[Dixielandjazz] Happy birthday Laurindo Almeida

[nvickers1 at cox.net]

To:  some musical friends, DJML

From:  Norman Vickers,  Jazz Pensacola

 

Today is birthday anniversary for the late Brazilian/American guitarist
Laurindo Almeida.

 

He and I became friends when he appeared for our second Pensacola JazzFest
in 1984.  It was an unusual event in that our three  guest artists were  all
guitarists.

 

Chuck Wayne had performed for us as the solo out of town artist for our
first JazzFest.  He had been guitarist for George Shearing's quintet  when
Shearing first came to the US.  When he resigned that position,
guitarist-whistler-jazz chromatic harmonicist  Jean "Toots" Thielemans had
replaced Wayne in the quintet.

Brazilian/American guitarist Laurindo Almeida had come to the US in the late
1940s.  He explained that he'd been playing in a Brazilian casino when a
reform president had come in and closed the casinos, so it was a good time
to immigrate to the U. S.  

 

Laurindo joined the Stan Kenton orchestra and rode the bus for three years,
learning English simultaneously.  Parenthetically, he had some wonderful
expressions somewhat on the "blue" but expressive side.  Surprised, I'd ask,
"Laurindo, where did you learn that expression?"  Answer was always the
same, " With Kenton!"

 

At any rate, Laurindo was friendly, accommodating and a charming person who
was articulate and spoke with a slight Portuguese accent.

 

Over the years, we had Laurindo back about   3 or 4 times.  Subsequently, he
always came with his wife,  Deltra Eamon Almeida.  She was a lyric soprano
and Laurindo wrote some wonderful arrangements for her.  So when he came, we
always made an opportunity for "Didi" to sing for us, too.

 

Laurindo had a quartet in LA.  It included bassist Ray Brown.  They couldn't
travel as a group since all had other commitments, but made some great
recordings.

He did travel  as a duo with Ray Brown and told some wonderful stories about
those adventures.

 

He also traveled with the Modern Jazz Quartet for the their 20th and 40th
anniversaries. After he completed the MJQ  40th anniversary tour, He
remarked to me when recounting their adventures, " None of us are spring
roosters anymore!" 

 

In the early 90's,  after Dick Gibson's annual  Labor Day jazz  party had
shut down,  There was a jazz festival in Los Angeles, located at the
Marriott  Airport facility.

I would fly in a day early and then drive north to Laurindo's home in
Northridge, CA and the three of us would go to dinner to celebrate his
birthday.

His home was at the top of a high hill overlooking the San Fernando valley.

 

The last visit, before his death from a recurrent stomach cancer, was in a
rented home-he fortunately had earthquake insurance.  The Northridge
earthquake had damaged his home and destroyed his 5 grammy awards.  He had
gotten new replacements from the Academy, still in their boxes.  I wanted
him to open all five so I could get a photo but he allowed us to open one
for the photo.

 

So, I just wanted to share this reminiscence and memory of a wonderful man
and superb musician.  He told great stories about his career in the movie
and music industry.  

 

Happy birthday, Laurindo!  Suggestion:  celebrate Laurindo's birthday by
choosing some of his works on YouTube.

 

Norman Vickers

www.jazzpensacola.com

 

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