[Dixielandjazz] : Band Room - October 2010

[Norman Vickers]

To:  Musicians and Jazzfans list and DJML

From: Norman Vickers, Jazz society of Pensacola

 

Here, courtesy of NYC  jazz/classical pianist Russell Kassoff, is veteran
bassist Bill Crow's October column-Band Room, from Allegro, newsletter of
the AFM Local 283.  Thanks, Russ.

 

See his You Tube videos under his name and visit his website.  He was here
for Pensacola JazzFest in April one of the videos  Russell Kassoff
trio-Lulu's back in town has yours truly as guest artist on chromatic
harmonica-in company with violinist Aaron Weinstein, guitarist Howard Alden,
drummer Dennis Mackrel and longtime bassist for Phil Woods group  Steve
Gilmore.  See Russ better on his other videos because in the Lulu's back in
town one, Russ was somewhat obscured from videographer.

 

Enjoy the column!

Bill Crow's Band Room 

2010

October '10

by Bill Crow <mailto:bcrow at local802afm.org> 

 

Herb Gardner passed along a story he got from the late Arvell Shaw, who was
Louis Armstrong's bass player for many, many years. Arvell told Herb that
the first tune of the night on Louis's concerts was always "Back Home Again
In Indiana." He said that, after years of opening every gig with that tune,
he was really looking forward to a change when he finally resigned from the
Louis Armstrong All-Stars. His first local gig was with a bebop band, and
wouldn't you know, the first tune they played was "Donna Lee," which, of
course, is based on the changes to "Indiana."

Herb also told me that Randy Reinhart was complaining to his colleagues one
night about a particularly grim evening he had spent the night before with
another band that he felt left much to be desired. Howard Alden listened to
his complaints, but said, "Gee, I've played that gig, and I didn't think it
was so bad." Randy' retort was, "Yeah, you should be there sometime when
you're not there!"


  _____  


Dan Block performed with his sextet last August at a jazz festival in
southern Italy. The concert was in old Craco, a ghost town which, between
1959 and 1972, was so badly damaged by earthquakes and landslides that it
was abandoned, and the population moved to a nearby location. The ruins of
the old town are still a tourist attraction, and the concert, held in an
abandoned monastery, was officiated by the local mayor. Drummer Duffy
Jackson quipped, "The mayor ran unopposed, and won by a landslide."


  _____  


John Campo told me about a jingle date he did some years ago with a full
symphony orchestra. The client was the maker of a brand of aspirin. They
finished the recording, and a couple of days later, the orchestra was called
back for a video shoot. During the date, the producer kept saying, "I want
more timpf. I want more timpf." After the musicians laughed at his
pronunciation, Romeo Penque yelled, "It's not timpf. it's timp. Like pimp!"

John also told me a story he got back in 1950, when he was studying bassoon
with William Polisi, of the NBC Symphony. Arturo Toscanini, the conductor of
that orchestra, often spent time at the Waldorf Hotel, sipping champagne.
When the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra was at the Waldorf, the famous trombonist
was introduced to Maestro Toscanini, who told him, "You've got a wonderful
orchestra. But you're a little sharp."


  _____  


While Frank Amoss was Kai Winding's drummer, many years ago, they were at
the Maryland Hotel on Rush Street in Chicago, playing behind a large oval
bar. A customer at the bar asked Frank, "Are you local?" "No," said Frank,
"Express!"


  _____  


Denny LeRoux told me about a conversation he heard behind him at a jazz
performance:

1st voice: "What time is it?"

2nd voice: "8:30. Why?"

1st voice: "I forgot how long jazz is."


  _____  


I found this on the Internet, in a conversation between Bruce Raeburn and
Brian Priestley. Bruce remembered that a friend in New Orleans heard a radio
announcer on station WWOZ refer to the jazz clarinetists Omer Simeon and
Jimmie Noone as "Omer Someone and Jimmy No One."


  _____  


Joe Luciano, out in Rapid City, South Dakota, called Marian McPartland in
New York and asked her if she would consider coming to the Rapid City
Central High School to be a guest artist with their jazz band. Marian said,
"Are you nuts? Me, travel from New York to South Dakota? That's worse than a
trip across town!"


  _____  


After playing a solo piano gig for a wedding reception in Corning, New York
a few years ago, Jim Ford stopped at a coffee shop before driving home to
Binghamton. Still wearing his tux, he knew that sooner or later he would be
asked the question, and had his speech all prepared. "Been to a wedding?"
the young lad serving coffee asked. In his best deadpan delivery Jim
responded: "Yeah. I'm a professional best man. A guy wants to get married,
doesn't have any friends, he gives me a call. Business has been good. There
are a lot of losers out there." Jim savored the look of astonishment on the
young man's face.


  _____  


Back in the early 1970's Jim was in the Army, stationed in Germany. Their
small detachment was visited by George Jessel with his piano accompanist Ben
Oakland, who wrote the music for "I'll Take Romance" and "Java Jive," among
other songs. After the performance Jim was talking with Oakland, who turned
to Jessel and said, "Hey, Georgie, don't you think this guy looks like a
young Jerry Lewis?" Jessel looked at Jim appraisingly and said: "Don't
worry, kid, you'll grow out of it."