Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Lou McGarity was born Robert Louis McGarity on July 22, 1917 in Athens, Georgia. He started out playing violin when he was seven and didn’t switch to trombone until he was 17. He studied at the University of Georgia from 1934-36, gigged locally around the South and toured with Ben Bernie from 1938-40
He hit the big time with Benny Goodman from 1940-42, becoming the first trombonist to play both with the big band and his smaller groups. During the war years 1942-44 he worked with Raymond Scott’s Orchestra at CBS, and after military service teamed up with his friend and fellow trombonist Cutty Cutshall and rejoined Goodman in ‘46.
Lou was a busy studio musician in New York City beginning in 1947 while performing in clubs at night with Eddie Condon and playing Dixieland with the Lawson/Haggard band. He worked with Bob Crosby in the mid-’60s andwas a member of the World’s Greatest Jazz Band at the end of the 1960s. He recorded with Urbie Green, J.J. Johnson, Kenny Davern, Jimmy McPartland, Charlie Parker, Cootie Williams and Bobby Hackett among others.
Trombonist Lou McGarity, who recorded as a leader and played in the big band, swing and Dixieland genres until bad health shortened his life, transitioned on August 28, 1971 in Alexandria, Virginia.
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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager
The pandemic has eased up related to the massive numbers of contractions, hospitalizations, deaths experienced over the past two years. If you’ve been listening and watching you know it is not over. Follow your conscience.
This week I bring you the 1961 album Ease It recorded by the Rocky Boyd Quintet which features trumpeter Kenny Dorham. It is the only known recording by the saxophonist, and was first released by Jazztime Records. It was also released thirteen years later by Muse Records in 1974 as Ease It!.
Once again in 1989 Black Lion released a CD edition retitled West 42nd Street. It was credited to Kenny Dorham and comprised all the takes from the session. Only tracks 1 & 6 have a single take.
Fred Norsworthy was the producer and Bill Stodard the engineer on the recording session that took place on March 13, 1961 at Bell Sound Studios in New York City. The cover photography was taken by Gary Gladstone, the liner notes were written by Don Riches.
Track List | 39:42
- Avars (Boyd) ~ 7:42
- Stella by Starlight (Young, Washington) ~ 5:05
- Why Not? (LaRoca) ~ 7:26
- Ease It (Chambers) ~ 10:35
- Samba De Orfeu (Luiz Bonfá) ~ 4:31
- West 42nd Street (Hardin) ~ 4:23
- Kenny Dorham – trumpet
- Rocky Boyd – tenor sax
- Walter Bishop Jr. – piano
- Ron Carter – bass
- Pete LaRoca – drums
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Örjan Kjellin was born on July 21, 1944 in Ljungby, Sweden and didn’t pick up the clarinet until the age of 15 and two years later formed his first band in partnership with pianist Lars Edegran. The band played music in the New Orleans style. He made his first records in his native Sweden at the age of 17.
Moving to New Orleans, Louisiana in 1966 he became a regular performer at several leading jazz venues including Preservation Hall. In 1968 he was a founder member of the New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra. He also led his own bands in the city including, in 1970, a band which held a residency at the Maison Bourbon Club. Two years later he formed the New Orleans Joymakers.
He recorded with several veteran New Orleans musicians including Josiah ‘Cié’ Frazier, Preston Jackson, Jim Robinson, Jabbo Smith, Zutty Singleton and Kid Thomas Valentine. In 1978, Örjan played with NORO for the soundtrack of the movie Pretty Baby. The following year he appeared in New York City as musical director, co-arranger and on-stage clarinetist with the stage musical One Mo’ Time.
In the early 80s he appeared with the same show during its long and successful run in London’s West End. Kellin has toured extensively with his own bands and with bands formed largely from New Orleans veterans. In 1992 he made his first solo tour of the UK.
Clarinetist Örjan Kjellin, a gifted and highly musical player who is known to the jazz world as Orange Kellin, continues to fan the flames of the music of New Orleans.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
James “Plunky” Branch was born on July 20, 1947 in Richmond, Virginia and educated in the city’s segregated schools. He then attended Columbia University in New York City, but by 1971 he had moved to San Francisco, California. It was here that he formed Juju, a musical group that combined rhythm and blues, jazz, soul, and African musical influences.
He founded the band Plunky & Oneness, which began as Juju in 1971 which he renamed twice, Oneness of Juju and Plunky & the Oneness of Juju, before it was given its current name in 1988. One of Plunky & Oneness’ songs, Every Way But Loose, is featured on the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, playing on fictional radio station Paradise FM.
Branch is the president and founder of the independent record label N.A.M.E. Brand Records, through which he has released 25 albums. As a studio musician Plunky has worked for The Cosby Show and has appeared on several avant-garde jazz albums.
As an educator he has been Director of the Jazz Ensemble at Virginia Union University as well as an instructor of Afro-American Music History at Virginia Commonwealth University.
He has been the recipient of two NEA Jazz Fellowships and was appointed to the Governor’s Task Force for the Promotion of the Arts in Virginia. In 1999 he was recognized by Richmond Magazine as Musician of the Year for 1999. J. Plunky Branch continues to perform, record, compose and produce.
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Three Wishes
While hanging out at the Cathouse one evening Pannonica inquired of Rudy Powell as to his three wishes if they could come true and he told her:
- “I’d like to be equipped to further jazz.”
- “Through that I’d be able to promote a spotlight for musicians who’ve never had a chance and deserve some.”
- “I would try to effectuate a way to alleviate the cliques that have been developing through the years, and which have hindered some fine players from exploring their talents.”
*Excerpt from Three Wishes: An Intimate Look at Jazz Greats ~ Compiled and Photographed by Pannonica de Koenigswarter
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