Posts filed under ‘Jazz’
Miss Emily’s JukeJoint 5/8/12: Pops
As many of you have already heard, Denton’s long-time blues emissary and character, Pops Carter passed away a couple weeks back at age 93. Much has been written about him over the years and it doesn’t take long to find some of it so I won’t recount his life here. You might want to check out his Facebook page and communicate with them, perhaps. I do, however, want to tell a couple personal stories and share some of Alec Williams’ pictures from the Fry Street book he and we published last year.
One of my first live music experiences in Denton was in the Fall of 1987 when my then-roommate in Bruce Hall, John Rylander, got a gig for a night playing bass with Pop’s band at the Char Hut (later the site of Jackson’s Pizza and Texas Jive- now demolished). I went to hear them and wished I could’ve been playing with them but what I remember most is how wiped out John was when he got back to our dorm room. He wasn’t a regular gigging musician at the time and was concentrating on his music composition studies, so playing several hours was a workout. Never let anyone tell you that playing blues is “easy”.
Pops at The Depot, 1983
Pops also sat in with my band on at least two occaisons- there may have been more but that was a while back. I bet most if not all musicians around here who had Pops sit in would to a man or woman tell you how his presence lit up the joint. And, if your gig was dying, as some of mine surely did, he made you feel good about what you played and could make the people like you for at least as long as he was onstage. Well, that was my experience, at least. Thanks, Pops.
Miss Emily’s JukeJoint, 12.8.11: Herschel Evans
In the late 1930′s, the Count Basie Orchestra featured two tenor saxophonists: Lester Young and Herschel Evans of Denton. Books, movies and thousands of words have, rightfully, been dedicated to the former. Only a true jazz geek knows of the latter. Herschel was born in Denton on March 9, 1909, and is found at our Ancestry.com database in the 1930 Census where he appears to be living with an aunt in Bexar County, Texas (San Antonio) while working in the Troy Floyd Orchestra. Click on image below for larger size:
Herschel in San Antone, 1930
In the census record you can see three important pieces of information that prove this is the same Mr. Evans: 21 years of age, Negro, and musician employed in an orchestra. Here is an early recording with Floyd from 1929, Dreamland Blues. His solo starts @ 1:58.
Lady Hersch
There is a storied Texas Tenor saxophonist tradition going back to Herschel and on through to Buddy Tate, Illinois Jacquet, Arnett Cobb, David “Fathead” Newman, King Curtis, Donald Wilkerson, Booker Ervin, James Clay, Marchel Ivery, on up to UNT alum Shelley Carrol who performs regularly in Dallas. The thread that runs through all of them is a full-bodied tone that always has a blues flavor.
By the mid-’30s, he was working in Kansas City and landed a seat in the Count Basie Orchestra when they expanded their size after being signed to Decca Records in 1936. In the Basie band, he finally achieved fame through the following recordings (with time his solos start): One O’ Clock Jump 00:45, Doggin’ Around 00:40, Texas Shuffle 1:56 and his most famous solo performance, Blue and Sentimental.
In the Basie reed section
Herschel on left with fellow Basie-ite, Buck Clayton
Herschel died at age 29 in 1939 of a heart attack and was replaced in the Basie band by fellow Texan, Buddy Tate. It was said that Lester mourned his section mate, paid his funeral expenses, and Evans’ passing may have helped precipitate his leaving Basie the next year. Here is footage of the Count Basie Orchestra at Randall’s Island in New York City in 1938. The music on the video is overdubbed but, at 1:41, you can see him sitting down with his sax to the right of singer Jimmy Rushing who is standing.
posted by Chuck.
Miss Emily’s JukeJoint, 6.13.11; Louise Tobin’s Blues
One of the great things about this job is that we get to meet interesting people, learn things from them and then pass it on to you! About two months ago I received a request from a researcher in California looking for any local information about a nonagenarian female jazz singer from Aubrey, Texas. Naturally, being a jazz junkie, my ears perked up. Texas has been the home and genesis of many greats but this one had me intrigued. It didn’t take me long to find alot of information about Mary Louise Tobin and her website.
The Newspaper Archives database available from our Special Collections/Genealogy page has the Denton Record-Chronicle from 1909-1977 searchable by keyword. You can read her biography at her homepage linked above and there are other articles here and here. But, for those who want to dig a little deeper, she shows up frequently in the DRC in the early-to-mid ’30s:
She was on the honor roll for the North Ward School in January of 1931 (DRC, 1/30/31).
Sang “Nobody Cares If I’m Blue” at a Junior High fundraiser (DRC, 4/28/31).
Recovering from an attack of diptheria (!) (DRC 2/29/32).
Elected officer of the 1934 Denton High School “Justimere” (?) Club (DRC, 1/29/34).
Performed as part of a dance program at DHS in Feb. 1934 (DRC, 2/13/34).
etc., etc….
But, finally we see when she makes the jump from semi-pro to professional (and eventually drops “Mary” from her name)-
Mary Louise Goes To The Dallas Palace
One of the most fascinating, perhaps even startling, things to read was that she was described as a “blues singer” when she began her professional career. Pretty cool for a 16-17 year old. In fact, when she resumed her career in the late 1950′s, noted jazz critic Whitney Balliett compared her to Billie Holliday and Ella Fitzgerald. YouTube goodness here.
Mary Louise and Benny, San Francisco 1939
Ah, the joys of reading a small town newspaper where everyone knew everyone else’s business, and then published it!
Miss Emily’s JukeJoint, 3.15.11 Galen Abdur-Razzaq performs at all three Library locations.
Happy Ides of March, y’all. Next week, jazz flautist Galen Abdur-Razzaq will be performing at each of our three library locations on March 22. Here is his schedule:
2:00 pm at South Branch Library, 3228 Teasley Lane
5:00 pm at Emily Fowler Central Library, 502 Oakland St.
7:00 pm at North Branch Library, 3020 N. Locust St.
For more information about Galen visit: www.flutejuice.com This program is a gift to the community and offered free of charge.
Here and here are some YouTube clips. His program for the Denton Public Library celebrates Women’s History Month with emphasis on female jazz musicians, their role in jazz history and styles. Audience members are invited to participate in this unique learning opportunity.
Join us!
posted by Chuck
Miss Emily’s JukeJoint 11.30.2010: Willie and Wynton
I’m digging the CD “Two Men With The Blues” featuring Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis. Back in 1930, Louis Armstrong recorded with Jimmie Rodgers on the latter’s “Blue Yodel, No. 9“. I like to think this recording was inspired by that pairing of 80 years ago. Sadly they don’t do that tune, but there is plenty of goodness for the ear anyway.
Wynton and Willie
Bet you didn’t think of Willie as a jazz musician, did you? Well, his vocal phrasing and guitar style exhibit his affection for Django, Bob Wills and Hoagy Carmichael.
Here’s Louis Armstrong and Johnny Cash paying tribute Jimmie Rodgers in 1970 on the Johnny Cash show. Johnny was deep.
Miss Emily’s JukeJoint, 9.4.10 New CDs and Gil Scott-Heron
Greetings, y’all-
Been a while-my apologies. Here are some new music CD titles at the Fowler Library:
Gil Scott-Heron, “I’m New Here”
Jelly Roll Morton, “Library of Congress Recordings”
Clem Snide, “The Meat of Life”
Miles Davis, “My Funny Valentine”
Kit Downes Trio, “Golden”
The Books, “The Way Out”
Kutt Calhoun, “Raw and un Kutt”
Kevin Hart, “Seriously Funny”
Jesca Hoop, “Hunting My Dress”
There’s alot to write about in this list (I *love* the Miles Davis album and Jelly Roll Morton? Mmmmm) but I’m gonna just hang with Gil in the blog post…
Gil Scott-Heron is a socially-conscious songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from New York who is most known for the song, “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”. He is an early influence on rap and hip hop artists. The New Yorker recently ran a profile of him in the August 9th, 2010 issue:
Gil Scott-Heron "I'm New Here" 2010
Miss Emily’s JukeJoint, 8.10.10 New Titles
Greetings.
We have some new titles here at the Emily Fowler Library:
John Prine-In person & On Stage
Rick Ross- Teflon Don
Timothy Andres-Shy And Mighty
Arturo Sandoval-A Time for Love
Johnny Gimble-With Friends
Alacranes Musical-Por Siempre
Sage Francis-Li(f)e
Fidel Rueda-Cumpliendo Un Sueno
Fela-Fela!
Gustav Mahler-Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection”
Melvins-The Bride Screamed Murder
Tony Allen-Secret Agent
Until next time, keep those discs in their sleeves/cases/covers…
-posted by Chuck
Miss Emily’s JukeJoint, July 23rd.
How are ya’ll out there? We’ve got some new comedy CDs this week to spotlite and some stuff I just happened to find in the collection wilst working on the big collection/condensing project.
New Comedy titles are: Reggie Watts, “Why $#!+ So Crazy?” and Wanda Sykes, “Sick and Tired”
Some CDs I tripped over while letting my fingers do the walking are the following:
The Allen Toussaint Collection http://library.cityofdenton.com/search~S4?/atouss/atouss/1%2C5%2C10%2CB/frameset&FF=atoussaint+allen&1%2C%2C4/indexsort=- with a variety of titles from different albums and labels through the years. Toussaint is a New Orleans R&B legend who writes, arranges plays great piano and this CD has his original version of what you old-timers probably remember more for Glen Campbell’s cover: “Southern Nights”.
Judy Garland, “The Letter” with Gordon Jenkins. I know nothing about this CD but seeing the cover artwork (which is reminiscent of Sinatra’s and others of the period and label) and that she is working with Gordon Jenkins piqued my interest. Upon further research, I learn that it was meant as a song-cycle with narration by John Ireland and that it is one of the more obscure titles in the Garland discography. http://www.thejudyroom.com/discography/capitol/theletter.html
I’ve been on a Bossa Nova/Brazilian kick lately and am pleased to find multiple titles by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Astrud and Joao Gilberto, Stan Getz, etc.
Until next time- keep those discs in their sleeves/cases!
Catching up with Chick (and Miles) at DPL
Well, I’m a little late with this post, I guess. I was trying to think of a way to kill three crows with one stone (blog post):
1. Something having to do with our music collection.
2. Something having to do with Miles Davis.
3. Something having to do with current Denton events.
I think I may be able to tie them all together now. This past weekend as many of you know, the 20th Annual Denton Arts and Jazz Fest was held in Quakertown Park. Headlining on Friday night was The Chick Corea Trio. If you were there, as I was, you know how they threw down. We have several CDs by him in solo format, back in the day and with his former employer, Miles Davis.
Chick Corea
That’s the simple version. It seems like every other year, the Arts and Jazz Fest has a former member of one of the many Miles Davis groups as a headliner. In the recent past they have had Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul, Bill Evans and now Chick. There are many good reasons for this but one I would like to point out is that, besides being a master himself, Miles knew talent, how to find it, mix it up in a musical stew and bring it forth. Maybe not every last musician in his groups became a (jazz) household name but far too many did to make it mere coincidence.
We have, of course, mucho Miles to listen to and read about from the ’40s to the ’90s. From Bebop to hip showtunes to “FreeBop” to fusion to the late period. Think of him as a Picasso of the trumpet-as cliche as that may seem.
Miles Davis, 1980's
Posted by Chuck, 4.29.10
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