[Dixielandjazz] Art Hodes

Lindsay Meech lindsay.meech2012 at gmail.com
Thu Jan 30 01:27:44 PST 2014


With regards to Robert Calder's letter mentioning the aborted recording session of Art Hodes and Lester Young -- I can repeat part of a conversation I had with Art.
I was responsible initially for the first tour of New Zealand by Art Hodes which occurred in September 1984 when Art played two concerts with my band in Auckland and also toured and played other dates in NZ.
I spent many hours with Art , soaking up every word he had to offer.
Amongst other things he told me that Leonard Feather was responsible for putting a stop to his intended recording session with Lester Young  due to Feather's prejudice towards traditional jazz and he (Feather) didn't want Lester to be "tainted".
Art said it was one of the most disappointing times of his life as he had jammed with Lester and felt he and Lester Young " fitted each other like a glove" -- also Lester wanted to record as well.
Art also told me most people in those days had no idea how powerful Leonard Feather was in the music business.
To me Art Hodes was just the greatest  -- as a pianist (my all time favourite) and as a human being.
Best regards,
Lindsay Meech.

 







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