[Dixielandjazz] Shaking hands with Fats (was Eubie)

[Bill Haesler]

Butch Thompson said: >Wasn't it George Shearing who said shaking hands with
Fats Waller was like grabbing a handful of bananas?

Don Ingle replied: >Since Fats died in '43 and Shearing didn't get over
[here] until after the war, how was that handshake made?<

Dear Don,
Ever alert today, heh?
(Probably because of the cold. Jess said that our TV news reported that it
was TOO cold over there to snow.)
George Shearing was born in London, England in August 1919 and, as you say,
he did move to the US until 1948.
However, no ceegar this time.
When Fats was in London in 1939 (his second visit) he appeared at a Geraldo
Sunday Night Swing Concert at St Martin's Theatre, London in the evening of
2 April. 
Also on the the bill were The Heralds of Swing, Una Mae Carlisle, Don and
Jimmy Macaffer, George Shearing, and The Radio Revellers.
After the concert Fats jammed at The Nest, Kingly Street with trombonist
George Chisholm and bass player Tiny Winters (from The Heralds of Swing).
Coleman Hawkins (also in London at the time) was expected to show up at The
Nest, but a Melody Maker reporter said that he didn't.
On the other hand, George Shearing, in an interview for Coda magazine,
recalled that he did.
Game, set, match?
8>)
Kind regards,
Bill.