[Dixielandjazz] Fwd: Fw: Keep (it) Swinging

Sun Nov 1 07:19:00 PST 2015

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Date: 1 November 2015 at 17:13
Subject: Fw: Keep (it) Swinging
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שולח: *Keep (it) Swinging, *
נושא: *Keep (it) Swinging*
Keep (it) Swinging <http://keepitswinging.blogspot.com/>
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Violinist Eddie South (1904 – 1962) - A Striking Musician, Part Two
<http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/KeepitSwinging/~3/tT4CU43yzMQ/violinist-eddie-south-1904-1962_31.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email>

Posted: 31 Oct 2015 01:19 PM PDT
*Georg Lankester* continues his survey of the career of violinist *Eddie
South*. Below follows the second part of the article *Violinist Eddie South
(1904 – 1962)   -   A Striking Musician, Part Two*. The first part of the
article is accessible here
<http://keepitswinging.blogspot.dk/2015/10/violinist-eddie-south-1904-1962.html>

<http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9GqgdatNMlo/VjUSj9nOvNI/AAAAAAAADuE/C0fEeowRY7o/s1600/south.jpg>Eddie
South
*Eddie’s Recordings In France*

The first appearance of the violinist was planned in the *Club des Oiseaux*
in the Pavillion d’Elegance. Hot Club’s president, *Hugues Panassié*
hurried to see South performing and on the initiative of secretary *Charles
Delaunay* it was immediately after the concert decided to make recordings
with Django in the studio.
<http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KW7ATUG0w6U/VjUTKUHgOFI/AAAAAAAADuM/SOktVQxYm8E/s1600/Eddie%2527s%2BBlues_SW%2B8%2BA%2Blabel.jpg>Swing,
SW 8 A - Eddie's Blues
*His Masters’Voice (France)* gladly accepted their request, and was
prepared to record several titles of the violinist and *Django Reinhardt*,
sometimes with a guest player. On 29 September 1937 two titles were
recorded: *Eddie’s Blues* (by both artists) and *Sweet Georgia Brown*
with *Wilson
Meyers* added on bass.
<http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pgbCtzk2hks/VjUTnfaJRxI/AAAAAAAADuU/P8TmE8NK1t0/s1600/Wilson%2BMyers%2B%25282%2529.JPG>Wilson
Meyers
Moreover a recording of *Lady be Good* was made of three violinists: South,
Grappelli and *Michael Warlop*, accompanied by Django, Chaput and Myers.
<http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BeK_HTjIVMA/VjUT58aRaiI/AAAAAAAADuc/zt9rEOYVDR4/s1600/Michael%2BWarlop%2B%25282%2529.JPG>Michael
Warlop
It is highly interesting to listen to these records. Here are two
continents united viz. an American jazzman and a Belgian gypsy guitarist
who created a new European swing style.

These records prove Eddie’s excellent violin playing, calm and inventive,
backed by a unique rhythm, never monotone but full of variations and nicely
swinging. Because of the guitar accompaniment the blues theme came forward
even better. The recordings belong to the most beautiful that Eddie had
made so far. His playing was so inspired that the Hot Club managers got the
impression that he was somewhat envious of Grappelli’s position in the
quintet.

He preferred the slow themes in which he could express his beautiful tone
and could display trills. Eddie did not like so much fast runs although he
certainly had these under control.

As mentioned earlier a record of the three best violinists of those days
was made titled *Lady be good* in an arrangement by Django. One can listen
to Eddie, Stéphane and Michel accompanied on two guitars and bass. After a
typical Django solo each violin player gets its turn: Warlop a bit nervous,
Grappelli as usual fully in control and South with several blues chords.
The final chorus shows all violinists together with an arranged break.

*Delaunay* now came up with the idea to combine jazz improvisations with
J.S. Bach’s music, played on violin. Though Eddie thought that this was a
ridiculous suggestion those recordings were indeed made since Grappelli was
interested because of the money it would generate.

For Django this was something fully unknown, but they let him listen to
recordings of *Yehudi Menuhin*. On basis of those he prepared the way how
to accompany. The guitarist admired Bach’s harmonies!
<http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xCICZo0fTdo/VjUU3RJHb3I/AAAAAAAADuo/e6XYDJO6MYU/s1600/Interpr%25C3%25A9tation%2BSwing%2Bdu%2BPremier%2BMov.%2B%2BBach_SW%2B18%2BA%2Blabel.jpg>Swing,
SW 18 A
Under the supervision of *Charles Delaunay* – the founder of the *Swing*
label -  these recordings were made on the same day. It was a good
initiative because these records are of historical value and illustrate the
level of the musicians.

For the *Swing* label Delaunay also recorded duets of South and Grappelli
with accompaniment, titles: *Dinah* and *Daphne*.
<http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6aqEiRZUXGg/VjUVYmyMs8I/AAAAAAAADuw/ieeVE83FaNU/s1600/Dahne%2B_%2Beddie-south-stephane-grappelly-swing-sw-12-B.jpg>Swing,
SW 12 B Daphne
It is fascinating to hear the different styles of these two artists and the
beautiful alternating solos of Reinhardt.

<http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U2nWqw8zJcQ/VjUV2jBW5qI/AAAAAAAADu4/GEMbRHxd20E/s1600/Somebody%2BLoves%2BMe_%2BSW%2B31%2BA%2Blabel.JPG>SW
31 A Somebody Loves Me
On 23 November 1937 *La voix de son Maître* recorded two tracks of Eddie,
Django and *Paul Cordonnier* (bass), “*Somebody loves me*” and “*I can’t
believe that you’re in love with me*”, two romantic ballads.

And, of course, Hot Club fans enjoy the interpretation of Bach’s ‘minor
concert’ performed by South, Grappelli and Reinhardt on the same date,
followed by the improvised version of it (which included a guitar
introduction). Finally the nice theme *Fiddle Blues* was played in an
up-tempo.

<http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UaDkyzttNfk/VjUWcQ_r8rI/AAAAAAAADvA/f2bsatcXSvU/s1600/1938-EddieSouthBrunswick1.jpg>Brunswick
flyer
In 1938 Eddie stayed some time in Holland where he made a few records for
Brunswick. It would be the end of his European visits.

*Back Home*

Then he left Europa and made the voyage to his native country together
with *Benny
Carter*. During the Forties he played in several clubs among which *Kelly’s
Stables*, had his own group and toured around with bass player *Billy
Taylor* (known from the recordings with *Rex Steward* and Django in Paris
in ’39). He further worked with studio formations in Los Angeles and New
York for MGM and other companies. Because of his popularity he also had his
own radio program. In the Fifties Eddie also could be seen on television
presented by well-known persons such as *Herb Lyons*and *Dave Garroway*.

Despite a declining health he kept playing. However, on 25 April 1962 he
died in Chicago, far too early. Although, being a great violinist, he never
got the reputation of *Stuff Smith* and *Stephane Grappelli*.

*Some Features*

*Eddie South*is in fact the most sophisticated violinist we have known. His
first appaeranc as a classical musician most likely has been the reason to
create such a subtle swing. He played in a very melodious way and produced
pure and often soft notes.

He was fascinated by gypsy music and although many critics assert that he
could not make this style his own, several recordings prove to the
contrary. But some blues elements are certainly also noticable in his
performances. Anyhow *Eddie South*surely has been a significant jazz
violinist

Recommended recordings: *Two guitars* (1929), *Eddie’s Blues* (1937), *Sweet
Georgia Brown *(1937),  *Stompin’ at the Savoy* (1941), *Fiddle Ditty*
(1956).

*Georg Lankester  *glankester at gmail.com
---
*Jo*
*keepitswinging.domain at gmail.com <keepitswinging.domain at gmail.com>*

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