Ed Kirkeby in the Roaring Twenties

Ed Kirkeby's first meeting with Fats Waller - 75 years ago ( English) Ed Kirkeby's eerste ontmoeting met Fats Waller - 75 jaar geleden ( Nederlands) Ed Kirkeby in the Roaring Twenties ( English) Ed Kirkeby in de jaren twintig ( Nederlands)

Crooner and manager in a maze of pseudonyms
ED KIRKEBY IN THE ROARING TWENTIES
Hans Koert

Ed Kirkeby is known by most people as the manager of Thomas Fats Waller. He even wrote a book about Fats Waller's life, entitled: Ain't Misbehavin'- The Story of Fats Waller by Ed Kirkeby ( 1966). But few people remember that he was also a bandleader and crooner during the Roaring Twenties. I love to share with you some of the music he made.
That Certain Party - Goofus Five ( dec 1925)

This Goofus Five featured (prob.) Roy Johnston, trumpet - Bobby Davis, alto saxophone - Adrian Rollini, bass sax - Irving Brodsky, piano - Tommy Fellini, banjo - Herb Weil, drums - Billy Jones the leading vocal - Ed Kirkeby is to be heard in the responses - doing the remarks.

Ed Kirkeby ( 1891-1978)
In the 1920s he became the first recording manager for Columbia Records, who recorded bands like the California Ramblers, a popular dance band that was born out of the obscure Merry Melody Men. Wallace T. "Ed" Kirkeby ( 1891 - 1978), as his full name was, recorded early 1920, as a band leader, now obscure bands like the Superior Jazz Band.
University Six ( from: http://www.redhotjazz.com/universitysix.html )
Collectors of 1920s dance bands know the Little Ramblers, which was a quintet selection from the California Ramblers, founded to play popular dance music. The California Ramblers was very popular during this period and made hundreds of records - not only for Columbia, but also for Edison, where they were labeled as the Golden Gate Orchestra. The Little Ramblers appear on a dozen different labels with a dozen different names: You have to be an expert ( or have a decent discography on the shelves) to learn all the pseudonyms: The Five Birmingham Babies ( for Pathé); The Goofus Five (Okeh); the Vagabonds (Gennett); University Six ( Harmony); The Varsity Eight ( Cameo) or Ted Wallace and his Orchestra - and Ted Wallace was one of the pseudonyms for crooner vocalist ....... Ed Kirkeby.
Love to share with you a tune recorded by the Hot Air Men (another one !!) sung by Ed Kirkeby entitled Chinnin' and Chattin' With May ( Columbia) ( April 1930)

The Goofus Five ( from: http://www.redhotjazz.com/goofusfive.html )

In the early 1930s Ed directed numerous recording sessions for the ARC, the American Record Company, a company which released cheap records like Banner, Domino, Conqueror, Jewel, Romeo etc. and during these sessions pseudonyms were used, a normal practice in the 1920s, but also real band leader's names were used, although they hadn't been in the studios at all. Musicians, who were unemployed, were hired to play during the recording sessions and so they could earn some money to make a living. In fact Durium did the same with his Hit of the Week Orchestra. Bandleaders, we guess, sometimes even "sold" their identity to ARC. It might be possible that sometimes these bandleaders may have arranged some of the music, but fact is that ARC found it acceptable to rename the bands on the labels? Even musicians sold their identity sometimes. Strange dubious obscure practices in which Ed Kirkeby, possible, played his part which should be seen as result of the Depression.

Ed Kirkeby with James C.Johnson and Una Mae Carlisle ( December 1943) ( photo courtesy: Chris Albertson)( http://stomp-off.blogspot.com)

It seems that in the mid 1930s Ed stopped to perform and sing active, except some incidental performances with the "re-born" California Ramblers. At the 1943 WNWE Second American Swing Festival Ed Kirkeby did not sing; he was there to talk (and read a little script) about Fats. His best vocals, however, were made during the 1920s.

Ed Kirkeby ( December 1943) ( photo courtesy: Chris Albertson)( http://stomp-off.blogspot.com )

The 1943 photos on this blog show Ed during one of his public appearances after the death of Fats Waller, December 1943. Chris Albertson remembers him from that period: I met Ed Kirkeby fifty years ago, when he often held court on the sidewalk in front of the Brill Building. He was quite the character and he had retained the look of an earlier time, including a waxed mustache and spats.

Enjoy: After You've Gone buy the Golden Gate Orchestra as released at a June 1927 Perfect record. The personnel is: Chelsea Quealey, trumpet - Bobby Davis, reeds - Max Farley, reeds - Adrian Rollini, bass sax and goofus - Jack Russin, piano - Tommy Fellini, banjo - Herb Weil, drums. Ed Kirkeby is the director and whistler ( or is it Adrian Rollini with the Goofus?). A great tune with Adrian Rollini on bass sax. .............

Ed Kirkeby and Louis Armstrong ( December 1943) ( photo courtesy: Chris Albertson)( http://stomp-off.blogspot.com )

Ed Kirkeby ( 1891 - 1978 ) became active in music since 1916 up to the year before he passed away as manager from bands like the California Ramblers (early 1920s) - from the ARC-Brunswick Studio bands ( early 1930s) - The Pickens Sisters ( in the 1930s) - Thomas Fats Waller ( 1938 - 1943) up to Pat Flowers ( in the 1970s). He worked for Columbia, Victor ( later RCA-Victor) and NBC, but for me he is still the voice behind dozens of well known dance band tunes from the 1920s

Finally a fragment from the tune Mine Oh Mine as recorded by the California Ramblers on a Columbia record, December 1927. Ed Kirkeby is one of the members of the vocal trio: Sammy Fain, Ed Kirkeby and Artie Dunn.

Hans Koert

keepswinging@live.nl

Although Ed KIrkeby is remembered as the manager of Fats Waller, he also was a gifted vocalist or crooner if you like. During the 1920s his voice is to be heard on numerous dance band recordings of bands with imaginative names, like the University Six, the Goofus Five or the Varsity Eight - in fact all the same group of people: Swindle or marketing? Fact is that Ed Kirkeby was one of them using several pseudonyms as a crooner. The Keep Swinging blog loves to help you to find the right way in the maze of band names. Don't miss it - ask for its newsletter.

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Oscar Aleman Choro Music Flexible Records Hit of the Week-Durium Friends of the Keep Swinging blog Keep Swinging Contributions

Roy Hargrove with brother Brian in extra concert

Roy Hargrove in extra concert met broer Brian (Nederlands) Roy Hargrove with brother Brian in extra concert ( English)

Extra RH Factor concert in Paradiso (Amsterdam)
ROY HARGROVE WITH BROTHER BRIAN IN EXTRA CONCERT
Hans Koert

The North Sea Jazz Festival has been scheduled for the fifth time in Rotterdam from the 9th up to the 11th of July, 2010. A luster, because five years ago the North Sea Jazz Festival moved definitely from The Hague to Rotterdam; The Hague nursed its wounds after the moving, but now has his own festival again: The Hague Jazz. A lot of jazz fans, who enjoyed the more cozy The Hague North Sea Festival atmosphere join this festival. If you've planned to visit the North Sea 2010 in Rotterdam you should know that it is impossible to visit, not even a small glimpse, of all concerts, scheduled in the dozens of festival halls - you'll have to make a choice. Roy Hargrove (Porgy en Bess - Terneuzen - 2009) ( photo courtesy): Hans Koert)

When you are a regular visitor of the festival, you can't have missed Roy Hargrove - one of the most loyal artist of the festival for years, who first visited the festival as a teenager in 1990. Up to now he joined North Sea almost each year. ........ this year Roy won't play at North Sea. At the moment he's playing in Canada where he performs at the Ottawa and Toronto Jazz Festivals - In the weekend of the North Sea Jazz Festival he will join the Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia (Italy). This seems bad news for the many Roy Hargrove fans in The Netherlands, but, don't worry - On his way back from the Black Sea Jazz Festival in Batumi (Georgia), where he plays with his Quintet and the RH Factor an extra concert has been scheduled in Paradiso - Amsterdam with his RH Factor. ( Wednesday the 21st of July, 2010 - 8.30 pm). So, good news for all the Hargrove fans, who might have been disappointed about his absence at North Sea 2010. Renee Neufville in Porgy en Bess - Terneuzen ( November 2004) ( photo courtesy: Hans Koert)

His RH Factor features Roy Hargrove (trumpet, vocals) - Renee Neufville (keys, vocals) - Bruce Williams (alto sax) - Jason Marshall (baritone sax) - Jonathan Batiste (keys, Hammond b3) - Brian 'Theory' Hargrove (keys) - Todd Parsnow (guitar) - Lenny Stallworth (bass) - Jason 'J.T.' Thomas (drums, vocals). Remarkable is the presence of Roy's younger brother Brian who will make his European debut in Amsterdam, twenty years after Roy did in The Hague. A good reason to put some spotlights on Brian .... Brian Theory Hargrove ( photo:http://www.myspace.com/brianhargrove)

Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Brian studied sound technology and percussion performance at the Cedar Valley College near Lancaster in the Southern Dallas County. He studied piano and composition at the Thornton School of Music, part of the University of Southern California. As a composer and musician he says to be influenced by jazz greats like Herbie Hancock, Thelonious Monk, McCoy Tyner and the late Esbjörn Svensson ( from E.S.T.) (and this is only a small selection from the list …..). Also a lot of pop stars and classic composers like Bach, Stravinsky and Ravel have influenced him – continuously fuel his artistic curiosity and passion for improvising, collaboration and creating hybrid sounds capes. Renee Neufville in Porgy en Bess - Terneuzen (November 2005) ( photo courtesy: Hans Koert)

Up to now he played in and around Dallas and in the LA areas with musicians like his brother Roy, Renee Neufville - keyboard player and vocalist who will also join the RH Factor concert in Paradiso next month; Selaelo Selota, the South African guitar player, the R&B vocalist N'Dami, Erykah Badu, soul and hip-hop vocalist, but also musicians of the Old Guard like the late David Fathead Newman and Wynton Marsalis - the 1980s mentor of his brother Roy. Brian also performed with the Fort Worth Jazz Orchestra directed by drummer Adonis Rose and has directed several own groups. It would be great if Brian's would follow in his brother's footsteps.

Brian Theory Hargrove ( photo courtesy: http://www.myspace.com/brianhargrove)

Extra concert: Roy Hargrove's RH Factor - Paradiso (Amsterdam) - 21st of July 2010 ( 8.30 pm)

Finally - for all those Hargrove-fans a review to Roy's performance with the RH Factor at the 2009 North Sea 2010 festival. Enjoy it.

Hans Koert
keepswinging@live.nl



Twenty years ago Roy Hargrove made his debut at the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague and since that he is a sought after instrumentalist of festivals all over the world. This summer Roy won't be at the North Sea festival, but he hasn't forget his fans in Holland - on the 21st of July, 2010 he will perform with his RH Factor for an extra concert in Paradiso Amsterdam. Great to know is that Roy's brother Brian "Theory" Hargrove will make his European debut - like Roy did twenty tears ago. Enough reason to put some spotlights on Brian, who plays keys in RH Factor. The Keep Swinging blog loves to share all aspects of jazz music. Ask for its newsletter if you don't want to miss anything.


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Roy Hargrove in extra concert met broer Brian

Roy Hargrove in extra concert met broer Brian (Nederlands) Roy Hargrove with brother Brian in extra concert ( English)

Roy niet op Northsea, maar wel met RH Factor in Paradiso
ROY HARGROVE IN EXTRA CONCERT MET BROER BRIAN
Hans Koert

Binnenkort barst het Northsea Jazzfestival weer in al haar hevigheid los - voor de vijfde keer al weer in Rotterdam. Den Haag, ooit de stad van het Northsea Jazzfestival is passé, tot verdriet van velen, maar heeft sinds een aantal jaren ook weer haar eigen festival: The Hague Jazz. Een bezoek aan het Northsea Jazzfestival betekent keuzes maken - Het is onmogelijk om van alle honderden concerten op tientallen podia tegelijk, tijdens dit drie dagen durende festijn, iets mee te krijgen: Kiezen dus - keuzes maken.

Roy Hargrove in Porgy en Bess - Terneuzen (2009) ( foto: Hans Koert)

Als je regelmatig het Northsea Jazzfestival hebt bezocht dan weet je dat je Roy Hargrove bijna niet kunt ontlopen op één van de vele podia of ergens in de gangen van het jazzpaleis. Hij is één van die muzikanten, die haast vergroeid lijken met het festival. In 1990 maakte hij hier zijn debuut en sinds die tijd heeft hij bijna geen festival overgeslagen. Dit jaar zal hij er niet zijn. Zo speelt hij de komende dagen in Canada op het Ottawa - en Toronto jazzfestival en is hij in het Northsea weekend gast op het Umbria Jazzfestival in Perugia (Italië). Geen Roy Hargrove in Nederland deze zomer? hoor ik je al verzuchten ........... Hoe komen we dat door? Op 21 juli 2010 doet hij Amsterdam aan, op terugreis van het Black Sea Jazz Festival in Batumi (Georgië) waar hij speelt met zijn Quintet en de RH Factor. Renee Neufville in Porgy en Bess - Terneuzen ( nov. 2004) ( foto: Hans Koert)

Het optreden in Amsterdam vindt plaats in Paradiso ( aanvang half negen). Hij komt naar Amsterdam met zijn RH Factor bestaande uit hemzelf op trompet ( en zang), Renee Neufville (toetsen en zang) - Bruce Williams (altsax) - Jason Marshall (baritonsax) - Jonathan Batiste (toetsen en Hammond b3) - Brian 'Theory' Hargrove (toetsen) - Todd Parsnow (gitaar) - Lenny Stallworth (bas) - Jason 'J.T.' Thomas (slagwerk en zang). Wat opvalt is dat hij deze keer zijn jongere broer meegebracht heeft, Brian, die door dit dit concert zijn debuut maakt in Europa - twintig jaar nadat zijn broer zich hier presenteerde. Reden om hem eens wat in de schijnwerper te zetten. Brian Theory Hargrove ( foto:http://www.myspace.com/brianhargrove)

Brian werd geboren en groeide op in Dallas, Texas. Hij studeerde geluidtechnologie en slagwerk aan het Cedar Valley College in Lancaster vlakbij Dallas. Hij studeerde ook piano en compositie aan het Thornton Conservatorium, onderdeel van de Universiteit van Zuid-Californië. Als componist en muzikant zegt hij beïnvloed te zijn door de grootten uit de jazz zoals Herbie Hancock, Monk, McCoy Tyner en de onlangs bij een ongeval omgekomen toetsenist van E.S.T. Esbjörn Svensson. Zijn lijstje met jazzmusici, die hem geïnspireerd hebben is lang ( ook Roy staat er tussen, uiteraard), maar ook noemt hij naast popartiesten, klassieke componisten als Bach, Stravinsky en Ravel – continuously fuel his artistic curiosity and passion for improvising, collaboration and creating hybrid sounds capes.( = een voortdurende drijfveer voor zijn artistieke nieuwsgierigheid en gedrevenheid in het improviseren, samenspelen en om nieuwe geluiden te ontdekken). Renee Neufville in Porgy en Bess - Terneuzen (Nov. 2005) ( foto: Hans Koert)

Tot nu toe speelde hij meestal in of in de omgeving van Dallas of rond Los Angeles met musici en bands als zijn broer Roy, met Renee Neufville, toetsenist en zangeres bij de RH Factor ( zij zal er ook bij zijn in Amsterdam), Selaelo Selota, de Zuid Afrikaanse gitarist, de R&B zanger N'Dami, Erykah Badu, bekend als zangeres in de soul en hiphop scene, maar ook musici van de oudere generatie zoals de onlangs overleden David Fathead Newman en Wynton Marsalis - eertijds ( jaren tachtig) de mentor en ontdekker van Roy Hargrove. Brian speelt ook in het Fort Worth Jazz Orchestra geleid door slagwerker Adonis Rose en heeft ook verschillende eigen bands. Wie weet, treedt Brian in de voetstappen van zijn broer en blijkt dit optreden bij de RH Factor een opstap tot succes.

Brian Theory Hargrove ( foto:http://www.myspace.com/brianhargrove)

Wie dus deze zomer zijn "shot" Roy Hargrove denkt mis te lopen op het Northsea, kan dus terecht op dit extra ingelaste concert in Paradiso (Amsterdam) op 21 juli 2010 ( 20.30 u)

Tenslotte - voor al die genen die Roy vorig jaar op het Northsea zagen optreden met zijn RH Factor, hier nog even een terugblik:

Hans Koert
keepswinging@live.nl



Roy Hargrove speelde twintig jaar geleden voor het eerst op het Northsea Jazzfestival in Den Haag en is sinds die tijd een graag geziene gast op podia in binnen- en buitenland. Dit jaar slaat Roy het Northsea over, maar is Nederland niet vergeten - op 21 juli 2010 komt hij met zijn RH Factor voor een extra concert naar Amsterdam. Dit concert wordt extra bijzonder, omdat hij zijn jongste broer Brian "Theory" Hargrove meebrengt, die in Amsterdam zijn Europese debuut maakt - net als zijn grote voorbeeld dat twintig jaar geleden deed. Reden dus om eens iets meer over Brian te weten te komen. De Keep Swinging blog probeert de jazz in al zijn facetten te belichten - wil je daarvan niets missen, vraag dan de nieuwsbrief aan.


Retrospect
Oscar Aleman Choro Music Flexible Records Hit of the Week-Durium Friends of the Keep Swinging blog Keep Swinging Contributions

Ed Kirkeby's eerste ontmoeting met Fats Waller - 75 jaar geleden

Ed Kirkeby's first meeting with Fats Waller - 75 years ago ( English) Ed Kirkeby's eerste ontmoeting met Fats Waller - 75 jaar geleden ( Nederlands) Ed Kirkeby in the Roaring Twenties ( English) Ed Kirkeby in de jaren twintig ( Nederlands)

Is dat je laatste glas? Nee, het is mijn eerste fles!
ED KIRKEBY'S EERSTE ONTMOETING MET FATS WALLER - 75 JAAR GELEDEN
Hans Koert

Op maandag 24 juni 1935, vijfenzeventig jaar geleden, leerde Ed Kirkeby voor het eerst Fats Waller kennen. Hij was, afgaande op de administratie van Victor, verantwoordelijk voor de opnamesessie in Studio #2 in Camden (NJ) - overigens werd zijn naam in "de boeken" toen verkeerd gespeld als Mr. Kikeby. Er werd een tiental nummers opgenomen zoals Dinah - Take It Easy - You're The Picture - My Very Good Friend the Milkman - Blue Because of You - There's Going To Be the Devil To Pay - Twelfth Street Rag - There'll Be Some Changes Made - Somebody Stole My Gal en Sweet Sue, Just You.

Ed Kirkeby ( 1891-1978)

Ed Kirkeby's actieve leven in de muziekscene begint al in 1916 tot aan het voorlaatste jaar van zijn overlijden in 1978. Hij treedt op als manager van bands als the California Ramblers ( jaren twintig) - van de studiobands, die speelden voor de ARC ( = American Record Club) ( begin jaren dertig) - The Pickens Sisters ( jaren dertig) - Thomas Fats Waller ( 1938 - 1943) en, om het plaatje af te ronden Pat Flowers ( in de jaren zeventig). Hij werkte voor Columbia, Victor ( later RCA-Victor) en NBC. De meesten associëren hem met Fats Waller, maar ik herinner me ook zijn zang achter de tientallen dancebands uit de jaren twintig. Fats Waller en Ed Kirkeby ( in 1941) ( foto: Institute of Jazz Studies Rutgers University Libraries )

Camden ligt in New Jersey aan de Delaware rivier en hier had Victor ( later RCA-Victor) sinds 1901 haar studio’s staan. Eén van de opmerkelijkste studios was de Trinity Church, waar o.a. Fats zijn orgelopnamen maakte. Nu zijn die studio’s omgebouwd tot luxe appartementen en Studio #2 bevat nu de Camden City Board of Education. De band die moest opnemen, The Rhythm, geleid door Thomas Fats Waller ( pianist, zanger en entertainer) bestond toen uit Herman Autrey, Rudy Powell, James Smith, Charles Turner en Arnold Boling. Ze werden voor tien uur 's ochtends in de studio verwacht. Er waren daarvoor nogal wat interne spanningen in de band, meest terug te voeren op de gebrekkige (financiële) leiding van Fats, waardoor musici vaak lang op hun geld moesten wachten - Er waren al muzikanten weggelopen en anderen dreigden er mee. - een mooie vuurdop dus voor Ed. Ed Kirkeby was gevraagd om als A & R man van Victor, manager Phil Ponce te helpen met het begeleiden van Fats Waller en zijn Rhythm. Phil Ponce's gezondheid ging achteruit en dus werd Ed Kirkeby gevraagd om dit soort opnamesessies in goede banen te leiden ......... De film Hooray For Love werd uitgebracht in de zomer van 1935 en Fats had hierin een rolletje als "zingende" verhuizer.

Fats kwam, gebruikelijk, bijna een uur te laat op de set aan - eerder konden de opnamen natuurlijk niet beginnen. Eén van de verhalen die Maurice, Fats' zoon, later noteerde in het boek over zijn vader ( eenvoudig weg Fats Waller getiteld) gaat over de eerste kennismaking tussen Ed en Fats: Ed, die in de controlekamer zat, zag de halfvolle ( of lees: half lege) fles gin staan naast Fats' piano en vroeg door de intercom: Is that your last drink? ( = Is dat je laatste glas? ) No, antwoordde Fats, it's my first bottle! (Nee, dat is mijn eerste fles!).

Begin 1938 nam Fats alle taken over van Phil Ponce als manager van Fats tot aan diens dood in December 1943.

Er zijn, voor zover ik weet, geen bewegende beelden van Ed Kirkeby, maar wel van Fats uit die tijd - In de zomer van 1935 kwam de film Hooray For Love uit in de bioscopen - een voorvertoning vond plaats in het Hollywood Hillstreet Theater en een maand later vond de première plaats. In de film die 72 minuten duurt speelt Fats een verhuizer die een jonge vrouw ( Jeni Le Gon), die uit haar huis gezet is wegens huurachterstand. Al haar bezittingen worden buiten op het trottoir gezet, waaronder een vleugel. Fats ziet de piano en ….. springt achter het toetsenbord, waar hij samen met burgemeester Bill Bojangles Robinson het nummer I’m living In A Great Big Way zingt. Bill Bojangles Robinson (als de burgemeester) en Fats Waller ( als verhuizer) in de film Hooray For Love. (1935)

Ik heb jarenlang gedacht, toen ik alleen nog maar de soundtrack op LP had, dat er iets fout zat met de afspeelsnelheid van de film, totdat ik de beelden zag met de drie zingende kinderen ......... Feit is wel, dat de hele film slordig opgenomen is; de piano is al te horen voordat Fats achter de toetsen zit !!

Tijdens de opnamesessie werden een tiental nummers opgenomen en kreeg Ed zijn eerste aanvaring met Fats. Fats had weinig zin om de oubollige 12th Street Rag te spelen, een in de ogen van Fats gedateerd nummer.

De band van Fats op tournee. Ed Kirkeby staat helemaal links (1940) (foto: Institute of Jazz Studies Rutgers University Libraries )
Het nummer The Twelfth Street Rag werd twintig jaar daarvoor geschreven door Euday L. Bowman en voor het eerst opgenomen din 1917 door Earl Fuller's Rector Novelty Orchesta. In de eerste helft van de jaren werd het een hit dankzij opnamen van Ted Lewis en Abe Lyman, die het beiden opnamen. Het is dus niet zo vreemd dat Fats zo'n ouderwets ragtimenummer achterhaald vond. en minder geschikt om met zijn Rhythm op te nemen, maar Ed hield voet bij stuk: het nummer werd opgenomen en, herinnerde Al Casey, it came out sounding as if it had been written for them. (= En het resultaat klonk alsof het nummer speciaal voor hen geschreven was)

Ed Kirkeby is vooral bekend geworden als manager van Fats Waller, maar hij heeft tijdens zijn leven veel meer gedaan – een volgende keer wil ik meer over zijn vroegste carriere vertellen in Ed Kirkeby in de jaren twintig, waarin hij zong en bandleider was en begon met het begeleiden van bands.

Hans Koert

keepswinging@live.nl

Goed mogelijk dat je, net als ik, bij Ed Kirkeby denkt aan Fats Waller. Eén van mijn eerste boeken die ik kocht beschrijft het leven van Fats Waller: Ain't Misbehavin' - The Story of Fats Waller en dat was geschreven door Ed Kirkeby. Het boek werd uitgegeven in 1966 en ik kocht het omdat ik al zijn nummers verzamelde ( op de Franse RCA-Victor Black & White LPs (!)) en dit boek bevatte een discografie. Ed Kirkeby werd Fats' manager in 1938, maar ontmoette hem op 24 juni 1935, in de Victor studio in Camden, waar hij de verantwoordelijkheid kreeg over een opnamesessie. Na precies 75 jaar kijken we terug op deze ontmoeting: Is that you're last glass? ( = Is dat je laatste glas?), schalde het door de intercom. No it's my first bottle. (Nee, dat is mijn eerste fles!). Als je geen enkele bijdrage van de Keep Swinging blog wilt missen vraag dan om haar gratis nieuwsbrief.

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Ed Kirkeby's first meeting with Fats Waller - 75 years ago

Ed Kirkeby's first meeting with Fats Waller - 75 years ago ( English) Ed Kirkeby's eerste ontmoeting met Fats Waller - 75 jaar geleden ( Nederlands) Ed Kirkeby in the Roaring Twenties ( English) Ed Kirkeby in de jaren twintig ( Nederlands)

Is that your last glass? No, it's my first bottle!
ED KIRKEBY'S FIRST MEETING WITH FATS WALLER - 75 YEARS AGO
Hans Koert

On Monday the 24th of June, 1935, now 75 years ago, Ed Kirkeby ( misspelled on the layers as Mr. Kikeby ) first met Fats Waller at a recording session for Victor. He was, as A & R man for Victor, responsable for that recording session, in which Fats Waller and his Rhythm recorded almost a dozen tunes like Dinah - Take It Easy - You're The Picture - My Very Good Friend the Milkman - Blue Because of You - There's Going To Be the Devil To Pay - Twelfth Street Rag - There'll Be Some Changes Made - Somebody Stole My Gal and Sweet Sue, Just You. Ed Kirkeby ( 1891-1978)

Ed Kirkeby was active in the music scene since 1916 up to the year before he passed away (1977) as manager from bands like the California Ramblers ( 1920s) - from the ARC-Brunswick Studio bands ( early 1930s) - The Pickens Sisters ( in the 1930s) - Thomas Fats Waller ( 1938 - 1943) up to Pat Flowers ( in the 1970s). He worked for Columbia, Victor ( later RCA-Victor) and NBC, but for me he is also the voice behind dozens of well known dance band tunes from the 1920s. More about that in a later blog. Most people will remember Ed Kirkeby as the manager of Fats Waller.

Fats Waller and Ed Kirkeby ( in 1941) ( photo courtesy: Institute of Jazz Studies Rutgers University Libraries )

Camden is located at the bank of the Delaware river, where Victor (later RCA-Victor) had founded in 1901 its recording studios. One of these studios was the Trinity Church where Fats made his organ records. Now these ancient studios are rebuild into new apartements and Studio #2 now contains the Camden City Board of Education. The band, entitled the Rhythm, directed by Thomas Fats Waller leader, vocalist and piano player, featured Herman Autrey, Rudy Powell, James Smith, Charles Turner and Arnold Boling. They were invited at 10.00 a.m. on the morning of the 24th of June, 1935 - a Monday - to gather in the Studio #2 of Camden NJ for a recording session. There had been a lot of internal arguments in the band, due to the fact that Fats didn't pay the musicians in time - a great start for Ed. Ed Kirkeby was asked, as an A & R man for Victor, to direct this Fats Waller recording.
Phil Ponce, Fats' manager, was suffering from failing health and felt that he couldn't handle it no longer and asked Wallace "Ed" Kirkeby to support him. Not a enviable job in my opinion.

The film Hooray For Love was released in the summer of 1935 and featured Fats in a small role as a mover.

Fats came in, almost one hour too late. One of the stories told about Ed's first meetings with Fats, was, that Ed was sitting in the control room. He saw a half empty bottle of gin on the table and asked Fats through the intercom: Is that your last drink? No, Fats replied, it's my first bottle!" ( source: Fats Waller by Maurice Waller). Early 1938 Ed Kirkeby became Fats' manager up to Waller's death in December 1943.

There are no moving images from Ed Kirkeby, as far as I know, but Fats Waller played a small role in the Hollywood film Hooray For Love. In June 1935 the film was previewed in Hollywood's Hillstreet Theater and the official premiere was a month later. In the 72 minutes film Fats plays the role of a removal man evicting a young girl ( Jeni Le Gon) from her apartment. All her furnitures and possessions are on the sidewalk, including her piano. When Fats sees the piano, he jumps behind the keyboard and sings, together with the "mayor" of the city ( Bill Bojangles Robinson) the song I'm Living in a Great Big Way.

Bill Bojangles Robinson (as the mayor) and Fats Waller ( as a mover) in the film Hooray For Love. (1935)

Thirty years ago I had the sound track of this film on LP and when I listened to it I wondered if the speed of the film was okay in some parts. Later I saw the film myself and learned that part was sung by three kids. Isn't it strange that the piano starts playing before Fats hits the keys? Well, enjoy Fats with tap dancer Bill Bojangles Robinson in a vocal duet of I'm Living In a Great Big Way. The fragment starts with a tap-dance duet by Bill and Jeni Le Gon.

During the Victor recording session, which contained almost a dozen tunes, Ed had his first arguments with Fats, who refused to record the tune the 12th Street Rag.

Fats band on tour. Ed Kirkeby is far left (1940) (photo courtesy: Institute of Jazz Studies Rutgers University Libraries )
This Twelfth Street Rag was composed twenty years earlier by Euday L. Bowman and first recorded by Earl Fuller's Rector Novelty Orchesta in 1917. In the early 1920s it became a hit thanks to Ted Lewis and Abe Lyman who recorded it; so, in fact, Fats was right that this tune was rather corny - Fats' argument, that this tune was not the right material for his band, was correct. But, .......Ed insisted and the recording was made. It came out sounding as if it had been written for them, Al Casey remembered later.

Ed Kirkeby is known as the manager of Fats Waller, but he has been active in (jazz) music for more then 60 years .. ............ In a blog to come, entitled Ed Kirkeby in the Roaring Twenties, I hope to point you to a rather neglected part of his career, when he was also a band leader and crooner.
Hans Koert

keepswinging@live.nl

Most people will remember Ed Kirkeby as the manager of Fats Waller - in 1966 his memoires about that bustling period in his career, were published as Ain't Misbehavin' - The Story of Fats Waller. It was one of the first jazz books I ever bought, as I collected Fats Waller's records during the 1970s and Ed Kirkeby's book contained a discography. Ed Kirkeby became Fats' manager in 1938, but met him for the first time in the Camden studios on the 24th of June, 1935, now 75-years ago being responsable for the recording session scheduled on that day. One of their first conversations has been survived: Is that you're last glass? No it's my first bottle. If you love to stay informed about the contributions in this Keep Swinging blog, ask for its newsletter.

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Avishai Cohen: Oriental sounds in Middelburg abbey

Avishai Cohen: Oriëntaalse klanken in Middelburgse abdij ( Nederlands) - Avishai Cohen: Oriental sounds in Middelburg abbey (English)

Aurora electrifies the audience of the Middelburg festival
AVISHAI COHEN: ORIENTAL SOUNDS IN MIDDELBURG ABBEY
Hans Koert

When I first heard that Avishai Cohen would join the 4th International Jazz Festival in Middelburg in the south west part of The Netherlands, scheduled May, 2010, he was no more then a just a name for me. I'd never heard about him nor did I heard his bass before, although ....... A week before the concert, I listened to one of my favorite record sets - the Chick Corea + Origin complete Week At The Blue Note - a registration of 6 shows ( three days - early January 1998) at the Blue Note Club in New York City. It's one of my favorite live recordings, because it gives you the opportunity to listen to "all" Blue Note club concerts of the first days of January, 1998. When I listened to one of the shows, I wondered who the bass player was. Guess who: Avishai Cohen.

Avishai Cohen and his Aurora band at the 4th International Jazz Festival of Middelburg. (f.l.t.r.: Karen Malka - Avishai Cohen - Amos Hoffman) ( May 2010) ( photo courtesy: Hans Koert)

Avishai Cohen joined the 4th International Jazz Festival of Middelburg on the 23rd of May, 2010. He brought his ensemble featuring Shai Maestro at the piano and keyboards, Hamar Doari on percussion, Amos Hoffman on oud and guitar and Karen Malka vocals. And, of course, the leader Avishai Cohen played his bass and sung.
Love to share with you one of the Hebrew sung tunes he performed in Middelburg, entitled Alon Basela, which handles about an oak tree.

Avishai Cohen, born in Naharia (Israel) April 1970, started to play the piano at the age of nine. In 1984 the Cohen family moved to St. Louis. He became fascinated listening to the music of Jaco Pastorius, who played the bass in bands like Blood Sweat and Tears and Weather Report. Before he started to play with Chick Corea he performed with Paquito d'Rivera and the Panamanian piano player Danilo Perez. The latter was one of the members of his first band with Ravi Coltrane, Jason Lindler and Steve Wilson to name some. Now, in 2010, he made almost a dozen records and Aurora is his latest one.

Avishai Cohen - Aurora

During the Middelburg concert Avishai surprised me with his sound - his music as released on the Blue Note Aurora album. Remarkable for me was the presence of Amos Hoffman who played the oud. The oud is an Arab string instrument and looks like an ancient lute. The oud is not often used in jazz and the only musician I remember playing the oud was Lloyd Miller, an American multi-instrumentalist, who had is own TV-program for NIRTV in Tehran ( Iran - then Persia) and played and studied the Persian music. He brought these weird instruments to the States and experimented with it in concerts. He says, that he inspired Don Ellis to use oriental insturments. Well, he is now a professor in Oriental Music. Fact is, that instruments like the oud, are seldon heard in jazz nowadays. Avishai Cohen ( photo courtesy: Hans Koert)

Avishai says: Jazz is now moving into a great era. For many years there were just two movements: the traditionalists and the modernist. For a lot of jazz fans the jazz came to an end with Charlie Parker - for others it was Coltrane, Ornette Coleman or Cecil Taylor. Traditionalist are speaking of OKOM ( = Our Kind of Music) in forums and I learned that the first "modernists" are now elderly people too. Jazz fans are now discovering a new approach to the genre which give priority to mixing, intermingling, swing and the pure pleasure of music.

Amos Hoffman ( photo courtesy: Hans Koert)

With this project, Aurora, Avishai loves to explore his roots - The music draws its source in the soil of his home land, at the crossroads of many cultures. Arab-Andalusian and Hebraic, it tells the story of Bedouins of the desert and speaks of life, love, youth and freedom. The use of the oud gives Avishai's arrangements that Arabic flavor which gives it very special sound. For the first time, Avishai Cohen sings, using his voice as a direct and powerful vehicle for his emotions. He sing songs in Hebrew, like El Hatzipor, Alon Basela, Leolam, Morenika ( part in Ladino, a language used by Sephardic jews), but also in Spanish ( Alfonsina y el mar and Noches noches). Some songs are in English. Avishai received a lot of request to publish translations of these songs. It is free available now.

Avishai Cohen and his quintet. (f.l.t.r. Shai Maestro - Karen Malka - Avishai Cohen - Amos Hoffman - Hamar Daori) (photo courtesy: Hans Koert)

Love to share the Spanish tune Alfonsina y el mar written by Ramirez and Luna

The audience of the festival was overwhelmed and fascinated by these unusual harmonies, rhythms and lyrics, which gave me flashbacks to our trips to Egypt, Syria and Jordan, like in tunes like Leolam. The five musicians showed that they belong to the best. Shai Maestro is a young promising Israeli piano player, who joined the Avishai Cohen group a few years ago - percussionist Hamar Doari surprised with his smooth almost brittle solo performances. Amos Hoffman, who played the oud happened to be a skilled guitar player too.

Avishai Cohen ( photo courtesy: Hans Koert)
Most people where fascinated, impressed and almost in shock .... by the performance of Avishai Cohen's Aurora ensemble - Avishai electrifies the audience at each performance, I read somewhere and that seems to be not far from the truth. When I got home I had a lot to deal with, and that's how a good concert should be !! I've played the Aurora album since then a dozen times !!

Love to share with you a fragment of a small documentary entitled: - Aurora: the Making Of ..........

Aviashai Cohen - Aurora ( Blue Note 5099945735806 )

Hans Koert
keepswinging@live.nl


Avishai Cohen electrifies the audience at each performance I read in an announcement and that is true ...... Avishai Cohen and his band left Middelburg's audience almost shocked - Oriental sounds, Hebrew songs and jazz improvisations were mixed into a slick show ..... In his new album Aurora Avishai impresses with his cross-border music. Avishai Cohen and his Aurora Quintet was one of the guests at the 4th International Jazz Festival of Middelburg last month. If you want to stay informed about the contributions in this Keep Swinging blog, ask for its newsletter.
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