[Dixielandjazz] Ellington

[Steve Voce]

Father Gerald Pocock  went to hear Duke at the Rainbow Grill in New York 
in December 1973. He recalled:

I sat at the bar to wait for Duke and the small band to arrive. Sonny 
Greer joined me at the bar and we chatted. Ellington eventually arrived 
and approached me saying things like "Father Pocock! How wonderful to 
see you! You look wonderful! How have you been? We must get together!" 
and so forth. Ellington didn't say a word to his old friend Sonny Greer 
who was sitting next to me. Ellington eventually excused himself, saying 
that the band needed to start its set.

  Sonny Greer was understandably miffed; how could his old friend ignore 
him like that? Ellington and the band started to play, and at some point 
in the set Ellington said to the audience something like:

  "Ladies and gentlemen, we recently traveled to Ethiopia, where we were 
presented to their king, the man who has more titles than the Pope, His 
Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie. [According to Wikipedia, some of 
Selassie titles included Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, King of 
Kings of Ethiopia, Elect of God.] We ushered into his his large royal 
chamber. We were on one side of the room and Selassie was at the other 
side, on his throne, with an assistant standing at either side. Selassie 
turned and whispered something to one of his assistants. It was very 
suspenseful. The assistant walked all the way across the room and said 
to us: 'The emperor would like to know . . . . . . WHAT THE HELL IS 
SONNY GREER UP TO THESE DAYS?'"

Sonny Greer broke up laughing.

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