[Dixielandjazz] Dixielandjazz Digest, Vol 213, Issue 14

Tue Sep 22 11:29:11 EDT 2020

I found myself not listening to LPs so I decided to play at least one every day while eating breakfast.  It's been a blast reconnecting with some bands and/or tunes I had not heard in ages.

Ron L

-----Original Message-----
From: Stan Brager [mailto:stanbrager at gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2020 1:46 AM
To: Ron
Cc: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Dixielandjazz Digest, Vol 213, Issue 14

Laurindo Almeida has been a favorite of mine for a long time although I haven’t played his music in a while (most of my collection is on CD and I rarely listen to any LPs. I've got a CD of his entitled "Virtuoso Guitar".

Thanks for mentioning Laurindo.

Stan
Stan Brager

-----Original Message-----
From: ROBERT Calder [mailto:serapion at btinternet.com] 
Sent: Friday, September 18, 2020 12:58 PM
To: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
Cc: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Dixielandjazz Digest, Vol 213, Issue 14

I still somewhere have the first recording I acquired by Laurindo Almeida --

there is absolutely no reference to jazz either in the sleevenotes or in the music. 

I was reminded of it when a very senior Jewish historian, Bernard Wasserstein

was complaining that he wanted Klezmer without jazz. I knew I had something 

of the sort from a sale, and looked it out... Recorded in Hamburg, the CD had some

jazz-free clarinet work of a high quality by . . . Herb Geller! 

The Laurindo LP I have is all Bach. I realise I must have had it nearly fifty years,

it was in a jumble sale and came along with similar repertoire.

You couldn't get anything for that price nowadays, I paid in pre-decimal British 

currency and despite my protests the not very efficient volunteers refused to 

take more than a shilling (!!!) nowadays five pence, for 5 LPs. Tuppence old money it cost,

less than the present one (once new) penny! Herb decades later I had at three for a pound,

but in a huge sale of bankrupt stock....

Both of these of course are evidence of exceptional musicianship. Not a slither or a scoop 

from Herb, and wholly idiomatic from Laurindo! Actually I paid something equally small for 

a CD of Laurindo and Ray Brown, in Germany. 

Enhances considerable gratitude for their music at whatever price!

Robert R. Calder 

`

	------ Original Message ------
	From: dixielandjazz-request at ml.islandnet.com
	To: serapion at btinternet.com
	Sent: Friday, 18 Sep, 20 At 17:00
	Subject: Dixielandjazz Digest, Vol 213, Issue 14

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	Today's Topics:

	1. Happy birthday Laurindo Almeida (nvickers1 at cox.net)

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	Message: 1
	Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2020 15:24:48 -0500
	From: <nvickers1 at cox.net>
	To: <nvickers1 at cox.net>
	Cc: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
	Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Happy birthday Laurindo Almeida
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	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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