Christiern

Keep the music and regime change encouragements coming!

A couple of years ago, when Karl Knudsen was staying with me, Fantasy faxed him an offer for Storyville. He turned it down because the figure was almost insulting.

Til lykke med barnebarnet! Jeg håber at du selv har det godt.

Congratulations on the new house, Dan. Looks great!

Jive Bryce Brown (New Zealand}

Street Sync Ann deLorge

ANother Bearden... Out Chorus Etching/aquatint, 1979-80

RUMEN RACHEV ACRYLIC / CANVAS Year: 1994

Romare Bearden Le Jazz, c. 1967

Thank you, Ted. I still do graphics, but now it's on a Macintosh. I haven't painted in many years. Here's a very bad photo I just took of an old drawing I did. I had thrown it away but one of my neighbors, Oscar Pettiford, Jr. retrieved it (and another) without my knowledge, made frames for them, and gave them to me.

Saxophonist Chris Albertson 1970

In September of 1961, I stayed at the Croydon Hotel while producing a series of Chicago session for Riverside. This was the hotel where, traditionally, the big band sideman stayed while the leaders checked into the Palmer House. In 1961, there wasn't a lot of big band traffic, but the Croydon now housed the casts of musical shows whose stars stayed at the Palmer House. The Croydon's bar had a pianist who probably knew every song ever written since the 1920s, and he played every night to a very full house. There generally being a number of singers among the hotel's guests, an evening at the Croydon Bar was never less than interesting. One night when I was there, Julie London came in--it was clear that she came there often and had a good rapport with the pianist. After singing a few songs, she asked, over the microphone, if someone would please go in the men's room and get Henry. Someone did, and Henry, the men's room attendant, was embraced by Ms. London as he got on the band stand. She asked him to sing a blues, which he did very well. That's my story, except to say that I recorded Henry Benson a couple of days later, with Little Brother Montgomery on piano, Walter Vinson (of the Mississippi Sheiks), guitar, Pops Foster, bass, and Earl Watkins, drums. It was the only recording he made. a few months later, cancer got him. Finally, let me say that Julie London was wonderfully down-to-earth, a really warm person.

I agree that Adelaide Hall (like Kay Davis) was pretty much a one-song performer, as far as Duke vocalists go. If we are to include them, I think we cannot overlook Baby Cox, who growled herself so superbly into my memory. B)

Never came across a detergent that bothered my skin, but Irish Spring hand soap sure does.

Nina's style came to her naturally--it was how she sang, and she was extraordinary. When an artist tries to create a personal style, it never really works--if the originality is there, it will eventually come to the fore and take over. There was a time when Dizzy Gillespie's playing was as much like Roy Eldridge's as Betty Carters singing was like Sarah Vaughan's. Dizzy made a natural transition into his own, Betty tried too hard and it showed, IMO. BTW, Tom Storer, I did have a run-in with Nina, but I did not admire her artistry any less. So much for that assumption, eh?

Good one GofM!

Out2Lunch, are you sure you never had a personal run-in with Betty Carter???? _____________________ Tom, take a good look at my posts to this thread. Based on the two posts, don't you think it's a bit overboard to complain that I was snide, contemptuous, exhibited "nasty intensity," etc.? "Betty was one of the greatest jazz singers ever."--Tom Storer ????????????????Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, Dinah Washington, Helen Merrill, Ella Fitzgerald, Maxine Sullivan Betty Carter did not measure up to any of the above, IMO. Her "unusual amount of originality" was a strained effort to be different. If I want to hear "an unusual amount of originality," I tune in to American Idol. Please note my emphasis (in red/bold). The last remark was an attempt at humor--sorry you didn't get it. ----------------------- Here's my second post I liked her back in the days when she more or less emulated Sarah Vaughan, but when she tried to forcefeed herself with a "unique" style, I thought she became grotesque and--for me--painful to listen to. I can think of no other accomplished professional jazz vocalist who has butchered familiar ballads as severely as Betty Carter. I don't think very many people agree with me, but that's my honest opinion. I expressed my opinion, clearly stating that it is my opinion, and I explained what it is about Betty Carter's latter day performances that made me formulate that opinion. Nasty, contemptuous, snide?

Your image did not take. All I see is a small blue question mark.

As I stated earlier, there was a time when I found Betty Carter's singing enjoyable. No, I never met her nor have I ever had any conflict with her--it always amazes me when people conclude that there must be some personal animosity in play when an artist is criticized. I've heard the same crap from Wynton lovers. Why is it so difficult to accept the fact that some people don't share your enthusiasm? It does not bother me that you embrace an artist who I find grating, and when you repeatedly express your adoration, I don't jump to the conclusion that you are reflecting a personal love experience. Don't you see how ludicrous such arguments are?

Wrong hole, weizen! B)

Steal it! Then you would be taking my money!

...and since you are now into books written by Icelanders.....

Tom, take a good look at my posts to this thread. Based on the two posts, don't you think it's a bit overboard to complain that I was snide, contemptuous, exhibited "nasty intensity," etc.? "Betty was one of the greatest jazz singers ever."--Tom Storer ????????????????Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, Dinah Washington, Helen Merrill, Ella Fitzgerald, Maxine Sullivan Betty Carter did not measure up to any of the above, IMO. Her "unusual amount of originality" was a strained effort to be different. If I want to hear "an unusual amount of originality," I tune in to American Idol. Please note my emphasis (in red/bold). The last remark was an attempt at humor--sorry you didn't get it. ----------------------- Here's my second post I liked her back in the days when she more or less emulated Sarah Vaughan, but when she tried to forcefeed herself with a "unique" style, I thought she became grotesque and--for me--painful to listen to. I can think of no other accomplished professional jazz vocalist who has butchered familiar ballads as severely as Betty Carter. I don't think very many people agree with me, but that's my honest opinion. I expressed my opinion, clearly stating that it is my opinion, and I explained what it is about Betty Carter's latter day performances that made me formulate that opinion. Nasty, contemptuous, snide?

Ivie anderson and Betty Roché Al Hibbler

I liked her back in the days when she more or less emulated Sarah Vaughan, but when she tried to forcefeed herself with a "unique" style, I thought she became grotesque and--for me--painful to listen to. I can think of no other accomplished professional jazz vocalist who has butchered familiar ballads as severely as Betty Carter. I don't think very many people agree with me, but that's my honest opinion.