[Dixielandjazz] Pee Wee Russell

[Robert Ringwald]

Re: Pee Wee Russell.

I have stated my feelings on his playing several times here on DJML so won't 
go into it, except to say that I am not a fan.

I discussed  Pee Wee's playing with Dick Cary several times, who's opinion I 
really respected.  We would always come to the end of  our argument with 
Dick saying, Pee Wee never played on recordings like he played in person. 
So, what can I say?  I never heard him in person...

 --Bob Ringwald


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stephen G Barbone" <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>
To: "Bob Ringwald" <rsr at ringwald.com>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 7:57 AM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Pee Wee Russell


> Marek Boym wrote:
>
> Hello folks,
> Listening to some of those excellent mid-forties Commodore recordings
> featuring Pee Wee Russell reminded me of a question that's been
> bothering me for some time:
>
> Long ago someone wrote on the Mississippi Rag Bulletin Board that, in
> the 1940's, Pee Wee played badly, so much so that the listeners
> believed he has still been hired because of personal connections.
>
> I protested, arguing that I could not conceive of him playing badly,
> but I was not there; the person who made that claim was.
>
> OK, he was not always at the top of his powers, and the Storyville
> sessions might not have been of the same standard as the Commodores,
> but BADLY?
>
> Now there are some people on the list who should remember those days,
> and I would very much like to hear their comments; in the meantime,
> I'll go on believing this to be nonsense.
>
> Dear Marek:
> I was not there in the early 40s (too young), but was there seeing  and 
> talking to Pee Wee in various NYC clubs from 1949 through  1962. My 
> ownopinion is that he  played great. As far as I can tell, he  was hired 
> because he was always a tremendous audience favorite.
> Musos who made fun of Russell, and/or did not like his tone, etc, 
> included Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw. Musos who heard and appreciated 
> what Russell had to say included Coleman Hawkins, Thelonious Monk,  Miff 
> Mole and Kenny Davern.
> Talking about this (IMO) great jazz player/communicator, always seems 
> togenerate a lot of opinion, pro and con. But in my opinion, those who  do 
> notappreciate what Russell had to say may be wonderful people, but  they 
> have no soul.
> Cheers,
> Steve Barbone
> www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband
>
>
>
>
>
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