[Dixielandjazz] Roy Eldridge

[Steve Barbone]

>> On Dec 22, 2006, at 9:13 AM, Audrey Van Dyke wrote:
 
>> Charlie - I went to itunes after reading your post, purchased After
>> You've Gone, and am listening to Roy Eldridge right now. Your favorite
>> style of jazz isn't quite mine, but I can certainly appreciate the
>> musicianship that goes into this.  And what better way to start the
>> day than listening to something I probably would not have ever heard,
>> but  for the recommendation of another music lover.  Thanks for
>> broadening my horizons!
>> Audrey Van Dykke
>> 
> Charles Suhor <csuhor at zebra.net> answered:
> Glad you discovered Eldridge, Audrey. I'd be hard put to identify my
> favorite style of jazz, though, except to say it ranges happily from
> early New Orleans to modern jazz, getting grumpy when the music gets
> too facile within any style or becomes too avant garde, "smooth," or
> rock/fusion. I'm glad that others can enjoy listening to the CDs in
> those realms, and bless 'em for it so long as they keep the volume
> down.

Roy Eldridge was a player. I too am glad Audrey got to listen to some of
what he did. I'll never forget one of the gigs I played alongside him. With
the Southampton Dixie Racing and Clambake Society Jazz Band. Eldridge was
our guest star at the Hampton Arts Theater on Long Island in September 1961.


That was a New Orleans Revival Jazz Band and Eldridge fit in perfectly. (As
did Coleman Hawkins the following night). Both men could play almost any
style you wanted except for bop. Both knew tunes like The Pearls and The
Chant and were comfortable with good old New Orleans style music.

In the 1930s Eldridge was on some classic sides with Billie Holiday and
Mildred Bailey. Also with Benny Goodman. Hard to categorize his style, but
maybe basically "swing".

Eldridge later finished up, roughly 1970 to 1980, playing traditional jazz
at the "new" Jimmy Ryan's in NYC. Even did some banjo/tuba stuff there. He
once had a conversation with a fan there that went something like this:

Fan: "Hey Roy, I'm a real fan of what you did with Norman Granz and JATP.

Roy: "Thanks"

Fan: "I had no idea that you could play Dixieland as well."

Roy Chuckling: Man, I've been playing what you call 'Dixieland' all my
life."

One other thing about him was his competitiveness in musical situations.
Other trumpet players at NYC loft sessions were reluctant to follow him, so
they always made him solo last. It didn't much matter who was there besides
him, Dizzy included. Roy Eldridge would start to fidget while listening to
others and when his turn came, would blow the roof off with a fire that
usually made him the favorite at the session. He would cut everybody.

Yep, he was a player.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone