James P. Johnson's last rent party

[EKE BBB]

This could be of interest to NY residents:

http://thereisjazzbeforetrane.blogspot.com...rent-party.html

Best regards,

Agustín

[randyhersom]

This could be of interest to NY residents:

http://thereisjazzbeforetrane.blogspot.com...rent-party.html

Best regards,

Agustín

Worthy cause. Does anybody know if a similar situation with Larry Young was ever rectified?

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Worthy cause. Does anybody know if a similar situation with Larry Young was ever rectified?

I looked into helping get a stone for Larry Young's gravesite and I was told that Young and by extension, his family, did not want one. In Young's case, it might have something to do with his Muslim faith.

Edited September 17, 2009 by Kevin Bresnahan

[randyhersom]

Worthy cause. Does anybody know if a similar situation with Larry Young was ever rectified?

I looked into helping get a stone for Larry Young's gravesite and I was told that Young and by extension, his family, did not want one. In Young's case, it might have something to do with his Muslim faith.

Thanks for info.

[EKE BBB]

Raising Roof and Headstone for Pioneering Pianist

By BEN RATLIFF

Published: October 5, 2009

http://www.nytimes. com/2009/ 10/06/arts/ music/06rent. html?ref= music://http://www.nytimes. com/2009/ 10/06...html?ref= music://http://www.nytimes. com/2009/ 10/06...html?ref= music

<<<< A definition of righteousness: about 75 people, crammed into the West Village club Smalls, watching a series of pianists play James P. Johnson on a grand piano in a benefit concert to buy a headstone for his grave.

Like all the other stride-piano soloists of the teens and 1920s, Johnson has been lodged in a historical second tier, probably because he's not known for band music and didn't tour sufficiently.

But he's the truest passageway from pre-jazz to jazz-as-we-know- it. He was a pioneering and powerful solo pianist, a composer of short sketches (including "The Charleston," his era-defining hit, and "Carolina Shout," his finger-buster étude) and extended orchestral works.

Read more at the link above.

Edited October 7, 2009 by Jim Alfredson
Please don't quote entire articles.

[AllenLowe]

thanks - it's nice to read about such things actually happening -

of course, Wynton could just write a check and pay for the whole thing, save everyone a lot of time -

[7/4]

Worthy cause. Does anybody know if a similar situation with Larry Young was ever rectified?

I looked into helping get a stone for Larry Young's gravesite and I was told that Young and by extension, his family, did not want one. In Young's case, it might have something to do with his Muslim faith.

Thanks, I always wondered what happened. Where is it? Somewhere in Newark, NJ? I'd like to visit.

[gmonahan]

thanks - it's nice to read about such things actually happening -

of course, Wynton could just write a check and pay for the whole thing, save everyone a lot of time -

True, but then those present (I wish I had been among them) would have missed out on what sounds like a really great night of music. The headstone will be nice, but remembering James P. with some fine piano strikes me as nicer!

greg mo

[EKE BBB]

James Price Johnson

Feb. 1, 1894 - Nov. 17 1955

Beloved Husband, Father and Grandfather

Master American Pianist and Composer

The Dean of Jazz Pianists

As reported on Mule Walk and Jazz Talk (September 17, 2009 and October 7, 2009), the James P. Johnson Foundation, the Johnson family and Smalls Club organized an all day “rent party” to raise money to buy a monument to commemorate this great musician who so far rested in peace in an unmarked grave in Maspeth, Queens, Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

The event met with success and this is the proof:

http://thereisjazzbeforetrane.blogspot.com/2011/06/james-p-johnson-grave.html