[Dixielandjazz] Jazz Quotes & Al Hirt

[John McClernan]

Thanks for sharing those memories, Dave. I too fondly remember Connie  
sitting in. I think Jim Haislip was elsewhere in '71. Of course, I had  
played many YFM and Hairy Lip dates with Jim in the late 60s, as I did  
with you. But I don't recall seeing Jim down there in '71. I might be  
wrong about that, I'd have to ask Les Muscutt. His memory is much  
better than mine.
Cheers,
John



On May 14, 2009, at 3:36 PM, jazzdude39 wrote:

> John,
>
> My stint in New Orleans from 1966-67 allowed me similar experiences  
> as you state, with Al Hirt. On many occasions I enjoyed sitting in  
> and listening to Al and Pee Wee with other young musicians who  
> dropped in to enjoy the hospitality and encouragement Al presented.  
> He said on more than one occasion that he thought his playing was  
> more technical than tasty, but proved he was capable of many  
> approaches to playing and seemed to enjoy meeting the younger  
> players and sharing idea's. Danny Barker was the first to take me to  
> Al's late retreat and often Connie Jones, George Finola, Irving  
> Fazola, Cougar Nelson and Jim Haislip and would be there along with  
> players from some of the big bands playing around town. The booze  
> was always flowing and humor abounded as Al had a great sense of  
> humor. I learned a lot from him and will never forget those great  
> times back when. I rarely heard the Al Hirt on records that I heard  
> then.
>
> Dave Hanson
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "John McClernan" <mcclernan1 at comcast.net 
> >
> To: "Dave Hanson" <jazzdude39 at att.net>
> Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
> Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2009 3:13 PM
> Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Jazz Quotes & Al Hirt
>
>
>> Just to play devil's advocate....
>> I worked for 6 months across the street from Al Hirt's NOLA club  
>> in  1971. When we finished work, many nights we went over to his  
>> small bar  on the side street (Saint Louis St.?) and sat in with  
>> Al's combo. He  was always gracious, encouraging to young players,  
>> and very musical in  his own playing. He also knew a ton of tunes.  
>> The commercial Al Hirt  (a la "Cotton Candy") was nowhere to be  
>> found in those jam sessons. I  certainly enjoyed those sessions  
>> with Al much more than the ones with  Pete Fountain.  (Duck! Here  
>> come the brickbats!)
>>
>> Cheers,
>> John
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On May 14, 2009, at 8:37 AM, Marek Boym wrote:
>>
>>> I can identify with that!  I tried listening to Hirt's records on
>>> Audiofidelity, and didn't like even one.
>>> Cheers
>>>
>>> On 14/05/2009, ROBERT R. CALDER <serapion at btinternet.com> wrote:
>>>> Charles Mingus was not the only musician who did not like Al  
>>>> Hirt's music.
>>>> Humphrey Lyttelton was very friendly with Buck Clayton, and   
>>>> remembered that Buck's preferred manufacturer of trumpet   
>>>> mouthpieces sent Buck free mouthpieces every so often. Into each  
>>>> of  these was cut a facsimile of Al Hirt's autograph.  Once Buck  
>>>> had  his new free mouthpieces he took them to be modified, which  
>>>> meant  simply having the Hirt signature gouged out.
>>>> Ouch!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>
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>