DEMS BULLETIN
DUKE ELLINGTON MUSIC SOCIETY
03/2 August-November 2003
FOUNDER: BENNY AASLAND
HONORARY MEMBER: FATHER JOHN GARCIA GENSEL
EDITOR: SJEF HOEFSMIT
ASSISTED BY: ROGER BOYES
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THE INTERNATIONAL DEMS BULLETIN DUKE ELLINGTON MUSIC SOCIETY 03/2 August-November 2003 FOUNDER: BENNY AASLAND |
Voort 18b, Meerle, Belgium
Telephone: +32 3 315 75 83
Email: dems@skynet.be
See DEMS 03/1-1
I have said this before when this legendary event has come up in discussion. To me the date of the occasion is of far less interest than the question of how the Ellington Orchestra whipped up the audience into its frenzy of enthusiasm. The unattributed comment quoted by the late Benny Aasland describes the 'wave of mass hysteria' as 'a preview of what would occur at the Newport Jazz Festival almost twenty years later'. The comparison is clear, and we all accept it. But everyone also accepts, and all the eyewitness evidence confirms, that in 1956 the whipping-up was achieved through Paul's 'wailing interval', with which he had been linking the Diminuendo to the Crescendo since the early 1950s. Yet in 1938 neither Paul nor any other tenor-saxophone soloist graced the Ellington Orchestra, and there is no evidence as far as I'm aware of any surviving 'intervals' between the two halves of the score before the various experiments Duke undertook in the middle 1940s. These involved existing slow pieces, either an established Ellington song or Transblucency. So I'd still be very keen to know whether, on 29May38 at Randall's Island, the band simply moved directly from the Diminuendo to the Crescendo with a minimal bridge passage on the piano, as it does on the original two-sided 78 rpm studio recording. Or was there a lengthier piano interlude? Or another slow based-piece tailored to the purpose, as we hear Carnegie Blues employed on the 7Jul45 Treasury Show (Blue Light perhaps or Subtle Lament)? Or a popular song hit of the day sung by Ivie? Alternatively, was the Ellington Orchestra joined by a visiting fireman from one of the 24 other bands present at Randall's Island 'Carnival'? I have a wonderful fantasy of Lester Young standing in front of the Ellington Orchestra, turning in one of those lengthy excursions on the blues, which we read of, in early 1930s Kansas City mythology. Is there anyone still out there with a recollection which can be triggered? Help, please! Roger Boyes
We are still trying to contact Mr Bill Savory.
A date is obviously less important than the performance, but with the date, one can identify a recording, which sometimes helps to find it. DEMS**
DEMS 03/1-5/1
DEMS 03/1-4/2
Charlie Vinal sold his six Ellington acetates (three 7-inch, three 10- inch) to Bob Altshuler, who loaned (or rented) them to Jerry Valburn for transfer. Jerry returned the acetates to Bob, who sold them to me in 1986. They've been in my collection ever since.
Vinal noted the date and location of each broadcast on the sleeve of each disc. (The discs themselves are without labels.)
One disc couples Harlem Air Shaft with I Don't Mind (All too Soon) from Eastwood Gardens on 29Jul40; another contains Rose of the Rio Grande and Warm Valley (closing theme) from 31Jul40 (not 30Jul40 as shown in the New DESOR) on one side; the other side, Fools Rush In, was recorded 2Aug40 by Bob Norris and his (sweet) orchestra.
The sides from Canobie Lake Park (not a recording studio) were all broadcast on 17Aug40 according to Vinal's notations on the sleeves; the date 19Aug40 is an error.
All of Vinal's Ellington acetates were included on Everybodys EV-3005 with one exception: one side, dated 8Sep40, contains Sepia Panorama (theme) and Rumpus in Richmond; these are the same performances as DE4021a and 4021b, and confirms the date found by Ken Steiner in the radio logs at the Library of Congress (DEMS 02/2-26/Pages 49, 50 and 51).
The other side contains two unconnected tracks. Vinal noted the first as I Don't Mind [actually All too Soon] and the date: 13Sep40. The performance is complete as described in a small correction to the New DESOR (DEMS Bulletin 2000/4-24/p729). The second track is an unissued and unlisted Warm Valley (theme), presumably from the same date (Vinal didn't note the title or the date of this track on the sleeve). (The New DESOR team may wish to designate this performance as DE4024g.)
The most recent of Vinal's six Ellington acetates contains Jig Walk and an unissued Warm Valley (closing theme) from 21Sep40 as separate bands on one side. (Tootin' through the Roof, not recorded by Vinal, is back- announced over the Warm Valley theme; it was the penultimate song broadcast by Ellington on 21Sep40 per the radio logs at the Library of Congress researched by Ken Steiner and cited by Carl H,llstr"m in DEMS 02/2-26.) The reverse side contains Little Posey/Warm Valley (theme), and is dated 26Sep40.
Steven Lasker
See DEMS 03/1-9
I doubt if there has been an Ellington/Kenton battle of the bands on 11Jul53 at Roll Away Ballroom in Revere Beach, Mass. Duke was playing at the Bank Box in NYC from 7Jul to 19Jul53; there was a so-called battle of the bands between Basie and Duke during this period (See Klaus Stratemann p350). On 23Jul53, Kenton and Ellington shared a one-nighter in Taunton, Mass. There is no mention of a battle of the band on this date. Could some of the dates be mixed up? Jane Vollmer
In answer to Jane's question about a 1953 battle of the bands, Tony Agostinelli, jazz historian, LYM member, and editor of The Network, a newsletter about "all things Kenton", recalls this: "There was a battle of the bands at Roseland, in Taunton, Mass. at around the time mentioned. I have not seen the gig on anyone's itinerary. Each played charts from each other's book, as I remember.
It was a night not to forget - and yet, in my senility, I HAVE forgotten about it - what I also remember was that the Ellington fans and the Kenton fans were not intertwined at the bandstand -one group was on one side, and the other group was on the other side - oh, there was some mixing of fans - but not to a great extent. I have it in my list of dates on which I've seen Kenton - wherever that is now - I cannot remember a clear winner - I do remember the bands joined on Intermission Riff and another Ellington-inspired blues piece."
Well, since this gig was 50 years ago, Tony can be forgiven for forgetting the details. But even this much information should be helpful. Kenton researcher Pete Venudor reports:
12Jul52 is the correct date for the Revere Beach date "battle". 23Jul53, Taunton is correct. Ed Bride
The New Yorker (11Jul53) confirmed the Band Box from 11 until 17Jul53. Duke also appeared on 12Jul on the CBS TV Show "What's My Line?" SH**
22Mar39, Borderline Cafe, New York, N.Y. "One of the last rites performed by Duke Ellington, famed orchestra leader, before he sailed for the continent last Thursday noon, was to chop a poor chick's head off at the new and palatial Borderline Cafe at 7 West 110th street. The Cafe held a special premier for Duke, at which hundreds of the popular orchestra leader's caf, society friends attended. Bea Ellis, ex-chorine, smiles as Duke chops up chicken. His arranger, Billy Strayhorn, looks on, too." (New York Amsterdam News, 1Apr39, p21, with photo)
24Jul39 to 17Aug39, Ritz Roof, Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts. This important gig was held over 11 days past the initial two week booking (through 6Aug39). Years later, Billy Strayhorn recalled this "wonderful, wonderful engagement," where he substituted for Duke at the piano one night "and the guys in the band had never heard me play and they were sort of like 'Oh!' and I was very flattered."
Boston Herald, 3Aug39, p1.
The Ritz Roof was also the site of Strayhorn's first arrangement for Ivie Anderson, Cab Calloway's Jumpin' Jive. (March 1962 interview, Duke Ellington Society, New York, discussed in van de Leur, "Something to Live For," p30 and Hadju, "Lush Life," p60) Radio listings in the Boston Herald indicate local broadcasts began 26Jul39 and were carried over WBZ early evenings (Mondays at 9:30 or 10:00 p.m., Wednesdays at 7:45 p.m., Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 7:00 p.m., and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. Perhaps Sunday was a day-off). A reported gig on Sunday, 13Aug39 at the Old Orchard Pier in Orchard Beach, Maine is confirmed: "Concert 10 P.M. Till Midnight, Dancing Midnight Till 2 A.M." (Biddeford Daily Journal, 12Aug39) National broadcasts from the Ritz Roof were carried locally by WBZ at 12:00 midnight on Wednesdays (26Jul, 2Aug, 9Aug and 16Aug); NBC logs indicate they were fed nationally through WJZ in New York and the NBC Blue network. The 11Aug39 7:00 p.m. broadcast was also carried over WJZ and NBC Blue.
30Aug39, "Ellington's hobby, revealed recently during his appearance on Hobby Lobby, August 30, is the collection of Negro folklore, legends, and spirituals." (Kansas City Call, 29Sep39, p17) The Hobby Lobby program originated from WJZ in New York and was aired over the NBC Blue network at 8:30 p.m. E.D.T. (New York Times radio listings, 30Aug39)
24Sept39, Columbia Theatre, Alliance, Ohio. (Alliance Review, 23Sept39, ad)
8 and 9oct39, stop-over in Kansas City, Missouri. "Ellington and part of his orchestra were laying over before going to Junction City, Kas., for an engagement. They came from Lincoln, Nebr., a week ago." (Kansas City Call, 13oct39, p17)
17oct39 to 18oct39, Orpheum Theater, Madison, Wisconsin. Listed in Ken Vail's "Duke's Diary." "You have probably heard Ellington before. There is nothing startlingly new about his current presentation, and if you liked him then you will like him now. If anything, his interpretations are more symphonic than ever, without, however, sacrificing the hot quality that makes even the least torrid of those infamous insects, the jitterbugs, clap their hands and dance in the aisles. Whether in the ultra-hot 'Cotton Club Stomp,' the more soothing 'Caravan,' the subdued 'Mood Indigo,' or a trumpet concerto, soloists and rhythm section are near perfection in technique and artistry. Don't miss Duke's 'The Sergeant was Shy' or the trumpet concerto he wrote for Rex Stewart." (Wisconsin State Journal, 18oct39, p6)
20oct39 to 2Nov39, Coronado Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri. According to the "Radio Raves" column carried in several African-American weeklies, "Duke Ellington, who has been absent from the kilocycles for too many a moon, has received a Columbia network line out of the Coronado hotel in St. Louis every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 12:30 a.m. eastern time."Late night radio listings in the St. Louis papers were incomplete, but corresponding 11:30 p.m. Central Time broadcasts over KMOX were listed for 31oct and 2Nov (DEMS 02/3 p4).
19Nov39, Miramar Ballroom, Gary, Indiana.
Garry American, 24Nov39, p5.
16Dec39, Cotton Club, Indianapolis, Indiana. On a night between gigs, travelling from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Vincennes, Indiana, members of the band stop at a club in Indiana. "At the Cotton Club here Saturday Night--- Duke's bass plucker, Jimmie Blanton---who incidentally is in Down Beat in the December 15 issue---and he is a killer-diller as many of you heard at Duke's dance---jammed with an ofay sax player from Bob Crosby's band-------upstairs with Gene (Sox) Pope and the cats-------in the session-------which was a sender ------lookers on with Ye Scribe were thee one and only Johnny Hodges who by the by-------makes a nice (pinch-hitter) if you don't dig------see me!! It was interesting to hear Johnny tell me how he found Jimmie Blanton in St. Louis and how when Jimmie plays Body and Soul-----he plays more changes than any horn tooter---nicer hearing from Johnny that Freddie Jenkins------Duke's ex- trumpeteer will be out Christmas with a come off that shows he's ready to carry on with the band once more-------good luck Freddie!--- --- nice seein' the Mellow Jimmie Hinsley and Johnny exchanging compliments-----and nice knowin' that Jimmie is going to take Johnny's advice---Johnny also encouraged the Great Sox and the Mellow Jimmie with complimentary remarks about their teaming together so fine and mellow and speaking frankly that one saw no reason why success in the music world should not be theirs-----nice also and was encouraging to David Grant the drummer------that Johnny especially liked his drum beatin'------and so the cats came with the come off ------Wallace Jones, also trumpeteer witth Duke was downstairs with Ye Scribe Johnny and Cupid Raeded-----we had a lip jam session-----Wally is one of those fellows you love to meet and you never forget------because he comes on so nicely and goes out the same way------so fine and mellow------now are you digging?------Herbert Jeffries------singin' cowboy drifted in ------dug the cats-------mugged-------annd cut out----the number Falling in Love Again keeps Runnin' Thru My Mind-------dig that------! Jimmie Horton, box plucker from Cleveland, and friend of the Mellow-------was included in the Body and Soul jam session with the Jimmie Blanton and the joint was strictly aware of the jam session and they were comin' off---with the come on-----I mean vice versa ." (Indianapolis Recorder, 23Dec39, p12)
Further confirmation of the next two gigs in Chicago, reported in Tempo (see DEMS 02/2, p20&21):
20Dec39, Eden Club, Chicago, Illinois. Dancers will have an opportunity to dance to the music of Duke Ellington and his famous orchestra, who will play for one night only next Wednesday at Eden Club, Cermak at Mannheim Road, popular suburban night club."
(Chicago Herald-American, 16Dec39, p10)
31Dec39, Marigold Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois. "Official announcement that Duke Ellington and his noted crew of swingmasters will dominate on the band podium of the North Side's Marigold Gardens on New Year's Eve has been announced by the management of that gala place which has long been famed for its sporting events [boxing]. This will mark the Duke's first time to play for North Siders and this schedule is for one night only . This gala celebration is being played up as one of the most outstanding of the year's ending and the management expresses no regrets in the enormous expense this occasion will entail. The Marigold, mostly used for sporting events, will be converted into a cafe for the occasion." (Kansas City Call, national edition, 29Dec39 p14)
Chicago herald American, 29 Dec39, p22.
"Facing the facts: Duke Ellington and his brilliant band, plus the inimitable singing personality Ivy Anderson, have been sewing dance lovers up in this town. Having played down an effervescent society engagement for the daughter of one of Chicago's largest packing house kings, Edward A. Cudahy, on the past Friday [29Dec39] at the Blackstone Hotel, he came back on New Year's Eve and ruled at the Marigold Gardens for a public demonstration in modern swing music rendition." (Kansas City Call, national edition, 5Jan 40, p12)
21Jan40, RKO Boston, Boston, Massachusetts. (Boston Herald, 21Jan40, with this ad) Reports that listed Ellington at the Golden Gate Ballroom (Afro-American, 13Jan40, p14, and Billboard, 6Jan40, p13) likely were unfulfilled.
22Jan40, City Hall, Portland, Maine. Date clarified. "Duke Ellington and Tony Pastor, conductor of Artie Shaw's Orchestra will arrive by train from New York at 7 o'clock tonight for their battle of music in City Hall under the auspices of the Harold T. Andrews Post, American Legion. The auditorium will open at 6:30 p.m. and dancing will be from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m." (Portland Press Herald, 22Jan40, p12)
23 25Jan40, unidentified one-nighters. "Boston, Jan. 22. Ben Webster, well known tenor sax man formerly with Teddy Wilson, has joined Duke Ellington's orchestra, which is playing one-nighters around New England this week after packing them in at the Southland here." (Jazz Information, 26Jan40)
8Feb40, State-Lake Theater, Chicago, Illinois. Correct closing date for this engagement, which began 2Feb40. (Chicago Herald-American, 8Feb40, ad)
17Feb40, Michigan Theatre, Muskegon, Michigan. Venue identified. (Muskegon Chronicle 17Feb40, ad)
29Feb40, Palace Theater, South Bend, Indiana. Venue identified. Shows at 2:30, 4:55, 7:15, and 9:25. "All of the blatant individualism of Duke Ellington and his brass band was unleashed Thursday at the Palace theater where the Harlem maestro and his review appeared on stage. Suffering from an attack of laryngitis, Mr. Ellington was unable to announce and describe his peculiar rhythmical interpretations, so a sepia glamour boy singer, whose name the hoarse batonist failed to convey to us, and Ivie Anderson, femme vocalist, saw that the show did not fail to go on. In their commonly accepted manner the little company, composed of trumpets, saxophones, trombones, a piano, a bass viol and drums, whizzed through, among other things, 'Caravan,' an inimitable version of Rachmaninoff's 'Prelude in C Sharp Minor,' 'The Sergeant is Shy' and 'Boy Meets Horn.' Miss Anderson came through with the sure and certain 'Jumpin' Jive' and a fling with 'On the Sunny Side of the Street,' and the masculine vocalist helped with rather nice renditions of 'All the Things You Are,' 'Lilacs in the Rain,' and 'It's a Blue World.' The early matinee audience, mostly of faithful followers of the Ellington troop, hooted, hollered, clapped, and whistled approval. We welcomed the comparative quiet of Michigan Street after an hour of bellowing barbarism." (South Bend Tribune, 1Mar40, p4)
16Mar40, Tune Town, St. Louis, Missouri. (DEMS 03/1-7) Live broadcasts at 10:30 p.m. and 11:45 p.m. over KXOK. (St. Louis Globe-Democrat, 16Mar40, pp2C, ad; and 6C, radio listing)
17Apr40, Uptown Ballroom, Portland, Oregon. Corrected date. Live broadcast 10:30 p.m. over KGW. (The Oregonian, 17Apr40, ad)
21 to 22Apr40, Sweet's Ballroom, Oakland, California. Corrected dates. (Billboard, 30Mar40, p13; Oakland Tribune, 20Apr40, this ad, only lists "tomorrow night").
Two different reports indicate this was a two-night event:
"Duke Ellington played to over 4000 two nights in a row at Sweet's ballroom in Oakland with Ivy Anderson occupying the vocal spot on the bandstand with the best looking and neatest bunch of musicians I have ever seen. Duke will probably open the 1940 coast fair." (California Eagle, 2May40, p10B)
"Our folks boycotted Ellington's dance in Oakland. Slick booker charged us a dollar a head and whites got in for sixty-five cents on their night. Duke, of course, was merely a victim of circumstance, but couldn't help finding a bad taste in his mouth over it. That's really common as a racket, in 85% of the towns." (California Eagle, 2May40, p2B)
23Apr40, Club Alabam, Los Angeles, California. "A gala reception honoring Duke Ellington and his band will be given Tuesday night April 23 at the club Alabam. The band will not play but will be honored guests prior to their opening engagement at the Orpheum Theater April 24th." (Los Angeles Sentinel, 18Apr40, p1)
1May40, Broadway Pier, San Diego, California. Corrected venue. "Admission 75 cents. Dancing starts 8:30." (San Diego Union, 1May40, p8A)
2May40, Lincoln Park Roller Rink, Los Angeles, CA. "Duke Ellington Band Will Play Tonight Special street car service to and from Lincoln Park rollerdrome will be available on the 'O' and '9' cars. This will carry dance patrons directly to the dance. Because of the mammoth attendance Duke Ellington and the band will attract, patrons are urged to obtain advance tickets ." (Los Angeles Sentinel, 2May40, p1) "Duke Ellington dance at the Lincoln Park Roller Rink the biggest event of the past week, and another triumph for promoter Leon Heflin." (California Eagle, 9May40, p2B)
6May40, Ogden, Utah, White City Ballroom, 9:00 p.m. - 1:00 am. There was a local broadcast from 9:00 - 9:30 p.m. over local NBC station KLO. (Ogden Standard-Examiner, 6May40, p8, ad; and p10, radio listing) I wonder if they played Cottontail or Never No Lament, recorded two days earlier in L.A. Unfortunately, there was no review in the paper.
Ogden Standard Examiner, 6May40, p8.
22May40, arrived in Chicago. (Chicago Defender, 2Jun40, p13)
22Jun40, Castle Garden, Dornay Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania. "Dancing 9 to 1. Admission 77 cents." (Morning Call, 22Jun40, ad)
2Jul40, Vann's Warehouse, Abingdon, Virginia. Venue identified. "Seats sale at Pearl Roberts' Home, and Abingdon Pharmacy, $1, At the door $1.25. Limited space for white spectators, tickets at Cowan-Grant 55 cents, at the door 75 cents." (Bristol News Bulletin, 1Jul40, p3)
6Jul40, Armory, Charleston, West Virginia. "Advance Sale - $1.00, At Door - $1.25" (West Virginia Digest, 6Jul40, p6, ad) Date not 1Jun40 as listed in Variety and the references. Ads have the Ink Spots at the Charleston Armory on that date.
20Aug40, Roseland Ballroom, Boston, Massachusetts. Correct city, not Baltimore. (Afro-American, [published in Baltimore, with a section of New England news] 16Aug40, p22, ad)
26oct40, Club Dunbar, Gary Indiana. Corrected venue. (Gary American, 25oct40, p2)
28Nov40 to 4Dec40, Flatbush Theatre, Brooklyn, New York. Corrected dates (Brooklyn Eagle, ads 27Nov40 - 4Dec40)
6Dec40, Brooklyn Apollo, Brooklyn, New York. Midnight benefit show sponsored by the Amsterdam News. "Duke Ellington rendered several of his own compositions in a matter that rocked the house. Duke has always been a favorite with Brooklynites and was particularly gratifying on this occasion. The Duke also introduced the incomparable Stump and Stumpy who literally tore the house apart with their intricate antics. Bill Bailey sauntered on the screen and his rhythmic taps easily garnered the plaudits of onlookers. In our estimation, only the indomitable Bill Robinson tops the pleasant Mr. Bailey when it comes to beating a tune on the waxed floors. Another highlight of the Duke's portion of the program centered around the charming and delightful Marie Bryant who in her own unique fashion sang and danced to the delight of the enthusiastic onlookers." (Amsterdam News, 14Dec40, p10)
7Mar41, Fairmont Ballroom, Yakima, Washington. (Yakima Morning Herald, 7Mar41, ad) "Duke Ellington made a sensational hit here last Friday evening at the Fairmont ballroom. The house was packed and the music was really on the mellow side." (Northwest Enterprise, 14Mar41, p3)
8Mar41, New Armory, Seattle, Washington. University of Washington Junior Prom dance. "Another campus attendance record was thoroughly and definitely shattered Saturday night when more than 1,125 couples headed Armory way for the 1941 junior prom. It was the biggest crowd ever lured to an all-University dance." (University of Washington Daily, 11Apr41, p1)
9Mar41, Evergreen Ballroom, Olympia, Washington. "$1.15 per person." (Tacoma News Tribune, 9Mar41, p8A, ad)
13Mar41, Century Ballroom, Tacoma, Washington. Venue identified. "Under the sponsorship of Tacoma's Colored Citizenry with the general public invited to participate ." (Tacoma News Tribune, 13Mar41, p7, with ad)
15Mar41, Bungalow, Seaside, Oregon. (Seaside Signal, 13Mar41, ad)
7Dec41, Eugene Armory, Eugene, Oregon. Venue identified. "3:30 to 6 p.m. and 8 to 11 p.m." (Eugene Register-Guard, 7Dec41, ad) I have been unable to verify if this gig went on as scheduled following the attack on Pearl Harbor that morning. More research is needed. Ken Steiner
See DEMS 02/3-13/3
I can confirm the Ellington appearance at Carnegie Hall on 2Apr44. I was there in the balcony. It was a very long evening as everyone in New York appeared on stage, including many non-jazz personalities. Bob Rickles
Message dated 29Apr03: Fifty years ago tomorrow (Wednesday), Duke and his orchestra played a dance at McElroy's Ballroom in Portland Oregon. They recorded Happy Birthday for Mrs. Geraldine Richardson on that date. I was hoping to find the dance was on Duke's birthday, but alas, it was the day after according to Timner. David Palmquist
In the notes to the Happy Birthday Duke! series on LaserLight, Stanley Dance states, "By strange coincidence of booking, two consecutive birthdays found him playing at the same place, McElroy's Ballroom in Portland, Oregon".
The All Music Guide to Jazz cites the dates as 29Apr53 and 29Apr54. So, where did the band play on these dates? Peter Luce
The references are correct in stating that Duke's appearance at McElroy's was 30Apr53.
Here's what the Wednesday, 29Apr53 issue of "The Oregonian" said:
"When the famed Duke Ellington brings his equally famed orchestra to Portland for a one-night stand at McElroy's ballroom Thursday night he will also celebrate his birthday. Invitations are out for the Duke's birthday fete. It will be held Thursday evening at McClendon's Rhythm Room on N. Williams Avenue with distributors from Columbia Records as hosts. When Ellington brings his talented musicians into McElroy's Thursday night, he will have such well- known band men as Ray Nance, Cat Anderson, James Hamilton, Harry Carney, and Juan Tizol in the line-up. Sounds like a sell-out from here."
There was no mention of a 29Apr appearance by Duke in the Portland newspaper. Stratemann listed Duke as being at the VFW Auditorium in Portland.
As usual, more research is needed.
So Stanley Dance's liner notes are correct that Duke celebrated his birthday two years in a row at McElroy's - he just wasn't actually there on his birthday in 1953. Dance also said, "It was fortunate that on each occasion recording engineer Wally Heider was present with his equipment to preserve the music on tape. Students of the jazz past owe him a great deal." Agreed! Ken Steiner
I took yesterday off of work. Just because it isn't officially recognized as a holiday, doesn't mean it isn't!
Michael Menege
See DEMS 03/1-12
The response from DEMS members has been overwhelming. We have too much material for this Bulletin. Something has to wait. We hope to be able to publish all the contributions in the next Bulletin, or else in the first Web-site Bulletin in 2004.
Some people believe that we are going to send you the Bulletins through e-mail next year. That is not the case. You should download your private selection from future Bulletins from http://www.depanorama.net/dems/
You can test it now. Several recent Bulletins are already available, thanks to Peter MacHare!
DEMS**