[Dixielandjazz] Swing Era Leaders

[Stan Brager]

Dick;

I've heard that the following were great leaders of swing bands to work for:

Charlie Barnet
Bunny Berigan
Red Norvo
Jimmy Dorsey
Woody Herman

Stan
Stan Brager
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Broadie" <rbroadie at dc.rr.com>
To: "Steve barbone" <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>; "DJML"
<dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 01, 2005 3:23 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Shaw & Goodman


> In personal conversations with Shaw, Artie said his focus was on the
> gestalt - the whole being greater than the some of the parts. His focus,
in
> other words, was on the final sound of the orchestra.  Shaw maintained
that
> Goodman's focus was far more on the clarinet and the music he could
produce
> on it.  To Shaw, BG's band was incidental as if to be the means that
allowed
> BG to display his talents on clarinet.
>
> Ellington  always claimed that his instrument was his orchestra and
> described himself as "the piano player" in a self-effacing manner.  While
> Shaw's comments were similar to Ellington, I would never describe Artie as
> being "self-effacing."
>
> As to who was or wasn't a jerk, I would never wish either Shaw or Goodman
to
> have been my best friend.  Same with Buddy Rich, Tommy Dorsey or Glenn
> Miller.  There were a lot of great band leaders who were not necessarily
the
> nicest of people.  Perhaps, if they were nicer people, their bands
wouldn't
> have been as successful.
>
> Anyone want to discuss who the good and bad guys were from that era?
Might
> make an interesting thread.  Then again, what do I know.  Woody Herman
used
> to be my financial advisor.
>
> Dick Broadie
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Steve barbone" <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>
> To: "DJML" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
> Sent: Friday, December 31, 2004 1:57 PM
> Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Shaw & Goodman
>
>
> >I think perhaps some folks on the DJML quite misunderstand what Shaw was
> > talking about when he said Goodman played Clarinet and he (Shaw) played
> > music. No point getting hung up on the semantics of the word "play". No
> > point in assuming that Shaw's comments were a cheap shot at Goodman's
> > expense, when they were not. Shaw was merely pointing out how he and
> > Goodman
> > viewed the clarinet. Perhaps the quote, a short one out of a broader
> > context, was an error on my part. The entire two chapters on Shaw should
> > be
> > read for a fuller understanding of the man, his music and his psyche. As
> > should Shaw's autobiography be read.
> >
> > Simply stated, some folks view the axe primarily as a communication
> > device.
> > E.G. Shaw or Pee Wee Russell. Their musical work speaks with all the
> > emotion
> > of a expert communicator.
> >
> > Other folks do not view the axe as a communication device, but rather as
> > an
> > instrument to be conquered or mastered. Their primary goal is to play it
> > perfectly. E.G. Goodman, or Eddie Daniels. They play beautifully, but do
> > not, to my ears at least, seem to have that emotion of a great
> > communicator.
> >
> > When listening to Shaw, and then Goodman the differences are apparent.
> > Same
> > if one listens to Daniels and then DeFranco. DeFranco communicates with,
> > and
> > Daniels masters, the instrument.
> >
> > Pee Wee Russell? A great communicator. Just ask Kenny Davern who is also
> > one
> > of the great communicators on the axe as well as one who has pretty well
> > mastered it.
> >
> > There are listeners who respond to one or the other approach for various
> > reasons. You pay your money and you take your choice. Or you appreciate
> > both
> > for what they do.
> >
> > Further examination of Sudhalter's Book will give the reader more
insight
> > on
> > these approaches to musicianship. Especially Davern's take on Pee Wee
> > Russell in the chapter on Pee Wee, and more reading of the two chapters
on
> > Artie Shaw. (I cite the book so much only because I think many list
mates
> > have it)
> >
> > Bottom line? I plead with list mates not to draw large inferences from
> > short
> > quotes (Shaw) that were obtained by an interviewer (Sudhalter), but
rather
> > to seek out the entire context.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Steve Barbone
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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>
>
>
>