1. The Community Pages are important to JazzLegends.com. We need your donations to continue it and to continue to welcome members like Evan Shulman, son of Eddie Shu. I am spending at least one hour per day, seven days per week, deleting the spammers that seem to find the site attractive, in order to make it easier for members to use.

2. Postage has gone up. Overseas postage has more than doubled. We want to keep going at the site, and I am urging–overseas visitors especially–to order more than one item. Otherwise, I end up losing money on every order. This can only continue for so long.

3. What you get at JazzLegends.com: From time to time, we still get a complaint that says something like: “I thought such-and-such a title was a commercial issue, with full-color art, detailed notes and state-of-the-art sound.” If that’s what you want, look elsewhere. Nothing we have, with the exception of long-deleted LPs that have never been issued on CD, was ever commercially issued. And if you’re concerned that some of the film footage on our DVDs looks as if it’s 75 years old, that’s because it is.

4. I continue in my pledge to find those rarities and new discoveries that no one thought existed. Help me out, will you? Order stuff, make a donation or both.

Have a swingin’ spring and beyond,
Bruce Klauber

Evidently, the JazzLegends.com audience is valuable enough for a number of spammers to post their junk on the Community Pages. Rest assured that we’re doing everything possible to get rid of these rude clowns and to ensure that our pages will never be graced by them again. And believe me, my friends, if it takes MAKING THEM AN OFFER THEY CAN’T REFUSE, I’ll do it. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

By the way, look for some fabulous new material coming soon, including a rare Basie concert, Jo Stafford with Torme’ and Ella, and some neat MP2 stuff.

Mr. Sinatra had the concert stage. Huffington has the “Post.” Editors have the editorial page. These were and are their forums. Though also used for news and reviews, this space is my forum. And I intend to use it.

I will never criticize the playing or performance of a musician. The jazz community is too small for us to be knocking each other, and to my ears, everyone’s got something to say, from RIngo to Paul Motian. What I will point out is what I consider to be unprofessional or insensitive behavior from those in the business — on or off stage — who should know better, and those I know who can do better. And unless they’re dead and/or internationally renowned, I will not name names. If I’m bugged, it’s the behavior I’m bugged at, not the individual.

My word is not law or the “be all” or “end all.” If I’m wrong, I’ll be the first to admit it, loudly, clearly and in large font headlines. If you disagree with my opinions or what I perceive as fact, tell me so. This is an open forum and it’s open to one and all. There are plenty of places for you to comment on the JazzLegends.com site, including our community pages and on the articles pages. And I have no qualms about putting any of your comments on the home page, if that’s where you’d like them.

Here’s a case in point: Several months ago, I wrote a pretty angry piece about a new club’s jam session that was booked on the same night as another jam session that had been running for nearly 24 years. I couldn’t understand why the “new” place couldn’t book their jam on another night, in that the audience(s) for these things is small enough as it is. In other words, why not share rather than compete?

Those I “fingered” in this piece were understandably and deservedly not too happy with what I wrote, and, I guess, how I wrote it. And I’ve been informed that said facility actually had “dibs” on the Tuesday night jam session idea at least a year before the other joint. I stand corrected on that, but I disagree with the idea that a club or a club owner can “own” a night.

In any case, both places are doing well and I hope, pray and trust that they will continue to do so. If everything has to be on a Tuesday night, so be it.

I’m expecting that this matter will be considered closed, if only so that we can move on to more important matters, like, what are we going to do about that lousy pizza at Papa John’s?

How many times have you wanted to email the owner or founder of a company directly? Maybe you love them. Maybe you don’t care for them. Maybe you want help in finding a CD or DVD. Maybe you just want to talk. Now you can, and I’m inviting you. My personal email is DrumAlive@aol.com. I founded and I own JazzLegends.com, and I invite you to write about anything at all. In the process of doing necessary little “tweaks,” it seems our “contact” icon is out of order for a brief moment. No matter. DrumAlive@aol.com. That’s where you get me. At any time.

Shortly before Christmas, I was startled to find that the JazzLegends.com site was down. Though I’m no tech wizard, I came to understand that the site had grown very, large, especially with the recent addition of our MP3 store, and our server just couldn’t handle it. SInce this whole mess was discovered, our resdient tech genius has been working hard and dilligently to transfer everything over to a capable server. The delay is mainly due to the fact that 350 separate products have to be entered manually.

You’ll currently see that the site is up and is well on the way toward being online 100 percent.

On a personal note, I cannot tell you the catastrophic financial disaster this has caused me. I totally lost what could have been good revenue from the Christmas holiday. I do understand that technology is imperfect that this couldn’t be helped.

In the meantime, all our products are available, and until we’re up 100 percent, I invite you to take the old mail order route and send check, cash or money order–US Funds only–to Bruce Klauber, 7568 Brockton Road, Philadelphia, PA 19151. Be sure to write just what you’d like to order and provide a good mailing address. Shipping remains free worldwide.

One other issue–now solved–needs to be addressed. In late November, I began getting emails that said PayPal was not accepting overseas orders. I suspected that customers may have been entering mailing info incorrectly, but that was not the case. Turns out the PayPal automatically put “blocks” on certain ordering criteria. I believe this may have been related to our server problems.

I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your bearing with me during this certifiable disaster, and hope you’ll avail yourself our mail order option until we’re up again.

Please let all know that we are alive and well and hopefully will continue for years to come.

Bruce Klauber

It’s been a while since my last column which erroneously may have led some to believe that JazzLegends.com is dormant, slowing down, etc. Not so! We are alive, well and fulfilling orders as soon as we get them. There are, however, so very, very many folks I’ve not heard from in ages, so I just wanted to let you know that everything is running like clockwork here, no matter how hot it is!

I’ve recently relocated to a lovely area outside of Philadelphia, which, strange as it seems, is the first place I’ve had of my own in several years! It can’t be beat.

So, please bear in mind that I’m here, and remain on the look out for new and undiscovered stuff.

A word about some orders: Due to age or whatever, some of our masters have become damaged over time, often with no rhyme or reason. As an example, we had a recent order for out Wild Bill Davison DVD, and when I started the duplication process, realized that the master had somehow been stripped of the audio portion. How this happened, I couldn’t tell you, but it involved getting a copy of the video (it’s never been released on DVD) and remastering it.

In other cases, we’re not so lucky, so in the event that a master is damaged, I’ve tried to include at least TWO related titles to make up for it. So far, by and large, most folks seem to be happy with this, and I am working on replacing what’s damaged (if anyone has a good copy of Tony Williams in France on DVD, let me know).

Some of you may have heard that I have hooked up with the widow of Louis Prima, Gia Prima, to write Louis biography. This is quite an undertaking. Louis led a remarkable life, and Gia is simply a one-of-a-kind. She almost single-handedly spearheaded the renewed interest in the life and music of Prima, and what interest there is! Stay tuned.

In other book news, well, it finally had to happen. The final Mrs. Frank Sinatra, Barbara Sinatra, has written a book. Mrs. S. does a fine job in speaking of parties, drinking, jewelry, charitable galas, the care and feeding of Frank Sinatra, and their various fights (though Mrs. S. can’t seem to recall the root of the fighting).

On the other hand, and this is the kicker: Some years back, the very astute business person that is Tina Sinatra wrote a scathing account of Barbara Sinatra, how she tried to distance him from his children, financial and business double-dealings, greed, and general cruelty. Tina’s book cried out for a reply. This isn’t it. Mrs. Sinatra’s solution? Do not even mention Tina or Nancy. In that way, of course, they don’t exist. IN doing this, sadly, Mrs. Sinatra proved that she was and is as petty as Tina claimed.

It’s also riddled with inaccuracies (was it Mrs. Sinatra who convinced Mr. S. to sing “New York, New York”? I think not). And the fact that she says she had “no idea” who came up with the concept of “Duets” is just plain ridiculous. There were several books devoted to how that project got off the ground and ultimately progressed.

Is there an editor out there somewhere? I guess ghostwriter Wendy Holden, who doesn’t merit cover credit, by the way, didn’t think enough to visit the local library.

But in these days of Lady Gaga, who cares about the truth anyway?

As always, friends, if there’s anything at all you’re looking for on DVD or audio, please contact me at DrumAlive@aol.com. I’m here and I’m ready to “keep swingin’.”

Bruce Klauber

Since the publication of our book in 1990, “World of Gene Krupa,” there has been an unparalleled resurgence in interest in the life and music of “that ace drummer man.” Thankfully, the marketplace is filled with CD reissues, videos and dvds on Gene and other great drummers in jazz history, web sites, books, posters, tee-shirts, and more than a few Krupa “sound-alike” drummers and tribute bands. Finally, the jazz history books have properly acknowledged Gene’s contribution to drums, drumming and to jazz. 

Though he died at the rather young age of 64, in 1973, Gene had a long and glorious recording career that began in the late 1920s and continued right up until 1973. That’s six decades. Unfortunately, most of the better, commercially issued recordings have long been out-of-print. Aside from a couple of foreign and domestic reissues through the years, it appears that most of them will remain out-of-print. One of our goals at JazzLegends.com is to ensure that those old LPs from the 1950s and 1960s live on. We like to think we have fulfilled that part of our mission, via the transfer to CD of rarities like “Driving Gene,” “Hey Here’s Gene Krupa,” “Great New Quartet” and all the others. 

There’s another significant part to what we do here: As jazz players and jazz fans know, often the best music is made outside of the recording studio. That’s why we’ve devoted so much time and energy to tracking down Gene’s radio and television appearances, live concerts and projects done for the overseas market. We strongly urge you to check out our newest discoveries, highlighted by something called “So Rare.” Even the folks here at JazzLegends.com can’t believe some of the tracks on this CD. 

We apply same philosophy to our VHS videos. Gene’s films and film appearances were wonderfully entertaining. Sadly, they will likely never be released commercially and are rarely shown on television. We won’t let them disappear. Our “Raw Footage” tapes are a great complement to the full-length films, and offer glimpses of Gene in rehearsal, being interviewed, on television and in rare film shorts. 

Please note that our pricing policy has changed, and is undoubtedly the most reasonable price structure in the business. Collectors have long been paying hundreds and thousands for material like this over the years. Our prices? All CDs and books are $15. All videos are $30. Shipping is free worldwide. That’s it. 

In the news department, we have received word that “The Gene Krupa Story” will be released to DVD on or about May 18th. Don’t ask why, but there are no extras on the DVD. They could have come to us: The famed “Jammin’ With Gene” promo short with Sal Mineo is on our “Gene Krupa: Jazz Legend” video. The original theatrical trailer to “The Gene Krupa Story” is on our video “Classic Drum Solos and Drum Battles.” And we also have Gene’s appearance with Sal, promoting the film, on a 1958 “I’ve Got A Secret” tv show. In the not-too-distant future, perhaps we will put all these “promo” pieces on one video. 

We’re also told that a CD reissue is on its way in the form of the great, “Gene Krupa Plays Gerry Mulligan Arrangements” recording. No word about alternate takes yet, though most of these reissues seem to be straight transfers of what was on the original LP. Note that whenever a title is issued commercially, we do take it out of our catalog. 

As many of you know, by way of my longtime affiliation with Hudson Music, I’ve gotten the chance to work with drummer extraordinaire, Steve Smith, rather closely on a number of projects. I will tell you, unequivocally, that there is no better drummer than Steve out there, and that if he’s appearing in your neck of the woods with Buddies’ Buddies, Vital Information or in a clinic or master class, just go and see him. You will be astounded. 

On a more personal basis, I will hopefully be doing some classes and a film presentation called “The History of Jazz Drumming on Film” in tandem with Steve–and solo–in the not-to-distant future. Check this space for details. By the way, Steve Smith, as well as Gene, Buddy and all of the past, present and future legends of jazz drumming (including yours truly!) use Zildjian Cymbals. They were, are and will always be “the only serious choice.” 

We intend to use this space to let you know about updates, new products, and things we’re working on. And please tell us what you’re looking for and what you’d like to see. We’re here for you 

Bruce H. Klauber, D., Mus.