[Dixielandjazz] Harry James

[Richard Pearl]

You can say what you want about Harry but he was the most successful trumpet player of all time other than Louis - who was very commercial from the 30 's on - he liked to eat too !

Was he commercial - sure - but you always knew when he played on the radio that it was him - nobody else had that sound. Yes, I know, it was syrupy and mellow but it sold big time - like no other. He also had a lot of soul in his playing that he was able to get out through his horn - people loved it !

He was the commensurate big band trumpet player - he rose above the band and you always knew who it was! His sound was loved by many millions.

As to Jazz - he was a very good jazz player as well. I have heard some recordings of him with small groups and he sounded like a different player - right on it and full of imagination. Different sound too!

He was generally liked as well - even Frank liked him! When he left for Dorsey - Harry wished him the best - not so with Tommy !!!

There are lots of jazz guys that like certain individuals and that's very cool but don't talk down commercial - it pays the bills! Jazz does not always do that and then some. It did for about a 40 year period but never came near the commercial side of the recording business in making money.

There's room for both but don't discount either - they both have their place.

I enjoy it all !

Rich
----- Original Message -----
From: Marek Boym<mailto:marekboym at gmail.com>
To: Rich Pearl<mailto:banjomobile at msn.com>
Cc: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List<mailto:dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Monday, May 11, 2020 4:55 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Harry James

I remember that quote very well.  Did you publish it in Jazz Journal International, Steve?   I in particular remember that part about James' being irked by the very question about commercial vs. jazz tunes.  Sort of "I Play as I Please" (?).
Cheers

On Mon, 11 May 2020 at 01:09, Bill Haesler <bhaesler at bigpond.net.au<mailto:bhaesler at bigpond.net.au>> wrote:
Dear Listmates (and Steve Voce),
The things you find on your bookshelf.

From Peter J Levinson's 1999 book 'Trumpet Blues. The Life of Harry James, (page 251).

  While in London [1972], Harry James did an interview with the English jazz critic Steve Voce.When Voce asked him if the biggest audience was for the commercial numbers he had recorded he visibly bristled. James answered, "That would depend on for whom you are playing. If you're playing for a jazz audience, I'm pretty sure that some of the jazz things we do would be a lot more popular than 'Sleepy Lagoon,' and if we're playing at a country club or playing Vegas, in which we have many, many types of people, then I'm sure that 'Sleepy Lagoon' would be more popular at that particular time. But I really get bugged about these people talking about commercial tunes, because to me, if you're gonna be commercial, you're gonna stand on your head and make funny noises and do idiotic things. I don't think we've ever recorded or played one tune that I didn't particularly love to play. Otherwise, I wouldn't play it.
(From Levinson's interview with Roland Smith, 1996.)

What was the original source Steve?
Cheers,
Bill.
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