[Dixielandjazz] The schtick of Benny and Red

[Stephen G Barbone]

 From another blog about Benny and Red Norvo: (Bloggers words, not mine)

"In one of the comments it says: " This was all a set up, when Red was  
with BG in the mid-40s, this was performed live. Red would do the same  
schtick, tossing his vibes at Benny. It is all in Russ Conner's BG  
discography and other bios of Benny."

"Must admit I thought this was common knowledge. When you look at the  
whole clip, it's show biz all the way. There was a pathetic attempt to  
widen the appeal of the band. Benny singing!! Poor Zoot Sims, he was  
the only thing of real musical value in the whole thing. Slam  
Strewart's bass solo with the band singing along . . . wow. Then Norvo  
get's a whole chorus and then goes to take another one and the  
ensemble is playing the out chorus. Shock horror! The overacting on  
this clip really smells. It's a joke. It's a bad one, but a joke. Sad  
that people of this calibre had to do this crap to make a buck. Brian  
Setzer is still doing it."

My words now, Hey BG and Red Norvo doing this in the mid 1940s were  
way ahead of their time trashing instruments on stage. The rockers  
were copycats. <grin>

Cheers,
Steve Barbone

www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband