[Dixielandjazz] Armstrong - Beregreen's Book - Showmanship

[Stephen G Barbone]

Sheik wrote (polite snip)

 >"BTW, I never finished Laurence Bergreen's "Louis Armstrong because  
he insisted on making many >statements that went way beyond the facts.."

 >Yes, that's what I really think.

One of the descriptions I enjoyed in Bergreen's book was about  
Armstrong and Showmanship. Circa 1927 when btw, Louis was at or near  
his innovating peak with Hot 5/Hot 7. Says Bergreen about Louis at the  
Sunset Cafe. (page 294, last paragraph).

"Later on Louis indulged his taste for the ridiculous while working  
with Jones. He was reunited with his pal from New Orleans, the drummer  
Zutty Singleton, and the two of them played off each other like two  
kids. The worked up a vaudeville skit around the number "I Ain't Gonna  
Play No Second Fiddle" in which Louis came on stage in a funny little  
hat, weaving drunkenly and singing, and then a big fat washerwoman -  
played by Zutty in drag, with floppy pillows under his dress-rushed  
out of the audience right into the orchestra. Zutty rushed on stage  
and threw himself at Louis, which of course created a ridiculous  
spectacle. The crowd roared with delight until the fellows got down to  
business. Louis picked up his trumpet, Zutty went to his drums and  
they beat out a pretty tune.. And then, as always happened at the  
Sunset Cafe, the movie began."

Makes Trummy Young and George Brunies sound like amateurs with  
showmanship. Say, do you suppose they were digging Louis as a showman  
as well as a GIANT musically?

Then on page 295 middle paragraph:

"At the same time, Louis's antics made a huge impression on the black  
youngsters who would regularly sneak into the Sunset, or the  
Metropolitan, or wherever he was playing. They would gaze at him in  
wonder, for although he was plainly adult size, he seemed to be one of  
them . . ."

Yep, Louis was attracting a new young audience of both blacks and  
whites through his antics, as well as us now old artsy fartsy folks  
through his virtuosity. Something few OKOM bands do today.

I also got a kick out of Bergreen's description of S.O.L. Blues which  
of course means "S*** out of Luck" an inside joke that Louis played on  
Okeh records which published it. But there is a further inside joke to  
it:

  ... "the tune was actually Louis's free wheeling adaptation of an  
old New Orleans tune played by bands when they were victorious in a  
cutting contest. The traditional title was not 'S*** out of Luck  
Blues'. Old timers knew it instead as 'If You Don't Like This Song,  
You can Kiss My F***ing Ass.' (top of page 293)

Bless you Louis, for both your earthy humor and for your virtuosity.  
Would that we all could be so blessed.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband