[Dixielandjazz] Body and Soul - Johnny Guarneri

[Charlie Hull]

Banjoist Ed Turner told me he was on a set with Guarnieri when he was 
guest artist, and that Guarnieri called Jitterbug Waltz and proceeded to 
play it in 5/4 time.

Charlie Hull

On 1/18/2014 12:11 PM, Robert Ringwald wrote:
>   Robert R. Calder wrote:
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> There are various reports of Coleman Hawkins, still leading his big band, and imbibing startling amounts of brandy during an interval, starting Body and Soul in B natural....
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> The very same key in which Johnny Guarnieri started to jam on or immediately before the official date, when "Waitin' for Benny" was unofficially recorded ---
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> Knowing the great pianist Johnny Guarnieri, I can imagine him in a recording studio waiting for Goodman. Johnny was never one for sitting around – He wanted to play.
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> The first time I hired him to be a guest star at our STJS (Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society), He was supposed to play the 3rd set, after the two warm-up bands. Between the first and 2nd set, Johnny got up unannounced, climbed up on the stage, sat down at the piano and proceeded to play.
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> That is the same day he wowed the audience by playing the Maple Leaf Rag in 5/4 time.
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> Also, he asked for a request from the audience. A lady requested Sweet Lorraine. Johnny proceeded to play it with just his left hand. Unless you were a musician and listening very closely, you couldn’t tell that he was using only one hand.
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> Half way through the song, people began standing up and pointing out this fact to fellow audience members.
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> -Bob Ringwald
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