Variety (December 1943)

Wednesday, December 15, 1943 VARIETY ORCHESTRAS 41 Ellington's Carnegie Hall Reprise Another Memorable Evening of Jazz By DON WALSH -f Neither the illness of two key per- formers nor the sanctified atmos- phere of Carnegie Hall put the brakes on Duke Ellington Saturday night (11) when he and his coterie of standout jazr musicians played a re- turn engagement at the 57th street, N. Y., lair of the longhairs. The program, except for the lid-lifting National Anthem, was straight from the Ellington pallette to. the delight of a capacity audience which over- flowed the spacious confines of Carnegie and .'necessitated placing several rows of scats surrounding the band on'the platform.. The Puke preemed 'New World A-Comiug,' his own brainchild sug- gested by the, closing passages of Roi Oltley's best-seller, which proved to be an unpretentious but pleasant and generous slice of Ellington fea- turing his piano and backed up by a low-register clarinet in the open- ing phases and other splists and full band backdrops later on. Deliber- ately, as explained: by the Duke— always a gracious, modest and win- ning master of ceremonies, by-the way — it's an . attempt to - express the mood of his race's (facing) future in America. The new com- position captured effectively the •contented feeling' Ellington said he hoped the audience would find. El- lington,; .without doubt, will find ainplc >: Vateriiil/in the expanded .work for two or. three popular songs to add to his catalog of hits. This catalog provided the back- bone of the concert. And the Elling- ton times, even those dating back to the 1920's, sounded as* fresh and distinctive Saturday night as. though they were hot from Tin Pan Alley The Duke gave them 'Take the A Train'; 'Moon Mist,' written by his son, Mercer, 24-year-old Army pri vale; 'Don't Gel Around'; 'Ring Dcm Bells'; 'Jack the Bear'; .'Black and Tan Fantasy'; 'Rockin' in Rhythm '-.among other favorites, and closed with. 'Things Ain't What They Used ■to .' a riff tune also written by his son. For good measure, the composer- leader presided at the piano for an interlude programmed. as 'Award Winning Compositions,' during which he spotlighted 'Sophisticated Lady': 'Caravan'; 'Solitude'; 'Mood Indigo' and others. The audience loved it One of the brightest spots of the evening came when the talents of the late George Gershwin, Ellington the hitler's . sightless vocalist, Al Kibbler, and violinist Ray Nance combined to make''Summertime' a few moments to be remembered long after the last echoes of the song had been swallowed up by the fast- moving 'Cotton Tail' that followed. Kibbler's first song, 'Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me,' tormerly the instrumental "Concerto for Cootie,' also was standout. Many of the programmed numbers were included iii his original Carnegie concert. Space doesn't permit the listing of all thesoloists—every member of the band got his chance to shine and no one muffed. Only Juan Tizol and chirpcr Betty Roche, sidelined by illness, were missed.- Harold Baker's ■ trumpet variations on 'Stardust' and Tricky Sam's several trombonistics paced the brass section, closely fol- lowed by Rex Stewart, Nance and Lawrence Brown. Johnny Hodges, of course, was tops in the reed de partment. Also . on the program were ex cerpls- from 'Black, Brown and Beige,' Ellingtonia Introduced at th? band's first Carnegie Hall concert last January. GLEN ISLAND MAY RESUME IN SPRING Glen Island Casino, New Rochelle N. Y;; expects to reopen next spring, No definite moves toward unshutter- . nig the spot, such as. refurbishing or making bids for music, '.have been made, but its operators have signified an intention to resume. Glen Island's last attempt in busi- ness occurred last spring. Sy Shrib- man, New England ballroom opera- tor, took it over and installed Joe Marsala's band, under a ballroom style of operation. Attempt. didn' last , long, mainly because the Pleasure driving ban was still on in the cast. Red N'orvo was given a 4-F classi ""cation at the N. Y. induction center after a physical Saturday (11). Ellington's Concert B.O. Duke Ellington promoted his Carnegie Hall, N. Y„ Concert Saturday (11) himself and drew $4,200 as his end of. the total gross of $5,300. It was generally unknown the leader operated the affair himself, taking the gamble at. the b.o. His. first concert there, last February, was for Russian Relief. Ellington repealed his Car- negie concert at Boston's Sym- phony Hall Sunday (12). This was promoted by a local oper- ator and it grossed $4,600. El- lington took out $2,300 as . his end of a 50% deal. Files Suit Vs. ; s \% Tax Alfred Manuti, member of.N. Y. Local 802 of the American Federa- tion - of Musicians, has filed suit in N. Y. supreme court, Queens County, against Jacob Rosenberg, as presi dent of 802, in an effort to legally force repeal of the 1% tax regu- lation voted on and passed at the union's general meeting last September. This 1% tax levy de mands members pay that percentage of all earnings, including officials of 802; into a general fund. . In his suit Manuti claims the tax regulation is illegal, in. that 802's by- laws state such an amendment can-, not be voted on at any but the an nual April meeting. It was proposed, voted on and okayed, above his ob jectipns, at the September general meeting. In the papers, filed last week; he asserts this discrepancy was brought to the attention of the Executive : Board of the parent American Federation of Musicians and that after a hearing, that Board rejected his complaint, deciding the tax resolulion was okay. Horace Henderson discharged from the Army (he's 39) and Is back at the keyboard in brother Fletcher's band. Unit, now touring southern territory, plans stop off for few one nighters in New York before open- ing.at Boston's Tic-Toe next month. BEN POLLACK Cuffo Digger• Upper- 61" Niime Bnmlmcn Now Makes It His Business s 38th Anniversary Number Otherwise the 'Post-War Show Business Edition' Slack in Navy, Orch Disbands Freddie Slack enlisted in the Navy last week by the expedient of ask- ing his draft board to put his name at the top of the list of prospective inductees. He goes into service on the Coast this Fri 117), after which his band'will break up. Slack's career was short, but stormy. After his: initial success via Capitol : recordings lie was the subject of a drawn-out ageiicy con- tract dispute between Music Corp. of America, and the William Morris agency, won by the latter. He broke up his band once during this dispute and because of it, later reorganizing. Several times he was due to come east to cash in on-the b.o. stature his discs built up, but each time can- celled out. Metro-Capitol-Par, N. Y. Date Snarl Now Involves T. Dorseys Ford Show Only Glen Gray May Be Left of Casa Loma Band After This Week Glen Gray may be left as the sole surviving member of the original Casa Loma orchestra after this week. Clarence Hutchenrider, sax-clarinet, and Stanley Dennis, bass, have-filed notice of leaving and Toiiy Braglia, drummer, goes for induction later this, week. These three are the last of the cooperative original group and, like.the.members who previous- ly bowed put, Will receive their cash shares of the band's, earnings. Band is now at the Strand, N. Y., moving out soon to make way for Charlie Barnet, Both Hutchenrider and Dennis intend .remaining in N.Y. Roxy Dancers Now Warbling With Tucker Trio of singers Tommy Tucker in- stalled with his band coincident with the outfit's opening at'Frank'Dailcy's Terrace Room, Newark, N. J., Friday (10) arc all ex-amateurs, two having been culled from the Roxy, N. Y., line of dancers during Tucker's stay there. Janet Dincll and Ritz O'Don- noll are the former Roxyettes,' while the third is Mary Ann Wayne, a former Newark stenographer who look first place in one of Abe Ly-. man's singing ..-contests' during that band's stay at Dailcy's in October. Amy Arnell, Tucker's vocalist for years, left the band-recently to.dp a single: Currently at the Hipp thea- tre, Baltimore, she opens at' Loew's State.' N. Y., tomorrow (Thursday) and the same evening goes into La Martinique, N. '-'. , Army Now Has Over Washington, Dec. 14. Army now has well over 800 au- thorized bands, War. Department re- ports. Average: unit is 28 men, with cost of instruments for eacn orch- about $3,000. While inarching mu- sic is the prime purpose,, each base has in .it one or more dance orches- tras to play at camp entertainments. Army: regulations authorize 46 dif- ferent 'instruments for issue to these bands, plus about 600 musical sup- ply items and accessories. Government reports that its armed musicians are hard on instruments, and that an average of 1,000 a year are sent back to Quartermaster De- pots for repair and maintenance. Herb Fields Rehearsing Hcrbie 'Fields', hew orchestra, is in rehearsal in N. Y. currently, com- posed of six„brass, five sax, and three trombones. Outfit is not tied to any booking agency and has no dates lined up' as yet. . Fields is former Sgt.. leader of the post band at Camp Dix.. N. J. He recently was given a medical dis- charge. Before going, into service, more than two years ago he was clarinetist with many top bands. ♦■' Tommy Dorsey-Meiro-Capitol and Paramount; theatre, N: Y.i situation broke wide open last week.' It's said that Dorsey is being 'requested' to forego one of two. Signed contracts with tlie Paramount an., to.play one contracted dale at the opposition Capitol on schedule during 1944. Dorsey has a. ve-times-a-week Ford program, which he in, (o debut Jan. 10 in the 8-8:15 p.m. slot on the Blue network. According to sources involved, Dorsey's lilm contract with Metro allows him only one commer- cial broadcast'a week with the ban . To do more than that requires special permission from the film company. .On this basis. Music Corp. of Amer- ica, Dorsey's bookers, has been peti-. lio'ning' the Par to lei Dorsey out of . the second agreement he has to play there or, at least, to let him go to the Cap first during the coming year and then go back, to the Par. MCA says the film company can force Dorsey off the Ford show, otherwise. Ford contract is signed; Dorsey opens the first of the two commitments at the Paramount next Wednesday (22). After that he owes the house another date which con- flicts with the Cap contract, also, calling for. an appearance in 1044. This Contract was .signed on. the Coast last August following request from Metro, which, has the leader on a seven-year film pact. . Paramount is sitting light in the dispute. It has two signed agree- ments and is not involved in the disagreement in any way except that it is being pressured by MCA to let Dorsey loose of the second agreement; -.Capitol: booking office (Loew's,' Inc., parent company of Locw-Metro setup), has a contract on the band which is said to clearly slate it is effective after Dorsey fin- ishes the forthcoming date - at the Par. Par asserts it has first call on Dorsey for his next two Broadway dates. Your Best Salesman In All Markets— to Be Published Late In December N.Y. TOWN HALL JAZZ CONCERTS WILL RESUME Promoters of last season's Town Hall jazz concerts are coming back for more, even though the Saturday afternoon venture was not a success financially when last attempted. Ernie. Anderson, D'Arcy ad agency exec, who piloted, last series, . has announced first program will be staged Dec. 18, with three others to follow. Presentations will follow same outline, with outstanding jazz per- formers, in uniform' and out, being presented informally without strict programing limitations. Garber Follows Basie Into N.Y. Lincoln Hotel Jan Garbcr's orchestra . has been booked into, the Lincoln hotel, N. Y. for eight weeks beginning Jan. 2. He will have one Fitch Bandwagon shot and two CocaCola broadcasts during the riin.-This is Garber's initial N. Y. hotel job 'with his new jump band, though he played four weeks re- cently at Frank Dailcy's Terrace Room, Newark. Band 'is currently at the Roscland Ballroom, N. Y. Count Basic is current at the Lin- coln. NEW YORK 19, 154 W. 46th St HOLLYWOOD 28/ 1708 No. Vine St CHICAGO 1. 54 W. Randolph St LONDON 8 St. Martin's PL Honor Madriguera Washington, Dec. 14. Ambassadors and Ministers of the Latin American republics honored Enric Madriguera Tuesday (13) here for his efforts to advance Pan Ameri- canism through music. Recognition was in - the form of a parchment .scroll, which contained the signa- tures of the envoys, with 'we, the undersigned; do elect Sr. Enric Ma- driguera the Musical Ambassador of the Americas.' Band is ciirrentlty at the Commo- dore hotel, New York. Madriquera claims an intention to form a Pan- American symphony, composed of IS. A. 1 musicians, to tour the Latlp I countries .sometime in the future.