NEWS
what's the racket?
THE JAZZ TRIO
The Jazz Trio, so-called, has a couple of different line-ups depending on demand, availability etc. In Eisenach we shall be doing a lot of Krupa material and I talk about this great personality, my first inspiration and still the greatest drummer star in the history of the instrument. No drummer has ever reached the heights of fame and musical ability that he did. Many have become much richer and drumming technique has progressed a lot but no drummer ever became a film star and pop idol as well being an excellent musician. Please note that swing music was pop in the Thirties and Forties.
The Trio in Bonn, Sept 6, will feature John Crocker, a great friend from my Chris Barber days, and Rossano Sportiello, who is rapidly becoming a big star on the jazz scene both here in Europe and in the States.
CHRIS BARBER!
There are some good gigs coming up outside of the Helge schedule. I’m looking forward to meeting Chris Barber again in July. He is remarkable in his continued enthusiasm for his music. The Barber Big Band sounds great and I would have enjoyed that very much. Chris and I will be with Christoph Steinbach, Albert Koch and other great blues and boogie players in Kitzbühl in July. I hope to be there for three days and to take part in the jamming before the big show on Saturday beside the lake.
“IF YOU CAN’T FIND ANYTHING GOOD TO SAY ABOUT A PERSON, DON’T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL.”
I am aware that I tend to speak in glowing terms about many of my colleagues and am not given to spiteful or destructive comment. This is because I learned from Thumpers mother that „If you can’t find anything good to say about a person, don’t say anything at all“. Many of the older black American jazz musicians who I idolised had this dignified attitude and it’s good enough for me.