[Dixielandjazz] Re: Not enuf to hurtt my playin'
JimDBB@aol.com
JimDBB@aol.com
Tue, 8 Oct 2002 23:48:43 EDT
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In a message dated 10/8/02 10:21:32 PM Central Daylight Time,
charliehooks@earthlink.net writes:
> > I had the impression from Joe Darensbourg, who introduced me to Louis,
> > that Louis could read okay.
Of course he could, Louis didn't make hundreds of magnificent
recordings without being able to read music. He was, of course, not a swift
'studio' musician type reader. He was cagey. There was a great story told by
Edmund Hall, or one of the guys in Louis's band when they made the move "HIgh
society". Composer Johnny Green was working on the film helping with the
recording etc. In making moves the tunes are recorded first and then the band
or whoever is in the film mimics along with the recording on camera
At the first recording, Louis was presented witht he music. Recording
sessions usually also serve as the 'reheasal.' Louis sat down to look it
over and at the same time was fiddling with his trumpet. As he got more into
the music he started having trouble with the valves. He changed the valves
around, oiled them etc. and all the while he is scanning the music. Nothing
seems to help the valves and at last an exasperated Johnny Green sends out
for another trumpet. Louis's flunky gets another of Louis's trumpets. Hours
are passing and the expensive studio clock is ticking. Louis has trouble
with these valves and begins to go through the same routine, changing the
valves, oiling them etc. And all the while he is looking at the music.
Johnny Green finally figures out what is going on and dismisses everybody for
the day, to come back in the morning.
Green engages one of the arrangers to stay and work with Louis. Louis stays
for about 4 hours going over the music and returns the next day for the
recording. His trumpet valves are working perfectly and he cracks the music
right off ...no problems, as though he was the fastest reader in town.
Louis Armstrong...the greatest.
Jim Beebe
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<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2>In a message dated 10/8/02 10:21:32 PM Central Daylight Time, charliehooks@earthlink.net writes:<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">> I had the impression from Joe Darensbourg, who introduced me to Louis,<BR>
> that Louis could read okay</BLOCKQUOTE>.</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"><BR>
<BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"> Of course he could, Louis didn't make hundreds of magnificent recordings without being able to read music. He was, of course, not a swift 'studio' musician type reader. He was cagey. There was a great story told by Edmund Hall, or one of the guys in Louis's band when they made the move "HIgh society". Composer Johnny Green was working on the film helping with the recording etc. In making moves the tunes are recorded first and then the band or whoever is in the film mimics along with the recording on camera<BR>
<BR>
At the first recording, Louis was presented witht he music. Recording sessions usually also serve as the 'reheasal.' Louis sat down to look it over and at the same time was fiddling with his trumpet. As he got more into the music he started having trouble with the valves. He changed the valves around, oiled them etc. and all the while he is scanning the music. Nothing seems to help the valves and at last an exasperated Johnny Green sends out for another trumpet. Louis's flunky gets another of Louis's trumpets. Hours are passing and the expensive studio clock is ticking. Louis has trouble with these valves and begins to go through the same routine, changing the valves, oiling them etc. And all the while he is looking at the music. Johnny Green finally figures out what is going on and dismisses everybody for the day, to come back in the morning. <BR>
<BR>
Green engages one of the arrangers to stay and work with Louis. Louis stays for about 4 hours going over the music and returns the next day for the recording. His trumpet valves are working perfectly and he cracks the music right off ...no problems, as though he was the fastest reader in town.<BR>
<BR>
Louis Armstrong...the greatest.<BR>
<BR>
Jim Beebe</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"><BR>
</FONT></HTML>
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