Teasing the Korean Posted July 2, 2009 Report Share Posted July 2, 2009 (edited) I was listening to "Bakiff" by Duke Ellington (Blanton-Webster band version) and was thinking how sad it was that Jimmy died so young. It got me thinking about a subject I know almost nothing about: What happened to famous musicians' instruments after they died? I realize, sadly, that some jazz musicians had their instruments in and out of pawn shops and Lord knows what happened to some of them. Does anyone have any good stories about this, either proven, rumored, or anything else? Edited July 2, 2009 by Teasing the Korean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesJazz Posted July 2, 2009 Report Share Posted July 2, 2009 James Carter has the tenor used by Buddy Tate to record "Air Mail Special" AND Chu Berry's tenor, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted July 2, 2009 Report Share Posted July 2, 2009 One of Wes Montgomery's Gibson L-5s was sold through Mandolin Bros. (SI,NY) a few years ago. ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe G Posted July 2, 2009 Report Share Posted July 2, 2009 Arno Marsh has a tenor that belonged to Stan Getz, I'm told. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertrand Posted July 2, 2009 Report Share Posted July 2, 2009 There are tons of them at the Institute of jazz studies at Rutgers. They are in a room though, not on display. Bertrand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teasing the Korean Posted July 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2009 There are tons of them at the Institute of jazz studies at Rutgers. They are in a room though, not on display. Bertrand. Do other artists get to use them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medjuck Posted July 2, 2009 Report Share Posted July 2, 2009 I have vague memories (as many of my memories are) of 2 stories: 1) When Phil Woods was married to Chan Parker he played a gig using one of Bird's altos. Mingus came to the club and harassed him about it (took it form him? stood in front of the bandstand staring at him? yelled at him?-- I forget). 2) Jimmy Blanton's bass was left to a cousin of his who later played with Ellington. Both the stories could be apocryphal or some sort of acid flashbacks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted July 2, 2009 Report Share Posted July 2, 2009 Jimmy Blanton's bass was left to a cousin of his who later played with Ellington. That would be Wendell Marshall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim R Posted July 2, 2009 Report Share Posted July 2, 2009 I remember seeing that L5 (single pickup custom model) that was owned by Wes on sale. I had required major restoration, having been in a fire. It may have still brought a six-figure price. Kenny Burrell's 1956 D'Angelico New Yorker was also sold by one of the big dealers (may have been Mandolin Brothers) about 15 years ago. The asking price at that time was $75,000. It was probably worth at least half that even if it hadn't been owned by Burrell. Around that same time, Johnny Smith's D'Angelico Special was purchased by a collector named Hank Risan, I believe somewhere in the $25,000 range, which was a bargain. Risan operates a "virtual guitar museum" online, here: Museum Of Musical Instruments Here's the page showing Smith's D'A: Johnny Smith D'Angelico Special Here is their page showing Barry Galbraith's Stromberg: 1950 Stromberg Master 400 One of Charlie Christian's Gibson ES-250's turned up a few years ago after being tracked down by a well-known guitar hound. Here's a page devoted to Al Caiola's 1939 Gibson L5, which he used to record the theme for tv's "Bonanza" Caiola L5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillF Posted July 2, 2009 Report Share Posted July 2, 2009 1) In a recent interview with Marc Myers on jazzwax.com Dave Pell reveals he's the proud possessor of Pres's horn. 2) Somewhere on youtube there's a clip of British alto virtuoso Peter King demonstrating Bird's alto in a London auction house to a group of admirers from the Japanese Charlie Parker Society. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Dryden Posted July 2, 2009 Report Share Posted July 2, 2009 Wendell Marshall's family did end up with Jimmy Blanton's bass. Since Blanton was born in Chattanooga, our local African-American Museum discussed bringing the bass here, though the proposal was not welcomed by Marshall's heirs. Paul Desmond willed his piano to Bradley's, though I've forgotten where it ended up after the club closed. His alto sax was willed to Michael Brubeck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Dryden Posted July 2, 2009 Report Share Posted July 2, 2009 In the recent biography of Django Reinhardt it was mentioned that after his death, all of his possessions were burned, along with his trailer, in the gypsy tradition (a bizarre ritual). What a waste...though it cuts down on family fights over who gets what... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niko Posted July 2, 2009 Report Share Posted July 2, 2009 (edited) In the recent biography of Django Reinhardt it was mentioned that after his death, all of his possessions were burned, along with his trailer, in the gypsy tradition (a bizarre ritual). What a waste...though it cuts down on family fights over who gets what... heard an elderly gypsy in a call-in radio show a few weeks ago, his problem was that he had shot his wife sometime in the late seventies because she had cheated him and missed her badly he had just wanted to shoot the other man... the moderator asked "so, how come you had a weapon in your appartment", guy didn't understand it, so the question went back and forth a few times, then the man started to say "i'm a gypsy" but the moderator kept asking until after five or six exchanges the guy made it clear that by "i'm a gypsy" he meant "i'm a gypsy and all gypsies have weapons so i have a weapon, still have one at hand..." ... conversation didn't really lead anywhere - wants to say: they're fierce people... Edited July 2, 2009 by Niko Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Weiss Posted July 2, 2009 Report Share Posted July 2, 2009 Wendell Marshall's family did end up with Jimmy Blanton's bass. Since Blanton was born in Chattanooga, our local African-American Museum discussed bringing the bass here, though the proposal was not welcomed by Marshall's heirs. Paul Desmond willed his piano to Bradley's, though I've forgotten where it ended up after the club closed. His alto sax was willed to Michael Brubeck. That piano ended up at the Jazz Gallery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catesta Posted July 2, 2009 Report Share Posted July 2, 2009 (edited) I think one of Louis Armstrong's trumpets is in the time capsule they sealed and buried in 2000. It's sad to think that many of those instruments have probably been lost or destroyed. Edited July 2, 2009 by catesta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catesta Posted July 2, 2009 Report Share Posted July 2, 2009 There are tons of them at the Institute of jazz studies at Rutgers. They are in a room though, not on display. Bertrand. Wow, I had no idea. Rutgers Digital Display The musical instrument collection at the Institute of Jazz Studies includes: Sam Jones cello Marshall Brown left-handed trombone Eddie Condon 4-string guitar Pepper Adams baritone saxophone Keg Purnell bass drum Brad Gowans combination slide/valve trombone Joe Newman flugelhorn Joe Newman trumpet Pee Wee Irwin trumpet Don Byas tenor saxophone Jack Teagarden trombone Cootie Williams trumpet Vic Dickenson trombone Hayes Alvin bass guitars Pee Wee Russell clarinet Ben Webster tenor saxophone Buck Clayton trumpet Red Nichols cornet Bobby Hackett cornet George Wettling drumsticks Sonny Payne drumsticks Roy Eldridge trumpet Dickie Wells trombone Howard McGhee trumpet mouthpieces and mutes Miles Davis trumpet Clarence Hutchinrider clarinet Kid Ory trumpet Benny Carter C-melody saxophone Tommy Benford drum set Lester Young tenor saxophone Rahsaan Roland Kirk straight alto saxophone Rahsaan Roland Kirk bass recorder Rahsaan Roland Kirk baritone saxophone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim R Posted October 30, 2012 Report Share Posted October 30, 2012 I remember seeing that L5 (single pickup custom model) that was owned by Wes on sale. I had required major restoration, having been in a fire. It may have still brought a six-figure price. Kenny Burrell's 1956 D'Angelico New Yorker was also sold by one of the big dealers (may have been Mandolin Brothers) about 15 years ago. The asking price at that time was $75,000. It was probably worth at least half that even if it hadn't been owned by Burrell. Around that same time, Johnny Smith's D'Angelico Special was purchased by a collector named Hank Risan, I believe somewhere in the $25,000 range, which was a bargain. Risan operates a "virtual guitar museum" online, here: Museum Of Musical Instruments Here's the page showing Smith's D'A: Johnny Smith D'Angelico Special Here is their page showing Barry Galbraith's Stromberg: 1950 Stromberg Master 400 One of Charlie Christian's Gibson ES-250's turned up a few years ago after being tracked down by a well-known guitar hound. Here's a page devoted to Al Caiola's 1939 Gibson L5, which he used to record the theme for tv's "Bonanza" Caiola L5 I just came across this at the website for Gruhn Guitars in Nashville: Stromberg Master 400; 1940 VG, two repaired top cracks, 19" body width, natural finish, owned and used by Freddie Green of the Count Basie Orchestra, still strung with Freddie's strings, extensive documentation provided by Freddie's son Alfred Green, comes with Freddie's padded gig bag. $90,000.00 Stromberg guitars are considered to be among the finest (along with the original D'Angelico guitars) archtops ever made, and this example would still be worth perhaps $40K or $50K even without the Freddie Green provenance. At any rate, this one is obviously historically significant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gheorghe Posted October 30, 2012 Report Share Posted October 30, 2012 I heard the story, that Sue Mingus gave one of Mingus´ basses to the great Hungarian bassist Aladar Pege, who died a few years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillF Posted October 30, 2012 Report Share Posted October 30, 2012 1) In a recent interview with Marc Myers on jazzwax.com Dave Pell reveals he's the proud possessor of Pres's horn. 2) Somewhere on youtube there's a clip of British alto virtuoso Peter King demonstrating Bird's alto in a London auction house to a group of admirers from the Japanese Charlie Parker Society. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertoart Posted October 30, 2012 Report Share Posted October 30, 2012 (edited) Here's a picture of Wes's guitar before and after post-fire restoration.My link there is a more comprehensive article in August 98 Guitar Player magazine. George Benson had Grant Green's D'Aquisto at one point but has since on sold it I believe. My link Actually it seems like Benson had the Montgomery and Green guitars at one point. The interview below suggests Pat Metheny owns the restored L-5 while the Green D'Aquisto has also been on sold... "You recently auctioned off some instruments you owned that originally belonged to some pretty famous people. GB. Yes. Pat Metheny bought Wes Montgomery’s L5 at auction. I didn’t know it until I ran into him in Europe and he said, “George, I got the Wes guitar.” And I’m happy, because now I know it’s in good hands. I worried about it when I auctioned it off. Also, Grant Green’s guitar. That’s one of the best-sounding instruments I’ve ever heard, but it was in my closet and I was afraid the termites were going to eat it up. Considering the times being what they were, we did very well and got a lot of money". My link Edited October 30, 2012 by freelancer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WD45 Posted October 30, 2012 Report Share Posted October 30, 2012 IIRC, Rene Thomas had one of Charlie Christian's guitars. Or am I crazy? Seems like it was in the liner notes for his "Guitar Groove" LP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeweil Posted October 30, 2012 Report Share Posted October 30, 2012 IIRC the René Thomas Riverside liner notes said it was the same model that Charlie Christian used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul secor Posted October 30, 2012 Report Share Posted October 30, 2012 Here's a picture of Wes's guitar before and after post-fire restoration.My link there is a more comprehensive article in August 98 Guitar Player magazine. George Benson had Grant Green's D'Aquisto at one point but has since on sold it I believe. My link Actually it seems like Benson had the Montgomery and Green guitars at one point. The interview below suggests Pat Metheny owns the restored L-5 while the Green D'Aquisto has also been on sold... "You recently auctioned off some instruments you owned that originally belonged to some pretty famous people. GB. Yes. Pat Metheny bought Wes Montgomery’s L5 at auction. I didn’t know it until I ran into him in Europe and he said, “George, I got the Wes guitar.” And I’m happy, because now I know it’s in good hands. I worried about it when I auctioned it off. Also, Grant Green’s guitar. That’s one of the best-sounding instruments I’ve ever heard, but it was in my closet and I was afraid the termites were going to eat it up. Considering the times being what they were, we did very well and got a lot of money". My link "Considering the times being what they were, we did very well and got a lot of money". Does George Benson really need the money? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertoart Posted October 30, 2012 Report Share Posted October 30, 2012 Here's a picture of Wes's guitar before and after post-fire restoration.My link there is a more comprehensive article in August 98 Guitar Player magazine. George Benson had Grant Green's D'Aquisto at one point but has since on sold it I believe. My link Actually it seems like Benson had the Montgomery and Green guitars at one point. The interview below suggests Pat Metheny owns the restored L-5 while the Green D'Aquisto has also been on sold... "You recently auctioned off some instruments you owned that originally belonged to some pretty famous people. GB. Yes. Pat Metheny bought Wes Montgomery’s L5 at auction. I didn’t know it until I ran into him in Europe and he said, “George, I got the Wes guitar.” And I’m happy, because now I know it’s in good hands. I worried about it when I auctioned it off. Also, Grant Green’s guitar. That’s one of the best-sounding instruments I’ve ever heard, but it was in my closet and I was afraid the termites were going to eat it up. Considering the times being what they were, we did very well and got a lot of money". My link "Considering the times being what they were, we did very well and got a lot of money". Does George Benson really need the money? I was wondering that myself. It seemed like a bit of a crap thing to say really. Kinda cheapens the legacy of the instruments. Especially considering how much he goes out of his way to honour the mentorship these guitarists gave him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted O'Reilly Posted October 30, 2012 Report Share Posted October 30, 2012 Pat LaBarbera has, and plays, Lucky Thompson's tenor and soprano saxes. They apparently came to him via a dentist who took them from Thompson as payment for some dental work... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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