Description
Book SynopsisThis is the only jazz history written by a musician that is not strictly autobiographical. Rex Stewart, who played trumpet and cornet with Fletcher Henderson and Duke Ellington, knew personally all the giants of jazz in the 1930s and thus his judgments on their achievements come with unique authority and understanding. As a good friend, he never minimizes their foibles yet he writes of them with affection and generosity. Chapters on Fletcher Henderson, Coleman Hawkins, Red Norvo, Art Tatum, Big Sid Catlett, Benny Carter, and Louis Armstrong mix personal anecdotes with critical comments that only a fellow jazz musician could relate. A section on Ellington and the Ellington orchestra profiles Ben Webster, Harry Carney, Tricky Sam Nanton, Barney Bigard, and Duke himself, with whom Rex Stewart was a barber, chef, poker opponent, and third trumpet. Finally, he recounts the stories of legendary jam sessions between Jelly Roll Morton, Willie the Lion Smith, and James P. Johnson, all vying for
Table of Contents* The Jean Goldkette Band * Smack! Memories of Fletcher Henderson * The Business of Recording * Boy Meets King (Louis Armstrong) * The Father of Swing Trombone (Jimmy Harrison) * Coleman Hawkins, The Father of Tenor Saxophone * Red Norvo: A Tale of a Pioneer Ellingtonia * The Days with Duke * Sketches in a Ducal Vein * Duke Ellington: One of a Kind * Tribute to Tricky Sam * Illustrious Barney Bigard * The Frog and Me (Ben Webster) * Harry Carney: Boss Baritone * Getting to Europe--and Getting Out * The Cutting Sessions * Flow Gently, Sweet Rhythm (John Kirby) * My Man, Big Sid (Sidney Catlett) * The Benny Carter I Knew * Genius in Retrospect (Art Tatum) * Appendix I: Count Basie by Hsio Wen Shih * Appendix II: Rex William Stewart, Jr., by Francis Thorne
