, in the notes to  "Ec Stacy", the excellent ASV 
CD of Jess Stacy performances from 1935 to 1945:

"Stacy's contribution to the 1938 Carnegie Hall concert version of 'Sing 
Sing Sing' lasted under two minutes and has been talked about  for the 
last 57 years (these lines written in 1995).

"Much nonsense has been written about the pianist being 'inspired by the 
occasion'. In fact he was inspired *against* it; he was getting weary of 
what he described as the 'Krupa banging and the circus-style trumpet of 
Harry James'. He makes the point (probably quite validly) that Goodman 
called on him as spiteful substitute since James, Krupa and pianist 
Teddy Wilson had announced their intention of leaving the band before 
the concert.

"Goodman suddenly motioned to Stacy to take a solo as he sat at the 
keyboard immersed in his own private doodlings - whatever the reason, 
the raucous 'Sing Sing Sing' suddenly glowed with a beauty of 
Solomon-like song.

"He essayed jumping, galloping, syncopated phrases, then changed yo 
sweeping romantic expression with a hint of chinoiserie; the ghost of 
Edward MacDowell seemed to glide through the hall followed by a burst of 
Chicago-like frenesticism. He challenged boogie-woogie, then hinted at 
an unwritten popular song.

"Suddenly it stopped as quietly as it had started...

"The audience applauded - one suspects not comprehending what they had 
heard. Then silence. No one knew quite what to do except Krupa. The 
drums came thundering back, like massed tanks leading us all too soon...

"To a kind of jazz darkness at noon".

-Jim Denham

In message <5.1.0.14.1.20021117125619.00aabec0@pop3.norton.antivirus>, 
David Palmquist <davidpalmquist@dccnet.com> writes
>The entire 12 minutes plus of Sing Sing Sing from the Carnegie Hall 
>concert is a masterpiece.  Everyone was right in the groove.  But yes, 
>Stacey is wonderful here.  Love the effect of Krupa rising through the 
>applause for Stacey to bring on the rideout by the ensemble.  If 
>anything, the rideout is too short; but as my old conductor used to 
>say, it's better to leave 'em wanting more than to give 'em too much.
>
>DAvid in Delta
>
>
>At 07:18 17-11-02, Jim Denham wrote:
>>In message <3DD1D2D4.F09D57FE@earthlink.net>, Stephen Barbone 
>><barbonestreet@earthlink.net> writes
>>>For those not familiar with Jess Stacy, the following bio comes from a
>>>google search just performed, and it is sourced from Scott Yanow in the
>>>"All Music Guide".  If you haven't heard this Stacy solo in the context
>>>of Sing, Sing Sing, by all means, give it a listen.
>>>
>>>Cheers,
>>>Steve Barbone
>>>
>>>Alexandria Stacy
>>>BORN: August 11, 1904, Bird's Point, MO
>>>DIED: January 5, 1994, Los Angeles, CA
>>>
>>>One of the great swing pianists, Jess Stacy's greatest moment of fame
>>>was an unexpected one, when during the latter part of "Sing, Sing, Sing"
>>>at Benny Goodman's historic 1938 Carnegie Hall Concert, the clarinetist
>>>motioned to Stacy to take a solo (which he never had previously on that
>>>song). The pianist constructed a remarkable impressionistic
>>>improvisation that stole solo honors and was fortunately documented (and
>>>released for the first time in 1950). A mostly self-taught player who
>>>performed on riverboats during the early '20s, Stacy was part of the
>>>fertile Chicago jazz scene of the 1920s
>>>with his style being influenced by both Earl Hines and Bix Beiderbecke.
>>>Still obscure when he joined Goodman's big band in 1935, the pianist
>>>soon became well-known as one of BG's top sidemen, working with him
>>>through 1939 and on-and-off during the next five years. Stacy also spent
>>>time with the bands of Bob Crosby, Horace Heidt, and Tommy
>>>Dorsey, recorded with Eddie Condon, did some solo recordings of his own
>>>(starting in1935), had a short-lived marriage to singer Lee Wiley, and
>>>tried twice to lead big bands of his own. He became fairly obscure after
>>>moving to California in 1947 (mostly playing in piano bars) and, in
>>>1963, Stacy retired from music altogether, only to return briefly on a
>>>few special occasions (and for two Chiaroscuro recordings) over the next
>>>20 years. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>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
>>
>>
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>
>
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-- 
Jim Denham