[Dixielandjazz] Pee Wee Russell Memorial Stomp and an Anecdote

[Steve Barbone]

<brian at radiojazz.co.uk>

> I wonder - is anyone doing anything to mark Pee Wee Russell's 100th on March
> 27th?
> Sadly I goofed and have missed the opportunity to do anything in my March
> radio show - already recorded.
> But we'll make up for it the following month.
> Meanwhile I'd be delighted to hear of any concerts etc and if listmates have
> any anecdotes to share (offline if you wish) I'd be delighted to hear them.

The New Jersey Jazz Society has their 38th Annual Pee Wee Russell Memorial
Stomp scheduled for March 4 at the Birchwood Manor, 111 North Jefferson
Road, Whippany, NJ.  NOON to 5 PM. Venue has a huge hardwood dance floor
which attracts Swing Dancers. FEATURING 4 Hot Jazz Bands:

The Smith Street Society Jazz Band
Dick Voigt's Big Apple Jazz Band
Kevin Dorn's Traditional Jazz Collective
Vince Giordano's Nighthawks

Driving directions--call Birchwood Manor, 973-887-1414.
TICKET PRICES (Advance available till March 2)
$30 -Advance, $35 - At the door  Student price-$10 available for any
full-time student by mail or at the door. If you're in a post-high-school
program, you must show your student ID at door to get the discount. Kids 12
and under FREE. FOR TICKETS Call 1-800-303-NJJS (303-6557).

Pee Wee Anecdote: (From Condon's Book We Called It Music) About a steady gig
in Chicago where they played till 4 AM. Condon, MacPartland, Brunies,
Russell, Sullivan. Circa late 1940 and early 1941, I think. Not sure who the
drummer was. 

"Kurtzman borrowed his (Josh Billings) car and drove to the Brass Rail to
meet Pee Wee and take him home. They stopped along the way each morning and
shopped at a milk wagon. One morning they found the wagon in front of a
large apartment house. The driver was in the building; they waited for him
to appear, getting sleepier and more thirsty. Finally they decided to take a
few quarts and pay the man the next day. Someone saw them as they drove
away, took the license number of the car, and telephoned the police . . .
Half an hour later they were in the Chicago Avenue jail. They got word to me
and I telephoned Uncle Dennis.

'Why did they want to drink milk?' he asked. 'If it was liquor it would be
easier to straighten out; a man can understand the need of another man for a
drink of whiskey at half past four in the morning, but not milk. Well, I'll
do what I can.' 

By the time the case was called at nine o'clock that night, everything was
arranged. Pee Wee was a pathetic sight as he stood before the magistrate. He
was still wearing his band uniform - tuxedo trousers and a tan jacket. He
had neither shaved nor slept in twenty four hours; he was hungry and he
needed a drink. The magistrate stared at him. Pee Wee, always shy, dropped
his eyes.

'What do you do?' the magistrate asked.

'I p p p play the c c c clarinet,' Pee Wee said.

'See that you stick to it', the magistrate said. 'Don't let me ever again
hear of you drinking milk. Case dismissed.'"