Book Read Free

Louis Armstrong, Master of Modernism

Page 71

by Thomas Brothers


  sports activity of, 308–9, 424

  stature and physique of, 3, 25, 153, 237, 308–9

  strong initial attacks of, 142, 197, 242

  study of the “classics” by, 10, 141, 198

  stylized facial expressions of, 169

  success and fame of, 3, 114–15, 118, 122–23, 303–4, 309, 365–66

  touring of, 1–2, 40, 84, 116–18, 288, 366, 415, 425–31, 433–37

  trumpet virtuosity of, 2, 7, 9, 180–81, 190–92, 217, 221, 263, 323, 331, 340–41, 349, 352, 364–65, 384, 410, 434, 435–36

  unique singing style of, 2, 7, 8, 9, 118, 151, 166, 169, 174, 182, 189–90, 197–98, 211–21, 236, 237, 263, 278–79, 296–99, 326, 329–32, 346–48, 351–54, 356–61, 365–68, 383–84, 396–403, 434, 438–39

  use of mutes by, 101, 402

  vernacular values of, 3–4, 7–9, 10, 11, 69, 141, 145, 166, 189, 196, 200, 224, 354, 454–55

  whistling of, 109–10

  white admirers and friends of, 38, 174, 304–7, 326–28, 365–66, 380, 451

  youthful shyness of, 71, 78, 119

  Armstrong, Willie (father), 277

  Ash, Paul, 218, 286, 326–27

  Association of Trade and Commerce, 124

  Atkins, Boyd, 211, 213, 214, 218–19, 308

  Atkins, Eddie, 180

  Atlanta University, 125, 126–27, 129

  Atlantic City, N.J., 53, 214

  Auld Lang Syne, 421

  Aunt Harriet Becha Stowe, 363

  Austin, Gene, 298, 400

  Austin, Mary, 230–31

  Austin, Obie, 386

  Austin, Tex., 426, 427

  Baby Face, 182

  Bach, Johann Sebastian, 135, 267, 366

  Backwater Blues, 52

  Bagnall, Robert W., 124–25

  Bailey, Buster, 22, 35, 103, 117, 117, 141–42, 145, 154, 163, 223, 228, 297

  growl clarinet technique of, 142

  Bailey, Joe, 399

  Bailey, Mildred, 238

  Baker, Houston, 145

  Baker, Josephine, 342, 344

  Baldwin, James, 317, 394, 398, 400

  Baltimore, Md., 434

  Royal Theater in, 435

  Baltimore Afro-American, 125, 138, 385, 386, 426, 494, 498, 501, 508

  bands, 5, 272

  contests between, 5, 8

  dance, 5, 26, 31–33, 58–60, 63, 88, 90, 115, 130, 135, 138–39, 272

  marching, 4–5, 21, 32, 85, 248, 395, 438

  minstrel, 23

  pick-up, 153–54, 163

  swing, 165

  white, 10, 17, 23–24, 57, 58, 63, 76, 129–31, 138–41, 143–44, 151, 286, 494–95

  banjos, 18, 61–62, 64, 88, 123

  Baraka, Amiri, 48, 142, 293, 365

  Barbarin, Paul, 35, 40, 207, 214, 217, 235, 243, 256, 332, 362, 500, 514

  Barker, Danny, 2, 52, 123, 128, 246, 307, 329, 336, 338, 436, 511

  Barnes, Paul, 158

  Barney Google comic strip, 214

  Barrymore, John, 185

  Basie, Count, 31, 317

  Basin Street Blues, 325, 359

  Beatles, 10, 11

  Beau Koo Jack, 323–24, 364, 415, 511

  bebop, 89, 97

  improvisation in, 251

  Bechet, Sidney, 17, 57, 91, 153, 164, 196, 344, 417–18, 517

  confidence and virtuosity of, 83, 159

  European move of, 157

  first successful recording of, 83

  influence of, 64

  jazz breaks and obbligato of, 83, 159

  LA and, 83, 155–59

  New Orleans sound of, 59

  rivalry of LA and, 83, 156

  on soprano sax, 98

  Beethoven, Ludwig van, 10–11, 136, 178, 366

  Beiderbecke, Bix, 61, 143, 218, 238, 280–82, 313, 364, 391, 403, 495, 505

  LA’s influence on, 267–68, 281

  premature death of, 282

  Bell, Jimmy, 279–80

  Belt, Madeline, 346

  Benjamin, Walter, 354

  Bennett, Eloise, 278

  Ben Selvin’s Famous Moulin Rouge Orchestra, 130

  Benson Orchestra, 131, 138, 144

  Berigan, Bunny, 154–55, 410

  Berlin, Irving, 78, 134, 135, 193

  Berlioz, Hector, 393

  Bernhardt, Clyde, 60, 65, 146, 326, 372, 454

  Bernstein, Leonard, 451

  Berquist, Whitey, 239

  Berton, Vic, 387

  Bertrand, Jimmy, 180, 186, 192

  Bessie Couldn’t Help It, 367

  Best, Edward, 124

  Betty Boop cartoons, 437, 444–46, 447, 454

  Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, 436

  Bigard, Barney, 22, 83, 209

  Big Butter and Egg Man, 174, 190, 221, 237, 242–43, 244–45, 247–50, 259, 266, 278, 281, 286, 348, 352, 371, 375, 438, 508–9

  LA’s famous trumpet solo in, 243, 245, 249–55, 252, 260, 263, 374, 459, 460

  Billboard, 342

  Bill Brownie’s Boys, 386

  Billups, Pope, 124

  Binga, Jesse, 75

  Birth of a Nation (film), 443

  Bix Beiderbecke and His Rhythm Jugglers, 61

  Black, Charles L., Jr., 427

  Black, Clarence, 290, 309

  Black and Tan (film), 378

  Black and Tan Fantasy, 300, 489, 514

  Blackbirds of 1928, 329, 345, 347, 350, 354

  Black Bottom, 234–37, 241, 501

  Black Boy (Wright), 305

  Blacker the Berry, The (Thurman), 352

  Black Swan Records, 53, 127–29

  Henderson as musical director at, 128

  Blake, Eubie, 73, 155, 326, 338, 341–44, 347, 351, 398, 497, 517

  Bleyer, Archie, 304

  Blue Again, 413

  Blue Five, 83

  blue notes, b, 149, 154, 156, 197, 258, 281, 372, 448

  blues, 15, 47–56, 76, 370

  AAB standard form of, 51, 58, 64, 90, 155

  adaptations of, 50–54

  additive rhythm in, 94, 134

  black opposition to, 50

  call and response in, 90

  as “colored folks’ opera,” 51–52

  commercial explosion of, 127

  “crooning,” 298

  delta tradition in, 49

  diminished chords in, 66

  dragging behind the beat in, 65, 94

  flexible concepts of, 57–59

  gutbucket, 52, 57

  harmonies of, 5, 66–68, 134, 136, 156

  heightened emotion in, 48–49, 52–53

  heterophony in, 67

  “hot,” 65

  improvisation in, 5, 11, 49, 59, 72, 83, 131

  intense vibratos in, 68

  irregularly placed accents in, 94

  LA’s playing of, 4, 5, 11, 47, 50, 56, 62–67, 115, 282–83, 292–95, 393, 438, 455

  lowdown, dirty, 56

  New Orleans style, 47–48, 54–60, 65–69, 72, 133

  obbligato lines in, 5, 49, 90

  origins of, 48–50

  ornamentation in, 49, 52, 65, 84

  pastiche approach to, 64

  performer-centered, 51–54, 59–60, 69, 81–84, 91

  phrasing and fleeting rhythmic patterns of, 49, 56, 57, 118–19, 188–89

  pitch bending and “blue notes” of, 49, 50–52, 56, 57, 64, 65, 68, 112, 134–35, 149

  playing by ear in, 36, 49, 59, 68, 73, 86–87, 91, 92, 133

  popularity of, 51, 57

  publication of, 50–52, 59

  recordings of, 50, 53–54, 60–67, 129

  slow tempos of, 31, 51–52, 57, 58, 154, 156, 162, 163, 256, 295, 308, 455

  strong initial attacks in, 68, 118–19

  “talking,” 213

  unequivocal black identity of, 49

  vocal style of, 5, 49, 51–52, 59–60, 65–66, 129

  on wind instruments, 54–56, 62–67, 156

  “blues people,” 48

  blues singers, 52–5
4, 59–60, 129

  LA’s playing for, 153–55, 158–63, 165

  see also specific singers

  blue tritone dissonance, 144

  Blue Turning Grey Over, 365, 367

  Blue Yodel Number 9 (Standin’ on the Corner), 381

  B-Minor Mass (Bach), 135

  Bocage, Peter, 212

  “Bodidly,” 29

  Body and Soul, 386, 398, 406–7

  Bogalousa Strut, 283

  Bolden, Charles “Buddy,” 293

  blues playing of, 56, 69, 90–91, 110

  popularity and fame of, 56

  Bolton, James “Red Happy,” 212, 237, 491–92

  Bordoni, Irene, 367

  Borneo, 313

  Boston, Mass., 489

  Metropolitan Theater (Wang Theater) in, 436–37

  Paul Revere Hall in, 437

  Boswell Sisters, 220, 411

  Bottoms, Bill, 77, 167–68

  Bourdieu, Pierre, 47–48

  Bradford, Perry, 53, 54, 155, 163, 165, 215, 258, 344, 501

  Brahms, Johannes, 267

  Branen, Jeff, 278

  Braud, Wellman, 103

  Briggs, Peter, 260, 308

  Brooks, Harvey, 399

  Brooks, Shelton, 155

  Broomfield, Leroy, 182, 379

  Brown, Herbert, 247, 267

  Brown, Lawrence, 380, 382

  Brown, Ralph, 59, 185, 187

  Brown, Scoville, 305, 309

  Brown and McGraw, 203–4, 235, 246–47, 248–49, 251–52, 264, 276, 290, 502, 504

  Brown Brothers, 235

  Brown v. Board of Education, 427

  Brymn, Tim, 344

  Bryson, Prentice A., 276

  Buck and Bubbles, 244, 247, 264–65, 312, 355

  Buffalo Express, 410

  Bugle Blues, 98, 101, 102

  Bugle Call Rag, 101, 102, 105

  bugle calls, 101–2

  Bunny Hug, 18

  Burke, Ceele, 384

  burlesque, 167

  Bushell, Garvin, 53, 58–59, 65, 88, 97, 152, 177, 509, 512, 520

  on Henderson, 139–41

  Butterbeans and Susie, 238

  Butterfly Fantasy, 279–80

  Bye and Bye, 147

  By the Waters of Minnetonka (Lieurance), 122

  cabarets, 28, 53, 113, 130, 165–74, 182, 189, 203, 231

  “black and tan,” 22–23, 34, 40, 228, 229, 232–33, 238–44, 338–43, 340, 489

  integration in, 226–29, 232–33, 238

  liberation and hedonism in, 232–38, 240–41

  white patrons of, 33–39, 63, 82, 143, 226, 238–39

  cakewalk, 283

  Cake Walking Babies from Home, 158–59

  California, 21, 22–24, 30, 73, 86, 325, 360, 376–87, 410, 412, 437

  California Eagle, 389, 410

  California Ramblers, 138, 144

  call and response, 90, 143–44

  Calloway, Blanche, 165, 218, 278, 513

  Calloway, Cab, 165, 276, 278, 308, 339, 346, 392, 403, 411, 422, 447

  dancing and scatting of, 445

  on LA, 218

  Campbell, Dick, 379

  Campbell, E. Simms, 391

  Campbell, Floyd, 291

  Camp Meeting Blues, 107

  Canal Street Blues, 61, 63–64, 90

  LA and Oliver as co-composers of, 64, 106, 107, 457

  Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man, 239–40

  Capone, Al, 226, 415

  LA and, 227

  Carey, Mutt, 155

  Caribbean Sea, 28, 92

  Carmichael, Dorothy, 268

  Carmichael, Hoagy, 35, 233, 238, 393, 443

  compositions of, 268, 360, 362–63, 367, 396, 403–7, 405, 515

  on LA, 102, 281, 301, 331–32, 397, 403–4

  Carolina Stomp, 150

  Carolina Sunshine, 440

  Carpenter, Charlie, 393, 412, 435–36, 509

  Carpenter, John Alden, 134

  Carr, Mancy “Peek,” 292

  Carroll Dickerson’s Orchestra, 101, 205, 216, 244, 255, 290, 294, 308–9, 334–37, 340, 347, 491, 510–11

  Carroll Dickerson’s Syncopators, 259

  Carter, Bennie, 333

  Carter, William J., 124

  Carter Temple CME Church, 276

  Casa Loma Orchestra, 436–37

  Castle, Irene and Vernon, 32, 235

  Cato, Minta, 434

  Cavalleria Rustican (Mascagni), 180, 186–87, 188, 438, 497, 498

  Cayton, Horace, 174, 183

  Celestin, Oscar “Papa,” 91

  Chambers, Elmer, 147

  Changeable Daddy of Mine, 158

  Charleston (dance), 135, 163, 169, 182, 184, 218, 233–37, 240, 244, 258, 338, 343–44

  Charleston Rag, 214

  Charlie Davis and His Orchestra, 143

  Charlie Elgar’s Creole Band, 23

  Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten, 386

  Chauvin, Louis, 219

  Cheatham, Adolphus “Doc,” 7, 75, 173, 192, 227, 331

  on LA, 248, 251, 309

  Check and Double Check (film), 378, 385

  Chicago, Ill., 2, 7–8, 13–39, 436

  African-American community of, 16–17, 43, 46–48, 74–75, 174, 183

  after-hours clubs in, 176

  Apex Club in, 14, 194, 225

  Arlington Restaurant in, 79

  Big Fat Mammy from Alabamy in, 283

  Black Hawk Grill in, 277

  black-owned businesses in, 75, 77–78, 165–71

  Café de Paris in, 276

  Chicago Theater in, 280

  City Hall in, 113

  classical music teachers in, 103–5

  Club Baghdad in, 286

  Coliseum in, 215–16, 278–79

  Columbia Hotel in, 75

  Congress Hotel in, 278

  crime and prostitution in, 226–27, 238

  Deluxe Café in, 194

  Drake Hotel in, 36, 99, 179

  Dreamland Café in, 14, 21, 70, 71, 73, 77–78, 102–3, 120, 165–71, 175–76, 183, 189, 203–6, 208–9, 453, 459

  Edelweiss Gardens in, 75–76

  Edgewater Beach resorts in, 36

  Ed Victor’s Barber Shop in, 14, 46

  Eighth Regiment Armory in, 14, 203–4, 217

  Elite Café #1 in, 14, 17

  Erlanger Theater in, 76–77

  Fiume Café in, 14, 76

  garment industry in, 43

  “Gold Coast” of, 99

  Granada Inn in, 326–28

  Grand Theater in, 14, 17, 52

  Hotel Sherman in, 327

  Ideal Tea Room in, 113

  Jackson’s Music Shop in, 17

  job opportunities in, 15, 40, 43, 45

  Jones Music Store in, 14, 72

  Kelley’s Stables in, 194

  Kimball Hall in, 104, 105, 141, 188, 198, 283, 292–93, 493

  LA’s 1922 arrival in, 3, 7, 15–17, 39, 49

  LA’s 1925 return to, 113, 163–65, 430, 458

  Liberty Congregational Church in, 291

  Lincoln Cemetery in, 276

  Loop in, 104, 277, 280, 413

  meatpacking industry in, 15, 43

  Mecca Flats in, 14, 46, 47

  Metropolitan Theater in, 14, 261, 279–80, 286, 288

  Monogram Theater in, 14, 52, 177

  movie theaters in, 175–97, 175, 195

  Nest Club in, 225

  New Orleans musicians in, 15, 17–28, 19, 43, 46, 54, 58–59, 62–63, 103, 123, 194

  night life in, 16–17, 74–79

  1919 race riots in, 43

  1925 battle of the bands in, 8

  Palace Theater (Cadillac Palace) in, 430–32

  Pekin Theater and Cabaret in, 14, 17, 76, 103

  Phoenix Theater in, 52

  Plantation Café in, 14, 194, 222–28, 232, 235–38, 241, 255–56, 259, 334

  police in, 236–37

  racial conditions in, 33–39, 42–45

  racial integration in, 33–39, 76, 226–29, 23
2–33, 326–28, 404–6

  red-light district in, 17

  Regal Theater in, 14, 328–29, 366, 412

  Roosevelt Theater in, 327

  St. Thomas Episcopal Church in, 98–99, 105

  Savoy Ballroom in, 283, 285, 287–97, 289, 294, 303–4, 307–10, 310, 324, 327–30, 366, 387, 433, 438, 453

  Schiller’s Café in, 17, 98

  Show Boat in, 413–15, 433

  South Side of, 11, 14, 18, 38, 43–44, 59, 68, 70, 77, 102–3, 130, 131, 141, 168, 178, 190, 194, 224, 412

  South State Street in, 16–17, 21, 46, 52, 72, 74, 76, 77

  steel industry in, 15, 43

  Sunset Café (Grand Terrace) in, 14, 34, 101–2, 209, 216–17, 220–34, 224, 236–44, 261, 274–75, 286, 317, 372, 434, 438, 453, 459

  Trianon Ballroom in, 202

  12th Street Railroad Station in, 15

  urban sophistication of, 8

  Vendome Theater in, 8, 14, 17, 52, 166, 175–97, 175, 199–204, 206–7, 242, 246, 261–63, 268, 273–75, 288, 318–19, 370–71, 405–6, 434, 438, 453, 458

  Vincennes Hotel in, 276, 288

  Warwick Hall in, 14, 259, 286–87, 287

  see also Lincoln Gardens

  Chicago Breakdown, 260–62, 279, 312

  Chicago College of Music, 334

  Chicago Daily News, 172, 501

  Chicago Daily Tribune, 430, 490, 501, 507, 511, 518

  Chicago Defender, 15, 37, 40, 42, 44, 44, 50, 54, 75, 76, 98, 102, 167, 173, 235–36, 307, 439

  on LA, 100, 166, 326, 356, 387, 413, 429

  music reviews in, 17, 32, 51, 53, 100, 104, 119, 130–31, 138, 141, 166, 178, 344, 346

  Chicago Symphony, 103

  Chicago Whip, 50

  Chicago White Sox, 20, 179

  Chimes Blues, 7, 61, 63, 86, 90, 107, 148, 272, 502

  LA’s solo on, 64, 66, 69, 83, 112, 143, 172, 194, 250, 253, 253, 255, 456

  Chinatown, My Chinatown, 435, 445–46, 511

  Cincinnati, Ohio, 430, 433

  Albee Theater in, 429–30

  Palace Theater in, 441, 444

  Cincinnati Enquirer, 430

  civil rights movement, 3, 28, 427

  Civil War, U.S., 27, 450

  Clarence Jones’s Orchestra, 279–80, 288–89

  Clarence Williams’s Blue Five, 83, 155–59, 165

  Clarinet Marmalade, 102, 105, 106, 184

  Clayton, Buck, 382, 384, 386–87, 439, 516

  Cleveland, Ohio, 433, 454

  Cohan, George M., 155

  Cold in Hand Blues, 160–61, 332

  Cold War, 3

  Cole and Man, 182

  Coleman, Bill, 151

  Coleridge, Samuel Taylor, 393

  Coles, Charles “Honi,” 171, 350, 501–2

  Collins, Chief, 237

  Collins, Johnny, 413–15, 414, 418–19, 422–23, 425–26, 428–29, 434, 446

  Collins, Lee, 105, 119, 430

  Collins, Mary, 428

  Colored Waif’s Home for Boys, 418, 421, 421

  LA sent to, 102, 276–77, 498

  Coltrane, John, 292

  Columbia Records, 60, 130, 159, 319–20

 

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