[Dixielandjazz] Louis Armstrong at Bily Bergs/Jim Cullum
Thad McArthur
wthadmc at whidbey.com
Sun Jan 18 16:35:36 PST 2009
Hi Ron,
The memorabilia to which I referred is not jazz specific, but would just be
pictures, itineraries and calendars, junk that might have helped support the
chronologies that Hakan was trying to solidify and I was trying to add to.
Probably of no value to anyone, but I will check one of these days as it's
time to consolidate (says my wife).
A first hand experience: Most of my active jazz searching took place
between 1944 and probably 1970. In about 1987 in rummaging thru some
barrels in the Fort Sam Houston Thrift Shop (San Antonio), I came upon some
used records by "The Happy Jazz Band", a off-putting name but a compelling
list of tunes, recorded back in 1962, 3, and 4 or so. I selected a few and
when I got the records home to Seattle and had a chance to listen to them,
they were in surprisingly good condition and the musicianship was some of
the best I have ever heard anywhere, anytime, live or recorded. Six months
later on my next trip back to San Antonio (Sports administration), my first
stop was the thrift shop and I gobbled up 5 or 6 remaining discs and thought
what a great band that was 15 or 20 years ago. On my next trip back to San
Antonio I picked up a paper and there on the entertainment page was a
good-sized ad "TONIGHT ONLY THE PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND", 20 or so
miles away, in Seguin, TX. I thought here I come. Looking down the page, I
saw a small ad: "The Jim Cullum Jazz Band at the Landing, on The
Riverwalk". I thought "my gosh, that band is still around after all these
years". I had some free time that afternoon, so I thought I would go down
to The Riverwalk and check it out. I thought the Landing was in the Hilton,
Palacio Del Rio, but a bellhop said, "no, he's at the Hyatt, a block or two
up the river". It was sunny as I took the very pleasant walk and as I
could see the Hyatt up ahead I heard this great clarinet wafting along on
the air like it was coming from heaven. I picked up the pace, I was afraid
that it might stop, and there was The Landing with its grassy terraces,
tables and big blue umbrellas, but what really got my attention, there was
John Sheridan and Alan Vache just fooling around and making some marvelous
music. After getting a beer and listening for a half an hour I went inside
the Club (it was empty and they were setting up for the night) and spent an
hour just reveling in the memorabilia that covers the walls, the staircase
and the upper balcony--it'll make you want to cry, it's so great. The Club
itself is about as ideal as a jazz club can be: not too large, good
balcony, good sight lines, sound, good food, drinks, great waitresses, and
the music is probably the best jazz that has ever been turned out, certainly
with consistency, over such a period of time. They come to play--every
night. I missed Preservation Hall, would like to see them, but certainly no
regrets. Anyone who hasn't experienced the Jim Cullum Jazz Band and The
Landing is missing a big slice of the history of Jazz.
Ron, You're up in Massachusetts?? Let me know what's happening up there.
Regards, Thad McArthur
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron L'Herault" <lherault at bu.edu>
To: "'Thad McArthur'" <wthadmc at whidbey.com>
Sent: 01/18/2009 1:00 PM
Subject: (Rescued) RE: [Dixielandjazz] Louis Armstrong at Bily Bergs
Thad,
Your comment about packed away memorabilia caught my eye. Do you have
specific, spelled-out plans for this material after, shall we say, you no
longer will be looking at it? Often times, family members have no use for
such material and just discard it. I collect antique phonographs and
records and run it to this mindset frequently. If you have material
relating to Armstrong, the Louis Armstrong House museum in Queens, NY may be
interested in it. No, I'm not connected with them. In fact, I've yet to
make the trek from MA to NY to see it, but I hope to some time.
It is a pleasure to read of your first hand experiences, listening to this
great music we love.
Regards,
Ron L'Herault
-----Original Message-----
From: dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com
[mailto:dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com] On Behalf Of Thad McArthur
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 4:54 PM
To: lherault at bu.edu
Cc: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Louis Armstrong at Bily Bergs
Dear Mr. Forsberg,
Your list of facts has really made me challenge my memory which has always
been pretty good, albeit I may have a slight amount of slippage over the
past 80 years. The first time frame you cite, August 13 to September 11,
definitely fits the time of year, but I have always thought of the year as
1948. The fact that this engagement was thought of as a "premier" also
fits my recollection. But, there was no Dick Cary or Mort Cobb at this
engagement. These places were definitely filled by Earl Hines and Arvell
Shaw, at least 3 nights. This would match up with the 1948 date. I am also
trying to fit in Louis Armstrong and his big band at an all-University of
Washington dance which we had at the old Seattle Civic Auditorium. I was
remembering that as probably the Spring of 1947 which makes it even more
likely that I was at Berg's in my previously-remembered, 1948. At this
point I have not tried to access any old, packed-away memorabilia which may
or may not shed further light on these time frames.
Later in your your letter you mention "there is room for a summer engagement
at Billy Berg's in the period June 13 to July 1", 1948. This is too early
in the year to mesh with my recollection. I was in Los Angeles late July
thru August. How firm is your information on the "July 30-August 26 spent
at the Nomad in Atlantic city, NJ"? This would fit my remembered time-frame
but is a continent removed.
You also mentioned Velma Middleton as part of the All-Stars at one of the
Berg engagements. She was definitely not there on the occasions I saw them.
I have seen Velma, was she part of Benny Goodman's band when they left
Seattle for their "Mission to Moscow"?
So here we are Mr. Forsberg. Have I caused more problems than given
corroborating information? I made trips to Los Angeles in the summers,
perhaps 6 or 7 times in the 10 years between 1946 and 1956 and tried to pack
in as much music and legitimate entertainment as I could during these
visits. I have a great many memories and the All-Stars at Billy Berg's is
one of the greatest, 60 years later. Perhaps you have other questions that
might spark my brain to remember something of interest to you. You have
prompted me to reflect on on some very pleasant times, thank you.
My best regards to you, Thad McArthur
----- Original Message -----
From: Håkan Forsberg
To: wthadmc at whidbey.com
Sent: 01/16/2009 12:20 AM
Subject: Louis Armstrong at Bily Bergs
Dear Mr McArthur.
Yesterday I received a copy of an e-mail from you where you relate
watching Louis Armstrong and the All Stars for several nights at Billy
Berg's in Hollywood in the Summer of 1948.
Until I go further I will tell you that my name is Håkan Forsberg and I
am living in Sweden. For about 50 years I have collected the music of Louis
Armstrong and I took an active part in Jos Willems' work with the new and
"complete" Armstrong discography "All Of Me" that came on the bookshelves
two years ago. Presently I am trying to establish an as complete as possible
day-by-day schedule for Louis Armstrong and therefore I got very interested
in your account of Louis at Billy Berg's in the summer of 1948.
Louis' All Stars premiered at Billy Berg's in 1947 - August 13 to
September 11 - and came back a few months later for an engagement that
lasted from December 24, 1947 to January 19, 1948.
At the first stay at Billy Berg's the band had Louis, Teagarden, Bigard,
Dick Cary on piano, Mort Corb on bass and Sid Catlett on drums. When they
came back in December Arvell Shaw had replaced Mort Corb and Velma Middleton
had been added as vocalist. Dick Cary remained on piano.
After a period in New York in early 1948 the band left for the Nice jazz
festival, remaining in France until early March. From mid-March through
April they had 2-week engagements in Chicago (Blue Note) and Springfield, IL
(The Orchid) plus a few short dates inbetween. May 11 through May 31 they
were at the Riptide in Calumet City and thereafter, until June 12 they
performed at Ciro's in Philadelphia.
The next long engagement was July 2-29 at the Martinique (or the Surf -
possibly both?) in Wildwood, NJ and July 30-August 26 were spent at the
Nomad in Atlantic City, NJ. In early September they went back to
Philadelphia for two weeks but this time at the Click.
As you see of this list (that I believe to be correct) there is "room for"
a summer engagement at Billy Berg's in the period June 13 to July 1 but I
have not heard of such a third period at that venue . There is, on the other
hand, a report of an engagement at Club Bali in Washington, even a photo in
Down Beat for July 28, 1948, but the exact date and length for such an
engagement is not known by me.
You mention Earl Hines on piano. He joined in February 1948 and remained
for a couple of years.
I don't question your memory at all but would nevertheless be much obliged
if you would help me to rule out the possibility that you had seen and heard
the All Stars in 1947 or December 1947-January 1948 by thinking the
following questions over:
- are you certain that Earl Hines was on piano and not Dick Cary
- ditto, regarding Arvell Shaw on bass and not Mort Corb, and
- do you remember Velma Middleton in the band at the time?
- if you answer "yes" to these questions - could the second half of June
1948 be the period when you heard and saw the All Stars at Billy Berg's?
Best wishes and thanks in advance for taking your time with this matter
Håkan Forsberg hakan.forsberg at umea.bonet.se
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