[Dixielandjazz] Turk and Lu in 1949

[Audrey Van Dyke]

Hope you don't mind another post about the 1949 Playback magazines.  
This is a different issue from the Peter Fountain one, but still 1949 -
thought it would e interesting in view of all the Turk Murphy 
postings. 

 "On the West Coast.  The Lu Watters Band under the leadership of Turk 
Murphy appeared for the first time in Southern California in a concert 
organized by Jazz Man Records.  It was the last time the Watters Band 
(minus Lu, who has been inactive for some time because of illness) as 
we have known it played together.  Musically the concert was a 
tremendous success.  The attendance was disappointing.  On the same 
program, a trio with James P. Johnson, Albert Nicholas and Zutty 
Sinngleton was featured.
     Since the concert, Turk Murphy and Harry Mordecai have left the 
band, and Bob Scobey and Burt Bales are rumored to be leaving 
shortly.  Pete Phillips replaced Murphy on trombone and Clancy Hayes 
replaced mordecai in the Watterss Band at Hambone Kelly's.  It is 
uncertain when the leader himself will play again.
     Turk Murphy is planning to form a group of his own.  As Turk's 
ideas about music are quite different from those of Watters, a band 
led by Murphy should be double interesting, because it is sure to be a 
good band, and it will not have the same sound as the Watters Band, of 
which Turk has been a pillar since its inception 10 years ago.  
Murphy's Bay City Stompers, with Bob Scobey, Bob Helm, BurtBales, 
Harry Mordecai, Dick Lammi, recorded eight sides for the Good Time 
Jazz label, four of which will be released next month.
     (another item in the same column): A  new nightclub calling 
itself the Hangover just opened in San Francisco and will feature jazz 
exclusively.
Audrey Van Dyke