[Dixielandjazz] Re: Leonard Feather

[Bill Haesler]

Dear Jim,
Thank you for the excellent expose on Mr Feather.
It immediately prompted 2 things in my mind about him.
1.  The (unproven) allegations that he went to the US (from England) in 1939 to dodge the War.
(He claims in his book, 'The Jazz Years - earwitness to an era' (Quartet  1986), that he was caught in Sweden the day war was declared in Sept 1939 and took the only available boat out - to New York).
2.   The fight with Muggsy Spanier, which has been reported in various ways. Who knows the truth?
However, it produced one of the all-time 'dixieland' classics of the mid 1940s.
"Featherbrain Blues" (2 March 1945).
Open: Bob Haggart whistling.
"Hey Muggsy."
"What'dya want Ernie (Caceres)?"
"Man that sounds like a mockin' bird."
"No, no Ernie, that's no mockin' bird. That's a featherbrain bird. An' you know what I'm going to do with it? I'm goin' to blow it right away."
And he does!
With Bob Haggart (on bass) whistling all the way through, a perfect Pee Wee Russell clt solo and great Lou McGarity ensemble tbn.
I have had it for years on LP, but for those less fortunate it is/was on Storyville STCD 6051 'Muggsy Spanier - Manhattan Masters, 1945'. 
Very kind regards,
Bill.