[Dixielandjazz] Clint Eastwood and Jazz

[Stephen G Barbone]

Dirty Harry Make’s His Day Keeping Jazz Alive!
by Rick Gee The Weekly Challenger Originally posted 8/17/2008

Last week, I happened to view for the 20th time the film “Bird.” In  
case you have yet to see this film, it is a brief biography about one  
of the most prolific jazz musicians in history, Charles “Yardbird”  
Parker, aka “Bird.” Parker’s life was one of ups and downs, so I  
imagine it was difficult to capture it all on film. However, credit  
should be given to the one and only “Dirty Harry” or as he’s sometimes  
known as Clint Eastwood, movie star, film producer, film director, and  
sometimes jazz musician.
This column will focus on Eastwood’s contribution to the survival of  
jazz music. If we, who are involved with jazz had more enthusiasts  
like Eastwood, jazz music would most likely be either ahead of or  
running neck and neck with that of other music; i.e. smooth jazz and  
hip hop. Unfortunately, jazz is running a close third place behind  
those two other genres of music. Fortunately, Eastwood’s reputation as  
an actor and Oscar-winning director and producer has allowed him to  
demonstrate his commitment to the music by using the many various  
resources at his disposal.

Eastwood produced and directed the film biography of alto saxophonist  
Charlie Parker in the movie “Bird.” However, when production of  
another jazz film was halted because of a lack of funding, little is  
known about Eastwood coming to the financial aid of the film “Straight  
No Chaser,” a documentary about jazz icon pianist Thelonious Monk.  
Eastwood was instrumental in obtaining an investor who stepped in with  
funds to finish the project. There have been other works featuring  
jazz in films that have been saved by Eastwood, including “Tony  
Bennett: The Music Never Ends.”

You can’t help but wonder how someone with Eastwood’s movie, directing  
and producing talents became involved with jazz. Having been raised in  
Oakland, Calif., Eastwood was introduced to the music scene early in  
life. As a youngster, he was exposed to Dixieland jazz and traditional  
jazz. When “Bebop” first began to come into the light, Eastwood had  
the opportunity to see jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie with a big band  
in San Francisco. He says that this was when he was drawn into the  
whole improvisational element. Eastwood’s musical education continued  
with his interest in the “Blues.” At the time, there was a lot of  
blues being played around Oakland, and Eastwood listened to his fair  
share. There were blues musicians like Ivory Joe Hunter, Joe Houston,  
Wynonie Harris, and Louis Jordan.

Sometime, in 1946, Eastwood attended one of the Jazz at the  
Philharmonic concerts to listen to tenor saxophonists Coleman Hawkins  
and Flip Phillips. To his pleasant surprise Charlie Parker was also on  
the bill and played as only he could play. Eastwood says that at the  
time he did not understand what Parker was playing but became  
interested in finding out.

As Eastwood musically matured, he began to delve deeper and deeper  
into the sound world of jazz and became a regular at the popular San  
Francisco jazz club the Blackhawk. It was there that he started  
listening to baritone saxophone player Gerry Mulligan and jazz  
trumpeter Chet Baker, pianist Dave Brubeck and alto saxophonist Paul  
Desmond. Then, in the early 1950s while in the military service and  
stationed at Fort Ord, Calif., Eastwood got to meet jazz musicians who  
were also stationed there, such as pianist Andre Previn and alto  
saxophone player Lennie Niehaus. In 1958, Eastwood was able to attend  
his first Monterey Jazz Festival.

Eastwood’s background in jazz is much more extensive than space allows  
and it all lent well to his film work directing and producing motion  
pictures. He admits to his love of all kinds of music … jazz,  
classical, country, and the blues. His musical interests has been  
partnered with his movie talents, and the next opportunity that you  
have to view one of Eastwood’s movies, pay close attention to the type  
of music background he’s included. You can be sure, you’ll be  
listening to great music … be it jazz, classical, country or the  
blues. As a staunch fan of jazz music, I’m more than pleased to know  
that there are those people who are dedicated to preserving this  
wonderful and exciting music called “Jazz.” By the way, before you ask  
… Eastwood is a pretty good jazz piano player!

Remember to “Keep Jazz Alive” by “Supporting Live Jazz!”
Jazz fans – do you have any feedback? I would like to hear from YOU!  
You may visit my Web site at: rickgeesjazzjamm.com or email me at JazzJamm at aol.com 
. You may also mail your letters to Rick Gee’s Jazz Jamm, c/o The  
Weekly Challenger, 2500 ML King St., S., St. Petersburg, FL 33705.