Ted O'Reilly

According to what I can gather, it is not! For Duke at Carnegie in the 40s completists, there is also that 2CD on Vintage Jazz Classics from the November 13, 1948 concert It contains what is supposed to be the only performance of 'Lush Life' by the Ellington orchestra! If I recall correctly (I used to have it at the radio station where I worked) Billy comes on stage to accompany Kay Davis in a vocal version -- no orchestra, and no Duke. The Storyville "Duke Box" has the first half of the '43 concert on disc 5, and the remainder takes most of disc 6.

Did he write that? I knew he wrote "Detour ahead". I can't see anything wrong with "Meet the Flintstones" - it's what it is. MG I don't think he wrote it, but he seemed to enjoy playing it. I find it a highly irritating melody that lodges in my brain like a splinter. I've found a lot of jazz musicians play it -- it's I Got Rhythm changes, so it's as universal as the blues. since everyone in the audience knows the Flintstones Theme, it's a connection with the half of the crowd that knows naught about the music. (lyrics removed for copyright reasons)

A gray cat? Gotta be Wardell.

"Tronto"! Tee hee... We residents know it's "Tronna".

You're sending me off to search for the Nat Cole set. Haven't noticed it around lately...

Come to my house -- I'll show you. I have lots of practice.

This why I don't like scat singing... (But ya gotts ta admit -- good voice, good pitch, but he IS lip-synching, isn't he?)

Sorry, shrdlu, no -- at 16 2/3 it would be 8 channels, and that's just silly.

I knew I kept this for some reason... What am I bid for Gil Evans "Svengali" Atlantic QD 1643 (4 Channel Discrete) LP? Sealed! Unplayed!

Errr, ummm, probably not. (Gzowski, BTW). I think Letterman's excuse was that he liked hearing "O Canada", the Canadian national anthem...

I got this from German Amazon, delivered at 64 bucks Canadian. This is a great price -- 38 dollars! Highly recommended.

On one of Bobby Hackett's last gigs he played with Rob McConnell in Toronto and remarked the last time he played with a valve trombonist was indeed Brad Gowans. (Who also played clarinet well...) As for bass trumpet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_trumpet

I'm old enough to remember having watched "Flight Into Danger". It was adapted by Haley from his novel "Runway Zero-Eight". I thind the TV show was Haley's first real success. For all you Trekkies, note that the star was James Doohan. Yup, engineer Scottie from Star Trek. (He was a Canadian, you know -- not a Scot, and was in fact a licensed pilot). From a Queens University website on media: The most auspicious and successful first work to air on General Motors Theatre, however, was Flight Into Danger, Arthur Hailey's story of a passenger flight whose crew was crippled with food poisoning and the plane that had to be guided to the ground by a former air force fighter pilot and a flight attendant. Produced in 1956 by David Greene and starring James Doohan and Corinne Conley, Flight Into Danger became a national success and was sold to U.S. and British television (and was later adapted into a feature film) to become and international hit.

The Amazon product description says it's 1 disc, not 7.

The valve trombone may even be the original jazz trombone... Cavalry bands had them (hard to play a slide 'bone on a horse), and when made surplus were cheap to buy and often available. Early jazzers played them more often than one might think. A couple of good valve players are both Canadian -- Rob McConnell and Maynard Ferguson. As to bass trumpet, I'd guess Cy Touff would come to mind for most of us. Hear 'em side by side and you can tell the difference. (Edited to correct spelling).

So?

He probably didn't know how to pronounce "Shrdlu", and didn't want to be embarassed.

Are you going to "break them in"? Or do they sound okay out of the box?

Or a Greggs... And, for those of us not up-to-date on UK thingies, a Greggs is a.....?

"Breaking in"? Never heard of such a thing. Take 'em outa the box, use 'em. Cord length shouldn't matter. You don't say what kind they are, but I hope they're good ones -- Sennheiser, AKG, Grado... (And they'll never sound as good as good speakers).

Doris did a lovely LP (in one session!) with Andre Previn, Red Mitchell and Frank Capp in late 1961 for Columbia. Some great tunes, including Nobody's Heart, In Love In Vain, Close Your Eyes, and others.... Edit to note: this is in the Bear Family releases, Vol. 3 I believe.

A little off topic, but the appelation "Sir Duke" is one I never heard, until Stevie Wonder. I'm assuming he created it, yet the only appearance in the song is a single line ("And the king of all Sir Duke"), and the song seems to be about music itself rather than anything to do with Ellington. It's groovy, but the lyrics are repetitious and inconsequential. Besides, a Duke is higher than a Sir, so...??

Shall do. Meanwhile, here are a couple of links to newspaper coverage this week: http://v1.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20100203.OBNORRIS03ART2119/BDAStory/BDA/deaths http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thestar/obituary.aspx?n=john-welman-norris&pid=139305513

Ken, I've just read your fine AAJ article. You've caught John very well, noting his enthusiasm and attitude and knowledge. As a small independent, the Sackville label operated from his house, and I was over there an hour ago, helping his widow Sandi to consider next steps. Yet to be decided is what to do with the CDs he wanted to issue, including the Bickert/Lofsky that I own, and was just about to be manufactured. Sandi says there'll be a celebration of his life (with music, of course!) in the spring.