This tale reminds me of the time in the 70s when I was stumbling around the back area of the Blue Note on 3rd St in Manhattan in a marijuana haze looking for the bathroom and saw Dizzy Gillespie sitting at a desk in one of the offices. I was in my early 20s, a new college graduate who loved jazz. I walked in and much to my own surprise I said “hey, Diz! What’s happening!?” or something like that. He said “come on in and have a seat.” So I did. I told him I had taken a class at UMass with Max Roach who had spoken very highly of him. Dizzy laughed and made some remark about being old. I asked if I could take his picture and he said yes, absolutely and laughed some more. So I did . I shook his hand and went back to my seat in the club thinking “man, what just happened?” And realizing I had never made it to the bathroom. In retrospect Dizzy was so kind and friendly and so open. And I’ll never forget his laugh.
In just a year, I had spent time with 2 members of Bird’s band. Unbelievable. I still have the photo I took that night sitting on a shelf over my desk. G-d bless Diz. And Max. And Bird.
My big Count Basie embarrassment was during intermission of a gig he played with his band in Holly, Michigan, in the 1970s, which I covered for the Flint Journal. At a press conference with a few reporters around an offstage table, the subject of plunger-muted trombonists came up. Stupidly I mentioned Dickie Wells, as if he were a current band member. Basie looked at me levelly and said: “Dickie Wells hasn’t been a member of this band since 1940. It’s Al Grey. You have to leave this interview now”. I was so stunned I didn’t move a muscle. Basie didn’t press his insistence that I leave, but just moved on to the next question.
Saw the Count on that last tour - I was in a big band at the time and we played a lot of his book, along with others. He was a gently soul, and legendary for what he got out of the few notes he played.
The Chet Baker part of the story… That missed phone call really would’ve killed me. I don’t think you could’ve booked Count Basie in your apartment: but it’s nice to think about!
This made me think about the current phenomenon in indie/folk music of "house concert" tours. I love the idea of it and wish I were young enough, cool enough, and geographically situated enough to host and attend such concerts.
Basie’s use of space on “Oh, Lady Be Good” is one of the great miracles. I talked about it with Stanley Crouch and I played it for him on the piano to demonstrate how it was easy to imitate, but difficult to imitate well, like Italian food in Italy. He listened and said, “Mean.”
Great story. I "tried" to interview Count Basie months before he died. He was in a wheelchair smoking a cigar. I was a young Cincinnati reporter. After every response, Count added in a nasty tone, "And you can read that too!" His assistant Raymond was nowhere to be found. After every response to me, the Count also screamed "Raymond!!" And I kept asking questions. And he'd end each response with a loud "Raymond!!" Finally, a young sheepish Raymond arrives and wheels away the Count! And now....You Can Read That Too!! Hee-hee!
This tale reminds me of the time in the 70s when I was stumbling around the back area of the Blue Note on 3rd St in Manhattan in a marijuana haze looking for the bathroom and saw Dizzy Gillespie sitting at a desk in one of the offices. I was in my early 20s, a new college graduate who loved jazz. I walked in and much to my own surprise I said “hey, Diz! What’s happening!?” or something like that. He said “come on in and have a seat.” So I did. I told him I had taken a class at UMass with Max Roach who had spoken very highly of him. Dizzy laughed and made some remark about being old. I asked if I could take his picture and he said yes, absolutely and laughed some more. So I did . I shook his hand and went back to my seat in the club thinking “man, what just happened?” And realizing I had never made it to the bathroom. In retrospect Dizzy was so kind and friendly and so open. And I’ll never forget his laugh.
In just a year, I had spent time with 2 members of Bird’s band. Unbelievable. I still have the photo I took that night sitting on a shelf over my desk. G-d bless Diz. And Max. And Bird.
My big Count Basie embarrassment was during intermission of a gig he played with his band in Holly, Michigan, in the 1970s, which I covered for the Flint Journal. At a press conference with a few reporters around an offstage table, the subject of plunger-muted trombonists came up. Stupidly I mentioned Dickie Wells, as if he were a current band member. Basie looked at me levelly and said: “Dickie Wells hasn’t been a member of this band since 1940. It’s Al Grey. You have to leave this interview now”. I was so stunned I didn’t move a muscle. Basie didn’t press his insistence that I leave, but just moved on to the next question.
I got to hear Count Basie on one of his last tours. Such a blessing of pure joy
A combo maybe? Electric keyboard? If they were unable to book the full band?
Saw the Count on that last tour - I was in a big band at the time and we played a lot of his book, along with others. He was a gently soul, and legendary for what he got out of the few notes he played.
The Chet Baker part of the story… That missed phone call really would’ve killed me. I don’t think you could’ve booked Count Basie in your apartment: but it’s nice to think about!
Fun post. I got to see Basie 8/13/86 and again 7/29/87 at Ravinia in Highland Park. Part of the same tour(s), I'm sure. Such a treat and memory.
This made me think about the current phenomenon in indie/folk music of "house concert" tours. I love the idea of it and wish I were young enough, cool enough, and geographically situated enough to host and attend such concerts.
Wonderful
XMe: Book Count Basie? [Long pause] You mean in my apartment? I practically fell out of my chair laughing Ted. Great story.
Wow, so close! I wonder what Chet wanted.
Basie’s use of space on “Oh, Lady Be Good” is one of the great miracles. I talked about it with Stanley Crouch and I played it for him on the piano to demonstrate how it was easy to imitate, but difficult to imitate well, like Italian food in Italy. He listened and said, “Mean.”
Funny! But seriously, did you refer him over to Stanford? They might have booked him.
Great story. I "tried" to interview Count Basie months before he died. He was in a wheelchair smoking a cigar. I was a young Cincinnati reporter. After every response, Count added in a nasty tone, "And you can read that too!" His assistant Raymond was nowhere to be found. After every response to me, the Count also screamed "Raymond!!" And I kept asking questions. And he'd end each response with a loud "Raymond!!" Finally, a young sheepish Raymond arrives and wheels away the Count! And now....You Can Read That Too!! Hee-hee!
Harvey Pekar was one of a kind. My mother knew him b/c they both worked at the VA.
Basie was - and is - the touchstone of all that is hip in music.
The Count swings forever in my mind.