[Dixielandjazz] Stardust - and another outer space moment

[Don Ingle]

In 1962 I was working with Pete Bielmann's Bealstreeters at the 
Millionaire's Club on La Cieniga in L.A.
Pete, trombonist and top studio player, drummer Doc Cenardo, pianist Hal 
Koster, and the "Sheriff", Bob McCracken on clar. and tenor,
plus yours truly on trumpet, played six nights a week, dance and 
listening sets and two show sets with dancing girls and a "tuxudo" that 
sang.
One night my dad, Red Ingle, came in with HoagyCarmichael in tow. (They 
had worked together in several of the Goldkette Units in Detroit in the 20's
and also in Kansas City at a ballroom owned by Goldkette), and dad 
wanted me to meet Hoagy. I did and it was memorable - especially after 
this happening.
Asked to sit in, Hoagy said sure. Asked what he wanted to play he said, 
Riverboat Shuffle. Okay, Pete asked- what key? (Some bands played it in 
E flat and others in F.)
Hoagy said "G" and let's start with the verse, Hoagy said; and mental 
panic set in. You trumpet players will understand that the verse starts 
off with this tricky little intro of four bars. Then some triplets.
Transposing on the fly made fingers twist in ways God never intended 
they twist. Mental hernias added to the mix. Somehow - divine 
intervention? - we pulled it off -- but for one moment
a few of us wished he'd never written the damned thing. (He originally 
called it "Free Wheeling"...but that night the wheels almost came off!)
After that, all discussions of various keys for Stardust rate only a 
polite yawn from this end of the list.
Don