The record changer (Jan-Dec 1944)

The Record Changer, August 1944 lemME take this ehorus Give me Northern hospitality any time in preference to any other brand. Made my regular five year trip to New York last week. Wonderful plase to live but a hell of a place to visit: You know all the time you've got to come back to Dixie. Nick's very peppy with Bobby Hackett and others. Heard something good at Ryan's on 52nd St. Art Hodes' trio with Sterling Bose, trumpet, and Danny Alvin, drums. George Lugg, trombone, and a clarinet player appeared later and played in a very satisfactory fashion indeed. My regards to Art Hodes and to Mrs. Hodes, and thanks for putting me up. Contacted Mr. Eugene Williams, editor of Jazz Information, who is certainly a remarkable individual. Seems to be gifted with the faculty of keeping beer in the house at all times. Working at Decca on the Brunswick reissues, Gene has found out many things and will give us some real dope in an early issue of the Record Changer. Once I answered Gene's phone. "Is the Second Greatest Jazz Authority in the World there?" Man, I had a fine time. Thanks for the two days' board and room. C. E. Smith was at Julius' sobering up Sunday morning (as who wasn't). We went to Rod Cless's and Sterling Bose's apartment for a fine afternoon of beer with ice cubes and records. Rod Cless, Willie Smith and others at the Pied Piper; James P. Johnson plays between sets. Frankie Newton is around the corner at George's playing with guitar, bass and piano. Thanks for the drinks, maaan. * * * Stewart & Bates of Camp Hill, Pa., write me that they are sorry they advertised the record Mop Mop /My Ideal by Leonard Feather's All Stars (Played once) for sale at 10c. They have received for their pains nothing but adverse criticism, unkind words and dire threats. Dick Kendregan, Delavan, 111., tells them "You are pikers, — I sent mine back to CMS and paid the postage." John Wittwer, Seattle, asks "What are you trying to do, — start an inflation? Trying to sell that record for 10c is a prime example of wartime profiteering. I think I shall report you to the OPA." Stewart & Bates agree that perhaps 5c is a more reasonable price to ask for the record. It appears in the "For Disposition" section. Bill Gottlieb, jazz writer for the Washington Post, left me 600 records to sell for him when he signed up for the Air Corps. If you want to get rid of some records but do not have time to handle the detail, write me for particulars. You send me your records, I list them, you receive the bids and notify me which records are to be shipped. What this would cost you depends on the content of your list. * * * Ralph Gleason writes: "Unfortunately in my article on London in the last issue, some items were omitted, including a listing of several of the radio rhythm club shows, comments on the restrictions and the fact that I had been in London for some months for the OWI and had only recently returned. I am not objecting, nor attempting to raise the issue of censorship, Mr. G., but out of fairness to me and to the subjects of my piece, I would like this to be known." (Ed. Note: A tangled web we weave.) * * * From George Montgomery, Los Angeles: "There is a hot rumor that Bunk Johnson will record here with some unknown musicians for Decca and then leave for Louisiana to stay. "Kid Ory is in a quartette with Buster Wilson on the piano, and no saxophones to hamper him, really serving it up hot for his chillun. He makes pop tunes sound as good as the jazz standards. As Bill Colburn says, 'It's the beat.' "Zutty Singleton has joined Teddy Bunn's Quartette, and doesn't get much chance to cut loose except when he joins the jazz band which broadcasts on Wednesday nights. "Joe Sullivan and Meade Lewis are at a couple of local bars; Joe prefers to' just tinkle around, and Meade plays much too fast to produce his best music. * * * "Wingy Manone is back on Hollywood Boulevard with a Dixieland band, turning out typical Manone music." 50