[Dixielandjazz] Bunk Johnson - Maria Elena etc. + Chuck Traeger.

[Stan Brager]

Steve;

The Delmark label released a Bunk Johnson called "Last Testament". The liner
notes state that these recordings were the last recordings made by Bunk. The
band included Ed Cuffee (tb), Garvin Bushell (cl), Don Kirkpatrick (p),
Danny Barker (gui), Wellman Braud (b), and Alphonse Steele (dr). Among the
tunes played was "Maria Elena". The rhythm sounds Latin - a rumba, perhaps.
The recording was made in the Carnegie Hall Recital Room in December, 1947.

Is this the music you're looking for?

Stan
Stan Brager
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve barbone" <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>
To: "DJML" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2006 11:16 AM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Bunk Johnson - Maria Elena etc. + Chuck Traeger.


> Just got off the phone with my best musical buddy, Chuck Traeger. In the
> 1940's and 50's Chuck was one of the premier OKOM bassists on the New York
> Jazz scene. In addition to playing WITH EVERYBODY at Condon's, Nick's,
> Hickory House (backing Marion McPartland) etc., he played and recorded
with
> Bunk Johnson circa 1947 at the Central Plaza.
>
> He remembers playing Maria Elena with Bunk several times on dates, but is
> not sure if it is on the record they made with Bob Wilber's band back
then.
> I believe George Buck might have re-issued it a while back.  He, like Don
> Ingle and I, also remembers the original tune as a Waltz.
>
> He cracked up when I asked him about it saying; "Who the hell is left in
the
> world that is interested in this stuff?" So I explained the DJML to him
and
> not having a computer, he sends all list mates his regards.
>
> If you were around NYC jazz joints 45 to 60 years ago, you probably
remember
> this wonderful bassist who later became a highly respected bass repairman
> with clients from the NY Philharmonic to the legendary jazzman, Ron
Carter.
> He just celebrated his 80th birthday and now lives in the woods in New
York
> State, near Bear Mountain with June, his wife of over 50 years.
>
> Quite a change from those wild and crazy happenings with Condon and the
OKOM
> jazzers of that period when he and June lived in a tiny apartment in
> Greenwich Village, right around the corner from Nick's. (he walked to
work)
>
> Cheers,
> Steve
>
>
>
>