Overview

This is the only jazz history written by a musician that is not strictly autobiographical. Rex Stewart, who played trumpet and cornet with Fletcher Henderson and Duke Ellington, knew personally all the giants of jazz in the 1930s and thus his judgments on their achievements come with unique authority and understanding. As a good friend, he never minimizes their foibles yet he writes of them with affection and generosity. Chapters on Fletcher Henderson, Coleman Hawkins, Red Norvo, Art Tatum, Big Sid Catlett, Benny Carter, and Louis Armstrong mix personal anecdotes with critical comments that only a fellow jazz musician could relate. A section on Ellington and the Ellington orchestra profiles Ben Webster, Harry Carney, Tricky Sam Nanton, Barney Bigard, and Duke himself, with whom Rex Stewart was a barber, chef, poker opponent, and third trumpet. Finally, he recounts the stories of legendary jam sessions between Jelly Roll Morton, Willie the Lion Smith, and James P. Johnson, all vying for the unofficial title of king of Harlem stride piano. It was the decade of swing and no one saw it, heard it, or wrote about it better than Rex Stewart.

Full Product Details

Author:   Rex Stewart
Publisher:   Hachette Books
Imprint:   Da Capo Press Inc
Edition:   New edition
Dimensions:   Width: 14.10cm , Height: 1.30cm , Length: 21.50cm
Weight:   0.286kg
ISBN:  

9780306801594

ISBN 10:   0306801590
Pages:   223
Publication Date:   22 March 1982
Audience:   College/higher education ,  General/trade ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
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Table of Contents

* The Jean Goldkette Band * Smack! Memories of Fletcher Henderson * The Business of Recording * Boy Meets King (Louis Armstrong) * The Father of Swing Trombone (Jimmy Harrison) * Coleman Hawkins, The Father of Tenor Saxophone * Red Norvo: A Tale of a Pioneer Ellingtonia * The Days with Duke * Sketches in a Ducal Vein * Duke Ellington: One of a Kind * Tribute to Tricky Sam * Illustrious Barney Bigard * The Frog and Me (Ben Webster) * Harry Carney: Boss Baritone * Getting to Europe--and Getting Out * The Cutting Sessions * Flow Gently, Sweet Rhythm (John Kirby) * My Man, Big Sid (Sidney Catlett) * The Benny Carter I Knew * Genius in Retrospect (Art Tatum) * Appendix I: Count Basie by Hsio Wen Shih * Appendix II: Rex William Stewart, Jr., by Francis Thorne

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Author Information

Rex Stewart, who died in 1967, was a soloist for Fletcher Henderson and Duke Ellington. He played extensively both in the U.S. and in Europe where he led bands of his own. Francis Thorne includes a warm appreciation of his many gifts as a last chapter in this book.

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