[Dixielandjazz] Re: Weary Lip blues

[Bob Cassady]

For what it's worth, I totally agree, although Louis acted like he was
having a great time (as all performers should), watching him cut up with
Velma and especially Trummy was a true treat - there was no secret that
these folks added heart and soul to the All-Stars. Although Teagarden was
thought to be a more essential star, Trummy's Lycos biography sums up what I
have thought for years:

"A superbly gifted trombonist, Young's early playing style showed him to be
a completely rounded soloist with an approach to his instrument that was, in
many respects, very advanced for a 30s big band musician. His playing style
changed after he joined Armstrong, with whom he used a deceptively simple
approach. The change was highly appropriate for Armstrong's band and Young
was in many ways a more suitable partner than his predecessor, the sublime
Jack Teagarden, had been. His blistering solos and delightfully melodic
ensemble lines, allied to his engagingly casual singing, helped to give the
band a strength of character that it lacked after he departed."

Louis was heart-sick after Trummy left, and Velma and Billy died, and if you
watch any recordings of gigs played after, say the "Hello Dolly" era - it
shows on his face.

> Date: Sun, 07 Aug 2005 21:04:44 -0600
> From: "Mike C." <mike at michaelcryer.com>
> Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Re: Weary Lip blues
> To: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
> Message-ID: <42F6CBCC.907 at michaelcryer.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> You have to consider that Armstrong played constantly. Two shows a day,
> the majority of the year for decades. Plus, Louie had a heart attack
> back in 1959. The man was just plum tired and it started to show in the
> early 1960's. Not only that, trumpet is a very demanding instrument to
> play and it doesn't get any easier when you get older. I was told that
> the departure of Trummy Young in 1964(At trummy's wife's insistance) and
> the deaths of singer Velma Middleton (in 1961) and pianist Billy Kyle(in
> 1966) really weighed on him heavily.
>
> Mike
>
>
>
>  >>Truth is, Armstrong's lips looked like they had been through a meat
> grinder-pieces were actually missing from his lips due to his
> "exaggerated  playing."
> I remember reading that at one performance he bled all over his  white
> shirt
> and had to quit blowing.
>
> No amount of rest would have helped. Perhaps this is why he sang more and
> more, and played less and less as he grew older. While I liked his scat
> songs, I
>   was always disappointed when a recording I purchased failed to have the
> sound of  his trumpet- Just a personal preference I guess-
>
>
> tradjazz