Music Monday - Jim Flora does BG

Things are sort of dull around the Music Monday composing room, so for the next few weeks the cracked editorial staff has decided on a new feature for the day:

The artwork of David Stone Martin on record covers.

One exciting work of art (called Illustration by some) will be presented here each week until they run out. Each is a scan from the editor's personal library and the original copyrights apply.

They are presented here for admiration and educational purposes only.

Today in 1986 we lost Benny Goodman to a heart attack so let's look at some Goodman record sleeves.

We have been looking at David Stone Martin record cover work for a few Music Mondays. But to my knowledge, no David Stone Martin work was used on any of the many Goodman disks. So to pay respects to the memory of Mister Goodman today, we’ll present a well know BG cover by Jim Flora, another artist who designed many record covers. The one at the right is one of the most famous.

Next week: Back to David Stone Martin

The three covers below seem a little like Jim Flora work but probably are not. Flora's signature appears in most of his work.

Flora's signature appears in most of his work.

These all seem to have an "arrow" theme.

If anyone can identify any of the artists here, send me a note.

The Profile (more than you really wanted to know)is HERE.

Lost Gallery The rescue mission for battered and abused orphan photographs.

Still the most popular page on this blog. The Subway Collection

Artie Shaw

Today in 2004 we lost Artie Shaw. He was 94. He was unique. Quote from article by Nat Hentoff in Jazztimes: What I admired about Shaw was that he exemplified what Ben Webster once told me when I was still in Boston: “If the rhythm section isn’t making it, go for yourself.” Artie Shaw refused to let himself be limited, even by success. When he first quit the music scene in 1939, walking off the bandstand at the Café Rouge of the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York, he said later: “I wanted to resign from the planet, not just music. It stopped being fun with success. Money got in the way. Everybody got greedy—including me. Fear set in. I got miserable when I became a commodity.” In 1954, at 43, he left for good and never again performed. He turned to writing and an array of other interests because his curiosity about how much one could learn about learning never flagged. As he said in the notes to Self Portrait, “I’m not comfortable with categories, and I distrust most definitions. The word definition is based on the word finite, which would seem to indicate that once we’ve defined something, we don’t need to think about it anymore.” On January 7, the National Endowment for the Arts declared Artie Shaw a Jazz Master. I sure would have liked to hear his acceptance speech. It wouldn’t have been humble. He knew his worth, and then some. In a 1978 Washington Post interview, he said: “I don’t care if I’m forgotten. I became a specialist in nonspecialization a long time ago. For instance, I’m an expert fly fisherman. And in 1962, I ranked fourth nationally in precision riflery. My music? Well, no point in false modesty about that. I was the best.” Shaw died, at the age of 94, on December 30, but his music will continue to reverberate. I can’t forget him because he brought me into the music that has given me ceaseless reason to shout aloud in pleasure. ================================================================= Thanks Mr. Hentoff. I just can't think of a better way to say it. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From Wikipedia: Artie Shaw (May 23, 1910, New York, New York – December 30, 2004, Thousand Oaks, California) is considered to be one of the best jazz musicians of his time. Jazz clarinetist, composer, and bandleader, he is also the author of both fiction and non-fiction writings.

These are the most popular pages: Alison Young Art Pepper Barney Kessel Bettie Page Curl-up-and-dye Edgar Degas and the lost Ginger Nude Ginger Panda Gnat Trap Little Annie Fannie Marilyn Resident Alien Sunday Funnies Things ain't what they used to be. (In fact, they never was.) The Profile (more than you really wanted to know) is here.

Willie Smith

This is a rather scarce 10" LP from Willie Smith. The card shows his signature along with that of Harry James around 1958 in Wichita, Kansas. Happy Birthday Mr. Smith and thanks for being so kind to a young kid who delayed your break for an autograph. Willie Smith was born William McLeish Smith November 25, 1910 in Charleston, South Carolina. Willie Smith,Johnny Hodges and Benny Carter were considered the top three alto saxophone players of the swing era. He also played clarinet and sang. From Wikipedia: Willie Smith's first instrument was clarinet and his education was in chemistry. He received his chemistry degree from Fisk University. Nevertheless in 1929 he became an alto saxophonist for Jimmie Lunceford's band. He would be one of the main stars in Lunceford's group and in 1940 had his own quintet as a side project.[1] His success with Lunceford had lost its charms by 1942 as he now wanted more pay and less travel. He then switched to Harry James's orchestra, where he made more money, and stayed with him for seven years. After that he later worked with Duke Ellington and Billy May. In 1954 he returned to Harry James's band. Added to all this he was involved in Jazz at the Philharmonic and worked with Nat King Cole. He died of cancer March 7,1967 in Los Angles, California. (Oh yes, the other autograph on that card is that of Harry James.)

These are the most popular pages: Alison Young Art Pepper Barney Kessel Bettie Page Curl-up-and-dye Edgar Degas and the lost Ginger Nude Ginger Panda Gnat Trap Little Annie Fannie Marilyn Resident Alien Sunday Funnies Things ain't what they used to be. (In fact, they never was.) The Profile (more than you really wanted to know) is here.

These low-fi pictures are from a really HI-FI concert many years ago at the auditorium on campus at Ada, Oklahoma Southeastern College. Sorry about the quality. Today in 1979 we lost this highly innovative, influential, and often controversial American jazz musician, composer and band leader. In later years he was widely active as an educator. His band during the tour that included Ada and other small colleges, was composed mainly of young musicians he had personally trained. The trombonist sitting on the edge of the stage was chatting with the audience. The tour was undoubtedly a monumental experience for them.

These are the most popular pages: Alison Young Art Pepper Barney Kessel Bettie Page Curl-up-and-dye Edgar Degas and the lost Ginger Nude Ginger Panda Gnat Trap Little Annie Fannie Marilyn Resident Alien Sunday Funnies Things ain't what they used to be. (In fact, they never was.) The Profile (more than you really wanted to know) is here.

Count Basie

You've never seen one of these... Today in 1906 the world was presented with one of its finest heroes: William "Count" Basie. Sometimes things go just right. I was able to see the legendary band with Basie four times. Once I carried the dummy LP record sleeve (above) with me and got autographs from most of the band. It includes Basie, Freddie Green, Charlie Fowlkes, Marshal Royal, Sonny Payne, Frank Wess, Al Grey, Joe Newman and another hero of mine, Joe Williams. Some years after Mr. Basie died I attended a concert by the band under the direction of trombonist Grover Mitchell. Here, from a 1937 broadcast, is a favorite cut. Favorite because it demonstrates a feature of the Basie organization, what someone called the "Four-Man Solo". Of course, as usual, to the best of my knowledge you can't buy this anywhere. "I’ll Always Be In Love With You." We lost Count Basie April 26, 1984 to pancreatic cancer. Happy Birthday Mr. Basie...we really miss you.

Can anyone identify this painting? Is it Francois Schuiten? Looks like his work but can someone confirm it?? Click for larger version. Yes, I refuse to use Kleenex until THIS stops.

Harry James. He could do it all.

He led a big band for 40 years. Today, in 1983 we lost Harry James, swing-era bandleader/trumpet player. This is Harry with Ziggy Elman and Chris Griffin. For two years he led this trumpet section in the legendary Benny Goodman big band '37-'38. Then early in 1939, Harry James struck off on his own and fronted his own band for more than 40 years. His first singer was that guy from Hoboken, NJ... oh, you know, the one with the blue eyes....He went on to sing with Tommy Dorsey and made a few records on his own....ah well, I can't be expected to remember everything... Harry Married Betty Grable 1943 to 1965. They had two daughters. Here is a good bio about them. For those of you fortunate enough to have this old LP of Harry James, "One Night Stand" from Columbia (GL 522), you have the very best of James and his orchestra. Yes, there were recordings that were more popular, more famous. But this was the best jazz, the finest of the big band and yes, a fine example of Harry at his solo best. Now, get ready for this: It has never been released on CD. You must have the old LP. Neener Neener Neener.... Here's Feet Draggin' Blues... I saw the Harry James band a couple times circa 1960, in a roadhouse club near Wichita, Kansas. Once Betty Grable was sitting at a stage-side table watching the show. I think I have his autograph someplace. Jilla Webb was the vocalist. Here is an excellent web page about this legend of the big band era.

Can anyone identify this painting? Is it Francois Schuiten? Looks like his work but can someone confirm it?? Click for larger version. Yes, I refuse to use Kleenex until THIS stops.

Take Me Back Baby....Try me one more time...

FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1972 Today in 1972 we lost Jimmy Rushing. Goodbye Jimmy and thanks. Jimmy Rushing Interview TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 1972 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RUSHING RITES DRAW 300 INCLUDING BASIE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- More than 300 mourners, among them Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Erskine Hawkins, Buck Clayton and Al Hibbler attended the funeral yesterday of Jimmy Rushing at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Lexington Avenue and 54th Street. Mr. Rushing, one of the great blues singers and a one-time member of the Count Basie orchestra, died Thursday at the age of 68. In his tribute to Mr. Rushing, the Rev. John Garcia Gensel, the church's associate pastor and minister to the jazz community, said "Mr. Five by Five" would be remembered best for his "childlike quality of enthusiasm and simplicity," a quality quite different from childishness, he explained, and one most warmly recommended by Jesus to his followers. The musical tributes included Tony Watkins singing "Precious Lord, Take My Hand"; a trumpet solo by Joe Newman of "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child," with Junior Mance on the piano, and a rendition of "My Buddy," with Louis Metcalf on the trumpet, Bobby Pratt on the trombone and Mr. Mance on the piano. Burial was at Maple Grove cemetery, Kew Gardens, Queens. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The above copyrighted material from the New York Times is reproduced here for educational purposes only and in accordance with the Copyright Fair Use Policy. Can anyone identify this painting? Click for larger version. A very,merry unbushday to you! Go HERE! It's a hoot! Yes, I refuse to use Kleenex until THIS stops.