Silver Linings

Sometimes a mistake turns out to be for the best. Reader Jules Chaikin wrote to ask if we might have misidentified the musicians in the photo at the top of our previous post:




 








The Stan Kenton band bus broke down outside an Iowa town in which the orchestra was scheduled to perform, so the musicians marched the rest of the way. A Kenton biography lists Ray Wetzel as leader of the motley group and the three brass players immediately behind him -- from left to right -- as Milt Bernhart, Buddy Childers and Bart Varsalona. Recognizing Ray and Milt right away, we simply trusted in the accuracy of the other two names and printed them as they appear in the book.
 
When Jules questioned a couple of the faces, we did what we should have done in the first place and turned to the ultimate authority on all things Kenton, Steven Harris. Steven is familiar with not just the picture we posted but other shots of the April 1948 incident. He was quickly able to determine who's who in the photo. Double-click the image for a larger view:

 
So besides straightening out the original names, Steven identified a couple more of the guys for us, one example of our mistake turning out for the best. Another example is that in talking with Steven, we learned his 2011 Stan Kenton calendars will be the last. If you ever even considered ordering one, now's the time to act:

THE 2011 KENTON KALENDAR 

Price: $29.95 + $3 shipping

Final issue!  After more than 15 years, this historic calendar ends its run, marking Stan’s 2011 birth centennial.  This limited edition collector's item is size 8½ x 11 on glossy paper with high–resolution photos.  As always, this unique fact–filled calendar offers all new pictures!  Plus: *More than 450 historical dates, background and trivia on Stan's star soloists and players covering the entire Kenton era, 1940–78.  *Over 25 rare action shots of Stan and his various bands in action, spanning four decades, published for the first time anywhere.  *Encyclopedia of Kentonia: An updated alumni reference guide covering the tenure, instrument, birth date and location of over 350 musicians, singers and arrangers.  *Only 125 copies produced, individually numbered.  *First time color cover.  Note: back issues from 2002-2010 available at half price.
 

Now on sale at half-price!  
THE KENTON KRONICLES

Price: $24.95 + $5 shipping

*394-page soft cover biography, 8½ x 11 in size with 48 glossy photo pages.  *285 unpublished b/w photos.  *Chronological interviews from more than 125 alumni, relatives and associates.  *Individual chapters on each of Kenton's various bands.  *Programs for all 11 Neophonic concerts, 1965-68.  *Historic reviews and entertainment ads.  *Kenton on Camera: a 15-page listing of more than 125 appearances of Stan in films, TV and private videos.  *Updated addendum.  *Autographed by author per request.  Note: super rare uncirculated hard cover edition, among the first numbers 5-10, with more than 25 alumni autographs now available (contact for details).

Send payment (check or money order) to:

Dynaflow Publications
148 N. Catalina Avenue, Suite 4
Pasadena, CA 91106

Thanks, Steven, and good luck!

The Bandstand: August 2006

Our last post led with the news that a hip-hop group had given an impromptu performance atop a truck parked across lanes of the Hollywood Freeway. Several readers wrote in to express the opinion that a big band would never be that inconsiderate.

Probably true, though big bands aren't exactly strangers to putting their business in the street either:













When its bus broke down on a country road in Iowa, the Stan Kenton band marched into town. The three brass players behind leader Ray Wetzel are, from left, Milt Bernhart, Buddy Childers and Bart Varsalona.

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Congratulations to BBAA board member Marty Halperin for his appearance in the second installment of "Michael Feinstein's American Songbook," newly airing on PBS affiliates across the country. Episode 2 is titled "Best Band in the Land (1940s)." Marty is shown giving Feinstein a tour of his basement archive of WWII-era Armed Forces Radio Service vinyl transcriptions and V-Discs. Feinstein discusses the history of the AFRS and presents performance footage of Lena Horne, Bing Crosby and Judy Garland, among others.

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We received the following e-mail a few days ago:

I was wondering if your organization offered any merit-based scholarships to aspiring young musicians interested in big band music?

Please advise -

Thanks
Barbara Casey
mom of a Big Band Enthusiast!

While we can't offer scholarships -- and I wish we could -- individuals who might be interested are free to get in touch with Ms. Casey. Her e-mail address is barbara@caseylight.com. 

Of course, the Big Band Academy makes no representations or warranties with respect to Ms. Casey's request.

Well, That's One Way to Break Your Band

Today brought us another Only-in-L.A. occurrence, as a hip-hop group parked a truck across three lanes of a freeway this morning, the members climbed on top of the truck and performed an impromptu concert for delighted motorists:

Click here for further details and video of the spectacle:

www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-101-freeway-music-group-blockade,0,3442772.story

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In better-conceived events, Jim Jimirro will kick off his 2010-11 lecture series on the Great American Songbook tomorrow night at the Beverly Hills Public Library:

www.jimirro.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49&Itemid=56

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And producer/director Judy Chaikin, wife of studio trumpeter Jules Chaikin, is putting the finishing touches on "The Girls in the Band," her feature-length documentary about female jazz and big band instrumentalists. She invites friends of the BBAA to see the trailer on YouTube ...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYfP2ylrq3A 

... and visit the film's Facebook page ...
 
www.facebook.com/thegirlsintheband

Keep us updated, Judy!

Buddy Morrow

I was saddened to open yesterday's newspaper and see that Buddy Morrow had died. The legendary trombonist ("Night Train") was 91 years old, but had appeared at a concert near his Florida home in his role as leader of the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra only three days before his death.

Here are links to obituaries in the Los Angeles Times and New York Times:

articles.latimes.com/2010/oct/04/local/la-me-buddy-morrow-20101004

www.nytimes.com/2010/10/03/nyregion/03morrow.html

Over the last year and a half or so, I corresponded occasionally with Buddy's wife, Carol. The hope was that the BBAA could honor Buddy at a Big Band Reunion, scheduling the event for a time when the Morrows would be in L.A. to visit their daughter. While I'm disappointed that such an affair never came to pass, the disappointment pales compared to the realization of the terrible hole Buddy's death leaves in the musical landscape. There are just some personalities who can't be replaced and Buddy was one of them, if anybody was.

All aboard ... the Night Train!