We have recently arrived back in Naples, FL, and before I could even get comfortable, I received a call from my editor at the Naples Daily News asking if I would review the upcoming Charlie Daniels Band concert at The Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts. I’m pretty much open to any kind of music these days–as long as it’s played well–and though I wasn’t overly familiar with Daniels, I figured, what the heck. While I could have done without his redneck rhetoric about Jesus, the flag, hanging criminals from a tall tree with a short rope–and a bit of gay-bashing thrown in for good measure–there was no getting around the fact that this group is superb. Sure, the 72-year-old singer/songwriter/guitarist/violinist did his few country hits, and a tribute to Johnny Cash as well, but a good amount of what was played was a Latin/Southern rock/western swing/jazz/fusion hybrid that swung, was expertly executed and darned impressive. Those who thought they were in for a night of good ol’ country fiddlin’ may have been disappointed. I was impressed and surprised. Most of you know that fusion, of any kind, isn’t easy to play. Daniels and his five talented sidemen made it look easy. As he said during a recent interview about his plans for the future, Daniels said, “Heck, I might even make a jazz album.” He should. If Willie Nelson can do it, so can Charlie Daniels.

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You may have noticed that we have lowered the price of everything to $10. Given the terrible economic climate, it’s the least we could do. So please order early and often–and try to order more than one item, please– and be patient with delivery. It will get there, and if anything is wrong, we will make it right. In our complaint department, we receive, from time to time as you all know, complaints about DVDs freezing or sometimes not playing at all. More than a few of our “in the know” customers have said that the stick-on disc labels we use might be the source of the problem. For that reason, we’re suspending their use and we are simply using a black marker to indicate the title. Let’s see how this works.

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Word has come that pianist Dave McKenna has passed away at the age of 78. McKenna was one of the giants of the keyboard and one of the real individuals. He had an instantly identifiable sound and touch and was possibly one of the last, two-handed players. Indeed, he was an orchestra unto himself and was stylistically beyond categorization. JazzLegends.com visitors may be familiar with his stellar work with Krupa on “Hey Here’s Gene Krupa” and on the live set recorded at “The Inn Club.” He spent some time with Charlie Ventura as well. We are taking the liberty of reprinting Dave McKenna’s bio from his web site. Rest in peace, Dave, and keep swingin’.

DAVE McKENNA: 1930-2008

Dave McKenna was simply one of the legends of the jazz piano. He, of course, would probably have disagreed. “I don’t know if I qualify as a bona-fide jazz guy,” he said. “I play saloon piano. I like to stay close to the melody.” His humility and laid-back personal style seemed a contrast to the vibrant vitality of his masterful piano style. His range is truly extraordinary. One minute he is caressing a lovely ballad, the next he is thundering and rumbling through a high-powered rendition of “I Found a New Baby.”

Dave was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, into a musical family. His father William McKenna, a postman, played the drums part-time, and two sisters are singers. His mother, Catherine Reilly McKenna, was Dave’s first piano teacher. In additions to being a good piano player, she was a fine violinist as a young woman. He also took lessons from Preston “Sandy” Sandiford in Boston, a fine piano teacher Dave liked very much. He explains that he developed his trademark left-handed bass style because “I wanted to hear something like what I heard on the records.”

Dave began his career with Boots Mussulli Band, then left home to play with the Charlie Ventura band, followed by a stint with Woody Herman. After two years in the army, he returned to Charlie Ventura’s band, then worked with Gene Krupa, Stan Getz, and Zoot Sims and Al Cohn. He often worked with Bobby Hackett, including some gigs at Eddie Condon’s in Manhattan, playing what Hackett called “Whiskeyland Jazz.” Among Dave’s biggest influences was Nat King Cole, who remains one of his favorites to this day.
While working with Bobby Hackett, Dave discovered the pleasures of Cape Cod. He and his wife Frankie moved to the Cape in 1966 with their sons Stephen and Douglas. The move changed his career as well as his address – he worked less frequently with bands and more often as a solo pianist, but he still spent a great deal of time on the road.

Dave’s musical magic found a wider audience through recordings, from his first solo recording on ABC records in 1955 to his wonderful work in the 70s for Chiaroscuro Records and then for Concord Jazz. In the 1980s, Dave’s many fans could enjoy his magnificent medleys six nights a week at the Plaza Bar at the Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston, where he was pianist-in-residence.

Dave has traveled all over the world to play festivals, cruises and concerts, and Boston-area fans always considered it a rare treat when he did perform close to home, either solo or with noted jazz artists including Dick Johnson, Gray Sargent, Marshall Wood, and Donna Byrne. Although he was no longer performing the last few years, he always appreciated the support and kind words he has received over the years from his many fans all over the world. Those of us who had the privilege to know him, whether personally or through his music, will miss him terribly.

Imagine a worldwide resource where one could obtain CDs and DVDs by the legends of jazz drumming-live concerts, television and radio programs and more, never commercially released-for $15, with no charge for shipping all over the world.

That was and is www.JazzLegends.com, and since the original announcement and the extension of our “everything $15 sale,” we have been overrun with orders that have come from all over the world.

That is the good news.

The reality is that, as big as we may sound, JazzLegends.com is a one-person operation-me-devoted to bringing the finest and rarest unreleased music to the world at large. I process the orders, duplicate them and mail them personally.

Additionally, the PayPal organization, which processes our credit card payment system and millions of other online credit card payment systems, seems to notify us of about eight in ten orders we receive. The other two fall into the cracks, and that’s a shame for you and for us.

In the ten years I’ve been running JazzLegends.com, I have now heard the word “rip-off” two times. This hurts and this saddens me deeply.

As most of you know, I will personally go to the ends of the earth to make good on each and every order, whether a DVD is defective (you are all aware that the duplication process has not yet been perfected), and/or whether an order has not been received. I have offered free items and double your money in order to make up for any problems in processing your orders.

You know us. Hopefully, you love us. Ideally, you will continue to know us and love us. We have touched on the fact, via various other columns, that worldwide economic problems have touched us all. JazzLegends.com is no exception, which is why we have lowered prices across the board.

Please trust us. Please be patient. And above all, please help keep us operating by ordering early and often.

Our longtime colleague and friend, Cathy Rich, has thankfully resurrected the Buddy Rich Memorial Scholarship Concerts. Cathy has single-handedly kept her dads memory, legacy and contributions alive, and believe me-and I know-it has not been easy.

On October 18 at the Hammerstein Ballroom within New York city’s Manhattan Center, The Buddy Rich Memorial will again be with us. Among the stars booked thus far are the worlds greatest drummers, including Neil Peart, Terry Bozzio, John Blackwell and various others, who will be playing with the reconstituted Buddy Rich band. Also appearing? None other than the “heir to the throne,” Buddy’s grandson Nicky and bassist Will Lee. I’ve also heard rumors that there will be a certain, very underrated singer on the stage who you all know. Get your tickets now via Ticketmaster or the other usual ticket outlets.
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The first of the 24-hour Internet percussion channels is about to roll out. As previously reported here, TheDrumChannel.com is the brainchild of Drum Workshop, Inc., and this site will be a doozy. On view will be interviews with the jazz legends, lessons, vintage footage, blogs and much more. Log on in the next few weeks for a free preview, including film of the famed, Buddy Rich/Statler Hilton Hotel shows.

Our Glenn Miller releases have received a surprisingly good reception. In all honesty, I was never really a fan of Miller’s, outside of having to learn all the charts, like any drummer should. My tastes, however, do not dictate what we carry, so we’ve gotten hold of a TV special that was broadcast some years ago, entitled “Glenn Miller’s Last Flight,” which examines the controversy related to the as yet unsolved death of the bandleader resulting from his airplane trip from London to Paris on December 15, 1944.

It is important to remember that out of all the big bands still on the road and still performing, the Miller franchise-under the direction of trombonist Larry O’Brien-remains the busiest. As of this writing, the Miller band has three franchises worldwide and they all work over 300 days and nights, per year.

We have lost several great drummers over the past few months, and each and every one of them have made significant contributions to the legacy of jazz and jazz drumming.

Earl Palmer was a rhythm and blues pioneer who perfected his studio chops in his native New Orleans with the likes of Fats Domino and Lloyd Price. Along with Hal Blaine, Palmer became so much in demand, that even Sinatra had to have him. His roots, however, remained in jazz, which is likely why he was able to swing even the non-swingers.

Jim Blakemore played for singer Jack Jones for years and years and years. Jim passed not to long ago in his adopted location of Naples, FL, not too long ago, where he was backing artists like Stu Shelton, Bob Zottola and many others. Jim was a great, great human being. Personally, he was as understated as his playing. As a timekeeper and as an accompanist, he was impeccable. He was taste personified. I could to my wildest, Buddy Rich drum solo impersonation, and Jim would put me away with a well-placed, two-bar break. I learned a lot from him.

This item is a bit off the beaten path, but it bears detailing. Those of you who have to travel have probably been scared to death to purchase airline tickets of late, given the prices of fuel, security surcharges, etc. On top of it, I am certain you all have heard about additional charges for checked baggage, snacks, water, etc. (I’m waiting for the time when the “pay toilet” concept will be reinstated for benefit of the airlines).

There is one airline, however, that is somehow bucking the trend of expense, surcharge and poor service. This is Southwest Airways.

They are the absolute best, in every area you can imagine.

Truthfully, I was most hesitant to go online and purchase airplane tickets for our annual, Naples, FL sojourn. I shouldn’t have been concerned. Given the general panic that goes along with any travel situation these days, I was pleased and overjoyed to get a very, very fair-actually incredible– Philadelphia-to-Fort Myers fare. And traveling on Southwest is a joy. Their personnel, often singing, dancing and joking throughout the trip, make the often stress-filled process of traveling by air an absolute ball. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why all the other airlines are not following the lead of Southwest.
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Stay tuned for more new on TheDrumChannel.com, the status of the Slingerland Drum Company and other issues. Remember, if there is anything specifically that you are looking for, feel free to contact me directly at DrumAlive@aol.com.

Keep swingin’

Bruce Klauber
October, 2008

I cannot think of a business or an individual who has not been touched by the unfortunate economic situation in this country in some way, shape or form. JazzLegend.com is no exception. After all, is there really a choice between filling the gas tank or spending $20 for a Gene Krupa DVD? While I’m confident that a good many of you, and God bless you for it, would go for the Krupa DVD, most just cannot. And I understand. Over the summer, we experimented with the idea of pricing each and every JazzLegends.com DVD, CD and book at $15, with free shipping worldwide, of course. The response was so overwhelming that we are still, believe it or not, fulfilling orders. In an effort to lend an assist to the economy, the thousands of collectors out there, and to benefit JazzLegends.com, we are changing our pricing structure for the immediate future: Everything is, once again, $15.

Please take advantage of this extraordinary price break, and please be patient with delivery. As many of you know, each order is custom made, custom duplicated and custom shipped, and if something is not right or not exactly what you wanted or were looking for, we hope we’ve demonstrated our desire and ability to go to the ends of the earth until everyone is happy.

The only thing we ask in return is, given the low, low price and the fact that we continue to offer free shipping all over the world, please think about ordering more than one item. That’s all we ask.

Despite our recent rants about YouTube and the “vintage footage for free” situation, there are still outfits out there who know there is a market for unearthed discoveries. The folks running the “Jazz Icons” organization is one example. Another is Drum Workshop, Inc., one of the world’s premier manufacturers of quality drums, and certainly the makers of the best drums in the United States.

Drum Workshop, in addition to prepping the internet DrumChannel.com, has gotten into the DVD business in an impressive way. In the coming months, look for three of the most sought after programs in jazz drumming history: The famed, Buddy Rich, Statler Hilton programs.

For those unfamiliar with the shows, here’s a bit of background

Collectors of Buddy Rich material, and there are many all over the world, have their “Buddy Rich holy grail list. The “Eddie Condon Floor Show” television programs from the late 1940s, where Rich relaxed, sang, played and danced with dixielanders and mainstreamers, are high on that list. Right now, only some audio portions have been discovered.

Then there are those who still believe there is film from the Krupa and Rich “original drum battle at Jazz at the Philharmonic” of 1952. Norman Granz, the late producer of JATP and mastermind behind the famous duel, repeatedly denied there was any film taken of Gene, Buddy or any Jazz at the Philharmonic show.

The third item that has been discussed by collectors and fans throught the years are the Statler Hilton Shows.

In the past 10 or so seasons, there wasn’t a year that didn’t go by where someone stepped forward and claimed to have or own the shows and/or to know someone who did. A snippet or two did surface, but nothing ever more than a tantalizing minutes’ worth. Now, thanks to Drum Workshop and Cathy Rich, they will soon be in wide release, in all their mesmerizing entirety.

It would have been great if Rich had been able to do television programs like these on a regular basis throughout his career. They combined all facets of his talents as a player, as a personality and as champion of jazz.

And, of course, he was no stranger to television, having appeared often during the 1950s on “The Steve Allen Show,” “Broadway Open House,” “The Marge and Gower Champion Show,” “The Patti Page Show” and various others. And from the 1960s through the 1980s, hardly a month went by without an appearance on programs hosted by Johnny Carson, Dick Cavett, Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas and Dinah Shore.

In December of 1981, Buddy told author Doug Meriwether that there were plans afoot for an actual Buddy Rich TV series. “We’re going to have our own series very soon on PBS,” he told Meriwether. “Yeah, with the whole band and some guests who will be appearing with us, taped before a live audience. It’s something I’ve wanted. I’d been told more than once by people who supposedly knew what they were talking about, that the audience for a jazz series, man, was just too small. I never bought into that, and I feel we can prove them wrong.”

Well…he did and didn’t. Three programs were filmed on February 16th through the 18th, 1982. at the Terrace Ballroom within New York city’s venerable Statler Hilton Hotel. They were and are remarkable, but they were never sold, perhaps never offered for sale, never aired and no other episodes were filmed. A very, very few have even seen them.

And Buddy’s guest stars on these three shows? How about Mel Torme’, Lionel Hampton, Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Ray Charles, Anita O’Day and Woody Herman? Wow.

Rich didn’t wait around to see if the programs were sold or aired. As usual, he just went straight ahead after the taping of the shows, and continued to be a constant guest star on everyone else’s talk, music or variety show. Indeed, three weeks after the filming of these shows, Buddy and the band were off to London to tour with Tony Bennett and Sammy Davis, Dr., with no looking back.

Watch this space for release dates and availability.
Keep swingin’
Bruce Klauber
September, 2008

AFTER HOLIDAY BLOW-OUT
Each and every item: $15**
Friday, Saturday and Sunday only
**two-item minimum

Get all the DVDs, CDs and books you’ve always wanted at a once-in-a-lifetime bargain price, with free shipping, of course.