[Dixielandjazz] Louis Prima

[Stephen Barbone]

Per Nancy Giffin's request, here is a very short and incomplete blurb
about Louis Prima. No doubt there are list mates who can fill in the
blanks about this very talented musician.

Louis Prima was an often ignored New Orleans trumpet player. He was born
there in 1911 and was one of a large group of Sicilian American jazz
players who are also largely ignored in jazz history. Guys like Tony
Almerico, Leon Rappolo, Nick LaRocca, Santo Pecora, Sharkey Bonano, Tony
Parenti, Anthony Sbarbaro, Nuncio Scaglione, Pete Lala and a whole bunch
of others. Someday, an interested Italian American may write a book
about them, there is certainly that much material there. And there was
even a "Sicilian School" of reed players in early New Orleans. Flowery
and ornamental, deriving from classical musicians. Some say the Creoles
clarinet stylists (Simeon, Bigard and others) were influenced by the Italians.

He was very much influenced by Louis Armstrong and played a loud punchy
style. He left New Orleans for New York City in the early 1930s. He
recorded at least 54 sides between 1934 and 1937 and they are a
wonderful legacy
of his fluent, convincing jazz style. In 1935 Louis Prima took 52nd
Street by storm. He was appearing at The Famous Door and immediately
hired Pee Wee Russell as his clarinetist. The Band was typical high
energy New Orleans with a swinging 4/4 beat. Russell loved him saying he
was one of the best trumpeters he ever worked with. Likewise, Prima
adored Russell's playing.

However, Prima was developing an exuberant extroverted presentation
style. He was combining great music with great showmanship. And those
critics who felt jazz was "serious/solemn" music to be presented as
such, disdained him. And so he was left out by most all the jazz historians.

He went from New York City to Las Vegas and developed that High Energy
Show Band Style with singer Keely Smith and Tenor Sax Sam Butera and the
Witnesses. Kind of mainstream jazz show style. It was a very successful
band. Even today, Sam Butera is still alive (I think) and presenting
this own band in Vegas and Atlantic City. See him if you get the chance
because it combines solid jazz with great presentation skill for the
mass audience.

Louis Prima, clown, earthy, loved to do things like fart on stage in
front of the guitar or drummer and then walk away laughing and pointing.
But the bottom line? He was one of the great New Orleans trumpet players.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone