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things. Club dates. But you couldn’tcouldn't work in a steady job.job' The Great This leader said he wanted to put on the solo tenor and me on the second tenor. I said, ‘Yeah,'Yeah, that’sthat's cool. I’mI'm we From time to time, one hears some talking head on television not much of a tenor player anyway.’anyway.' So Stan came in and we some decrying the effects of the Internet. One of the laments is that become good friends. I said, 'I'd‘I’d really like to take some his it isolates people and makes them lonely. This is, to use a term lessons from you.’you.' He had an apartment, he and Beverly, his and Santa Monica. I went to the from the 11930s 930s (or earlier), pure hooey. On the contrary, it lets firstfirst wife, near Western and Santa Monica. I went to the people, especially older people, establish and maintain place and Stan asked me who I liked on tenor.tenor- And I said I’dI'd contact, and it has a peculiar ability to create and sustain beenLeen listening to Ben Webster and and friendships. This happened to me most recently with the great Chu Berry. He said, ‘Uh-uhn.'Uh-uhn. Listen to Lester Young.’Young.' I He'd alto saxophonist Herb Geller, whom I had admired for years spent three or four hours there. We drank some wine. He’d practice.' He showed yet never met. That is because he has lived for more than forty showrho* -"me things. ‘Here’s'Here's a lick that I practice.’ He showed "Stan years in Germany, and he is not as well known in America as me some minor chromatic thing.”thing." Herb sang it. “Stan said, he deserves to be. He comes back from time to time but never ‘Learn'Learn that.’that.' like long enough to consolidate a beachhead before he returns to ‘“Okay,"'Okay, great.'great.’ At that time he was holding his tenor like , where he has had a long career playing with and Lester Young, out to the side. He showed me all these things, arranging and composing for the , and then he said, ‘No,'No, you need another mouthpiece'mouthpiece. Here, 'Here, that that is to say the North German radio and television networks. take this one.'one.’ He gavegavememe aamouthpiecemouthpiece and said, ‘Here, that The German networks don’tdon't just play records, they put will get you that Lester Young sound.’sound.' musicians on staff in both symphony orchestras and "He“He and Beverly had a child,o-hild, no money. I was living at for the bands, both big and small, doing far more for this music than home with my parents. I said, ‘How'How much money for the American broadcasting has ever dreamed of doing. He also lesson?’lesson?' He said, ‘Nothing.’'Nothing.' He spent all that time with me has had a busy career teaching and, in the months of his and even gave me a mouthpiece. And I think it was the best jazz. vacation time, playing gigs all over Europe. lesson I ever had in my life about how to play jazz. _ had just finished “Herb"Herb Geller is a monster,”monster," composer Johnny Mandel said “Another"Another time, I was visiting London.tondon. I had just finished good recently. . a little tour, and Tubby Hayes was on it. We were good just and Herb was born in Los Angeles on November 2,2,1928,1928, andand friends. I wasn’twasn't working, I was just there for a few days and 'Where are you was playing with by the same he was eighteen. I wanted to see some show. Tubby said, ‘Where are you Herb said, “In"It 1946,1946,II was going to L.A. City College. I staying?'staying? ’ I told him the name of the hotel, somewhere around was taking a course for musicians on how to play in the Piccadilly. He said, ‘Come'Come and stay at my house.house' My studios, play all sorts of different styles.styles' There was a guy girlfriend just left me, and I’veI've got a whole big house"house.’ I named Dick Pierce who started a band, using a lot of these moved into his house. musicians. He had some alrangementsarrangements made. Copies of “That"That night he was going to play at ’sScott's club.club' Lunceford style things. He wanted me to play tenor. He had I went to the club. And Stan Getz was there. He was playing and a friend who wanted to play lead alto. I was not fond of his somewhere else. And he immediately came up to Tubby and concept, although he was a competent player. said, ‘Hey,'Hey, let'slet’s hang out tonight. Let’sLet's go to the Playboy any "Stan“Stan Getz came to town. He had just left Benny Good- Club.’Club.' I was on a limited budget, and Tubby didn’tdidn't have any man. He wanted to put in his Los Angeles union card. At that money. I said, ‘I'I don’tdon't think that’sthat's such a good idea.’idea.' Stan paid time, you had to live there six months without doing certain said, ‘Come'Come on, I’llI'11paypay your way.’way.' So we went. He paid the kinds of studio or recording work. You could do occasional admission. He said, ‘You'You guys want to gamble?’gamble?' He gave us

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Ertegun wanted to record me in New each ten pounds. I went to the roulette table and bet on black.black' Herb said, "Nesuhi“Nesuhi Ertegun wanted to record me in New And I said that whatever It came up red about four times, and I was out. And Tubby York. He said, ‘Think'Think of aaproject.'project.’ And I said that whatever on it. My favorite pianist was lost his at the craps table. We stayed out till late, just talking. it was, I wanted Scott LaFaro on it. My favorite pianist was a of people were doing show To me, Stan was one ofofthethe most generous, nicest people, plus Hank Jones. At that time a lot of people were doing show great score. Jule Styne did an idol. To me he was the epitome of a great jazz musician.”musician." albums. I had seen Gypsy.ItGypsy. It had a great score. Jule Styne did 'How “Yes,”"Yes," I said, “and"and he left Beverly,Beveily, strung out, in Los the music, Stephen Sondheim did the lyrics. I said, ‘How Gypsy? And Nesuhi said, Angeles in a motel room with no food for herself or the baby.baby' about doing the music fromfrom Gypsy? And Nesuhi said, that I needed A friend called Stan in New York and told him the condition ‘Okay.’'Okay.' I started writing and I told Hank Jones that I needed and he said, 'Get my two she was in and said he should do something about it, and Stan a trumpet player and a drummer, and he said, ‘Get my two that. said he would and he had her declared an unfitunfit mother and brothers.’brothers.' So Scotty was thrilled about that. down Broadway, and I ran took the child from her. “I’m"I'm walking down the street, down Broadway, and I ran you remember “She"She was Buddy Stewart’sStewart's sister. Dave Lambert was like into this girl, black girl. She said, ‘Herb,'Herb, don’tdon't you remember you in Milwau- their older brother. Stan strung her out on heroin and then me? I sat in with Shelly’sShelly's band when you were in Milwau- yeah!'She was a fantastic abandoned her.h er. In 196219 62 in New York, Bill Rubinstein, whom kee. And I sang.’sang.'II said,said,'Oh‘Oh yeah!’ She was a fantastic a show album and she should I met when he was Carmen McRae’sMcRae's pianist, took me to some singer. I told her I was doing a show album and she should and told him and bar in the Village. You could hear someone singing in a back sing a couple of the tunes. I called Nesuhi and told him and room, and I said, ‘Who'Who the hell is that?’that?'BillBill said, ‘Come'Come on he said, ‘Okay,'Okay, I’llI'll take a chance.’chance.' four tunes and she back and I’llI'll introduce you.’you.' It was Beverly. She was about “I"I rehearsed with her. I showed her the four tunes and she were recording the whole thirty-six as I recall, but her teeth were gone and she looked learned them immediately. We were recording the whole day and Elvin Jones sixty. God! Could she sing. But Dave never forgave Stan for thing in two days. I got there the firstfirst day and Elvin Jones what he did to her. Nobody ever hated Stan Getz the way was not there.”there." Dave Lambert did.”did." . “Oh"Oh oh,”oh," I said. Elvin had that reputation. we could Herb said, “I"I saw her once in New York. She had no “I"I called up and he was still sleeping. I said we could spoke in a teeth.”teeth." rehearse the girl until Elvin got there. And she spoke in a Her husband, who was I have known only three musicians who actually liked Stan whisper. She said, ‘I'I lost my voice.’voice.' Her husband, who was gets into the studio, Getz: Johnny Mandel, , and Herb Geller. When I a trumpet player, said, ‘Every'Every time she gets into the studio, about it. I know how to made the mistake of saying to drummer Kenny Washington, she loses her voice. But don’tdon't wonyworry about it. I know how to and came back whose mind is a well-stocked encyclopedia of jazz history, fixfix it.’it.' He disappeared for about ten minutes and came back it right down, the that I’dI'd only rnetmet a handful of jazz musicians I disliked, he with a small bottle of vodka. And she took it right down, the But she couldn't sing! said gleefully, “Who"Who arearethey?"they?” whole bottle. And her voice was back. But she couldn’t sing! gun. had to “Well,”"Well," IIbegan,began, “Stan"Stan Getz . . . .”." “The"The second day,day,II was really under the gun. I had to my car, and “Yeah,"Yeah, but he’she's on everybody’severybody's list,"list,” Kenny said. catchcatch aaflightflight at 7 o’clocko'clock that evening, pick up my car, and opening that night at the So what Herb told me about Stan is about the best I ever drive to Las Vegas, because I was opening that night at the never played heard of him, although there is one thing about Stan I ad- Flamingo Hotel with Louis Be1lson’sBellson's band. I’dI'd never played lounge, mired: he was the only man I ever knew who managed to with the band before. The band was playing in the lounge, arrangements featuring cheat Norman Schwartz, rather than the reverse. and Louis said, ‘I’ve'I've got fivefive or six arrangements featuring you.’you.' He’dHe'd had them written for me. Herb moved to New York in 1949, andand performed and “So"So I was under a lot of pressure that day.day' And Elvin an hour late. recordedrecorded.withwith the glorious band. Jones didn’tdidn't show up again.again. He came about an hour late. it's the InInNewNew YorkheYork he metmetpianistpianist Lorraine Walsh, who hadbeenhad been There was one song called Some People. I love it but it’s the moves very fast at playing with the Sweethearts of Rhythm. Herb took her away hardest tune I ever played. The harmony moves very fast at and a half, Hank from all that in 1951 by marrying her and whisking her off to that tempo. At the end of about an hour and a half, Hank was only three Los Angeles, where she performed with , Red said, ‘I'I have to leave. You told me the date was only three Nesuhi we wouldn't go over- Mitchell, Stan Getz, DDizzy izzy Gillespie,Gillespie, and . Herb hours long.’long.' I had promised Nesuhi we wouldn’t go over- piano. worked with (1954-56), Shorty Rogers, time. So Hank split. So we did one song without piano. he (in(inl954,then1957-59),1954, then 1957-59), and his own quartet.quartet' In There was one song, thethe Cow Song. I asked Scotty if he it beautifully. 1952, Herb played with ’sMay's . In 1955, could do it solo. It was a little high, but he did it beautifully. Lorraine andandHerbHerb made an album called The Gellers withwith Billy Taylor came in for the last tune, and we finishedfinished the and Mel Lewis. date.date.

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to “I"I get to the airplane and make the flightflight to L.A.L'A. I get in one-way ticket to Copenhagen. And two days before I was to to go to South my car to go to Las Vegas. At that time there was no freeway. leave, I got a call from to go to South York and we It was July. I get out on the desert and I get a blowout. It America. I cashed my ticket in. I flewflew to New York and we South America. We ended seemed like it was 150 degrees. I change the tire and go a few rehearsed and we went on tour in South America. We ended going to a more miles and anotheranother tire blew out. The heat had just up in Sao Paulo, Brazil.Brazll. And every night I was going to a place, but they were exploded the tires. And I’mI'm stuck in the middle of the desert. club and jjamming.amming. It was a dance place, but they were jazz. The owner was a piano I hadn'thadn’t slept, and I kept thinking about the record date. playing bossa nova and light jazz. The owner was a piano staying here, you could play “I"I hitch-hiked. I got a ride to a gas station. The guy said he player.pluy"r. He said, ‘If'If you were staying here, you could play got no reason to go back' could get the tire in about two days. I called Louis Bellson. here all the time.’time.' I said, ‘Well'Well I’veI've got no reason to go back. much money per week?' He We were supposed to start at eight. It was now about six in the I can stay. Will you pay me so much money per week?’ He orchestra left. Mousey evening. He says, ‘Don’t'Don't worry. Pearl is going to pick you up. said, ‘Yes.’'Yes.' The rest of the Goodman orchestra left. Mousey Clayton, Arvell Shaw Tell me where you are exactly.’exactly.' Alexander was the drummer. Buck Clayton, Arvell Shaw good-bye and they “There"There was no air conditioning in this place, just a fan. I and Bob Wilber were on that band.band' I said good-bye and they got a bottle of wine. Then this big Cadillac pulls up.lup. Hey,Hey' went back to New York. to two months. And I got honey chile.chile.PearldrovePearl drove me to the motel, I took a shower and “I"I stayed in Sao Paulo for close to two months. And I got and I got very depressed. shaved and hit the stage. -TheThe firstfirst number was Just One of tired of it. It was New Year’sYear's Eve and I got very depressed. night, and I didn't even Those Things at a tempo like this.”this." He tapped out a very fast They were playing bad music that night, and I didn’t even I cashed my couple tempo. "I“I soloed all the was through on an arrangementalrangement I had play. I just sat there. I said, ‘I’m'I'm leaving.’leaving'' I cashed my couple a boat on the Italian never played before. 0 ofofBennyBenny Goodman checks and I booked a boat on the Italian a of days' “They"They were two of the most hectic days of my life. And line, the Julio Cesar. I had to go to Rio for a couple of days. Naples. Just before I was that’sthat's the story of the GypsyGyptY album.”album." The boat was sailing from there to Naples. Just before I was to leave, this guy who was the manager of a Brazilian comic going do a show in Portugal' died ofofpulmonarypulmonary edema, the consequence of approached me. They were going to do a show in Portugal. Lisbon, and work with us for a severe asthma, at the age of thirty on October 13, 1958. He said, 'Get‘Get off the boat in Lisbon, and work with us for money.' “After"After she died,”died," Herb said.said' “I"I went through a very bad two weeks, and you can make a little money.’ people arrived to do the show time. Depression and drugs and whatever. I just didn’tdidn't have a “I"I got off at Lisbon, and the people arrived to do the show to play. It was January, and great desire to live. I was always working. I never was out of a couple of days later. We started to play. It was January, and We played in the pit with gloves on. I was a job. But I didn’tdidn't want to play any more. I put our house up it was ice cold. We played in the pit with gloves on. I was and play a rock-and-roll number for sale. supposed to go on the stage and play a rock-and-roll number The worst thing was that “I"I was working at a strip tease club. When I didn’tdidn't have a with this comic. I refused to do it. The worst thing was that get in tune because good gig, I could always work there.there' And one night a lady I the band was so out ofoftune.tune. We couldn’tcouldn't get in tune because the night knew called me and asked, ‘Are'Are you playing somewhere it was so cold. I got back to the hotel, and I said to the night He said, 'Yes, tonight?’tonight?' I said, ‘I’m'I'm playing at a club.’club.' It was at a place manager,manager, ‘Is'Is there a plane leaving for Paris?'Paris?’ He said, ‘Yes, said, 'Book me a called The Pink Pussycat on Santa Monica Boulevard. She there'sthere’s one leaving at eight o’clock.’o'clock.' I said, ‘Book me a said, ‘A'A good friend of yours wants to drop by, and he wants ticket.’ticket.' just leaving, ran into the to surprise you.’you.' I said, ‘Okay.’'Okay.' I was in the middle of Night “In"In the morning, just as I was leaving, I ran into the said, 'Where are you going?' Train andand in walked Stan Getz. manager who booked me. He said, ‘Where are you going?’ just was very nice and “All"All kind of jjazzmusiciansazz musicians played there. The people there I said,said,'Sorr1r,‘Sorry, man, I just can’tcan't do it.’it.' He was very nice and stay at in Paris' liked me. I knew all the tunes. Lorraine had worked with Stan. even suggested a nice hotel I could stay at in Paris. at the newspaper and Kenny Stan and I were talking, and he said, ‘Herb,'Herb, you should go to “I"I got to Paris. And I looked at the newspaper and Kenny at the Blue Note' I Europe.’Europe.' Clarke and were playing at the Blue Note. I Drew said, 'Hey, “I"I said, ‘I'I might do that.'that.’ went to the club that night, and Kenny Drew said, ‘Hey, to do them, in “He"He said, ‘I’ll'I'll tell you what I'llI’ll do. Go to Copenhagen. I we'vewe’ve got some gigs coming up. Do you want to do them, in Then I was know some people there.’there.' He lived there for a while. He a quartet?’quartet?' So I started working immediately. Then I was four or five played at a club called the Montmartre. That was the jazz doing a radio show for a while, and I was in Paris four or five club. He said, ‘I’ll'I'll write the people and tell them that you’reyou're months.”months." coming.’coming.' He wrote the letter, which was very nice. We were They played a concert in West Berlin. year before' In very good friends. Herb said, “The"The Wall had gone up about a year before. In musicians, and there was a “The"The house finallyfinally was sold, and I sold my car. I bought a the band were some very good musicians, and there was a 3 September 2005 r

practicing three or four hours great band at Sender Freiess Berlin, which translates Radio he sold me his flute.flute. I started practicing three or four hours go back to L.A., it gives me a good Free Berlin. was in the band, and . And every day. I thought,thought,IfIf I go back to L.A., it gives me a good but I had never played flute. And Joe Harris, who had been the drummer withwithDizzyDizzy Gillespie, double. I played clarinet, but I had never played flute. And atrange for the orchestra in Ham- and Ake Persson, marvelous trombone player from Sweden, then they told me I could arrange for the orchestra in Ham- I'd written only a few arrange- and and his brother Gerry Van Royen. Ack burg and make extra money. I’d written only a few arrange- a chance to develop my plays trumpet and fluegelhom,fluegelhorn, and Jerry was the arranger and ments in my life. And here was a chance to develop my So I figured I'd stay io-pot".composer for the band. Ack is still very active but Jerry is arranging skills. And composing also. So I figured I’d stay flute chops and learn the retired with Parkinson’s.Parkinson's. They said, ‘Why'Why don’tdon't you join the a couple of years and get my flute chops and leam the oboe get a bass clarinet, everything to band here?’here?' They said it’sit's great here, spies and intrigue, and and the English horn. And get a bass clarinet, everything to alla1l kinds of things going on. r compete in L.A. our summer “There"There were two radio stations sending propaganda into "So“So I got very busy. And every year, during our summer guys things were the east, that one and RIAS in the American sector. That vacation, we'dWe’d visit L.A. All the studio guys said things were always made several stands for Radio in the American Sector. and bad and nobody was working. I’dI'd always made several film backgrounds and Ake Persson were in the RIAS band. Francy was mostly recordings a weekweekwhiTelwhile I was in L.A., film backgrounds and do you have?' and I writing. I gave up my apartment in Paris and moved to Berlin, whatever. They said, ‘What'What kind ofofjobjob do you have?’ and I Can you get us on the which is where I met my wife. Her maiden name is Christine told them, and they said, ‘Stay'Stay there! Can you get us on the oio'l' Rabsch. Her father was a music professor and a close friend gig?’b^b' 'I'm not going to stay of Paul Hindemith. We met in September,Septembet,1962,1962, got married "The“The Viet Nam war was on. I said, ‘I’m not going to stay in December, and the baby was bomborn in July. Figure it out.out' here and pay taxes for that.’that.' five years, they said, We’veWe've been married for forty-three years.yearu' “So"So I went back to Hamburg. After five years, they said, had a contract “I"I was in Berlin for three years, and then I had a falling out ‘You'You can’tcan't have this contract any more.’more.' I had a contract with the contractor, who was being paid by the radio. He with extras, the same as RolfRolfKuhn.Kuhn. I conducted the orchestra combo productions and fifteen wasn’twasn't a hundred percent honest. He owed me some money eleven times aayear.Iyear. I had four combo productions and fifteen get paid for it, play the for some things he had promised. I quit, and we were getting solo titles. I’dI'd write an arrangement,alrangement, get paid for it, play the get paid for it. Above ready to move back to Los Angeles with our baby girl. Then solo, get paid for it, conduct the band, get paid for it. Above Then they said, 'You can't have the I got a telephone call from a deardear friend of mine, Rolf Kuhn, and beyond the salary. Then they said, ‘You can’t have the join the band as a regular the clarinet player. I knew him from New York. He was sort contract any more. You either ointhe band as a regular you're the highest pay scale, or you have to of a protégéprot6g6 of Benny Goodman’s.Goodman's. He said, ‘I’m'I'm leaving the member, but you’re on the highest pay scale, or you have to getting worse, so I said, Hamburg radio orchestra and I’veI've recommended you to take leave.’leave.' And the Viet Nam war was getting worse, so I said, or Willie my place.’place.' ‘I'I have to make a choice. Either Richard Nixon or Willie really liked him' So “I"I said, 'We're‘We’re leaving for Los Angeles, but we haven’thaven't got Brandt.’Brandt.' I chose Mr. Brandt, because I really liked him. So we bought a our tickets yet.’yet.' He said, ‘Well'Well come to Hamburg.’Hamburg.' So I went we stayed, and our second son was born, and we bought a there for fivefive days and did an audition, and they hired me. house.”house." that he spoke like That was in 1965. As Herb and I talked, I kept noticing that he spoke like “Leo"Leo Wright replaced me in the SFB band, and later someone else I knew. It was really disconcerting me and then friend the CannelCarmel Jones and AlA1 Porcino came into that band. Sad to say I got it. He talks quite a bit like my almost-lifelong friend the Herb said: that both stations no longer have big bands. bassist Hal Gaylor. I told Herb that. Herb said: Ireland. “So"So instead of going to Los Angeles, we moved our “This"This is a coincidence. I was doing a tour of Ireland. guitar player." furniture and everything to Hamburg. It was more money than There’sThere's a legendary Irish guitar player.” o'Louis I was making in Berlin. We worked for nine months a year “Louis Stewart?”Stewart?" I asked. you this story?" but we were paid for thirteen. All medical bills for the whole “You"You got it,”it," Herb said. “Did"Did I tell you this story?” family, including dental, were covered. Glasses! Hearing aid!”aid!" “Nope."Nope. I just know who he is.”is." got three days for you in He laughed. “It"It was a good gig! And every year we got a raise "Well“Well the agent said, ‘I’ve'I've got three days for you in for you everywhere except to compensate for inflation.”inflation." Ireland. I’veI've got all the musicians for you everywhere except get you those.' I said, Soon he was also teaching. He became a professor at the Ireland, and the promoters are going to get you those.’ I said, Stewart?' Because Hamburg and Bremen conservatories, teaching composition ‘Is'Is there any chance I can play with Louis Stewart?’ Because there was a pause and the and arranging, among other things. I’dI'd heard so much about him. And there was a pause and the “I"I had started playing the flute.flute. There was a drunken woman said, ‘I'I never want to hear that name again.’again.' two gigs, Louis American soldier in a club, and he needed some money, and "The“The firstfirst gig was okay. For the next two gigs, Louis

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about twenty Stewart was to join us. The second night, the promoter, an number?’number?' He gave me a number. I tried it about twenty I got a busy signal' amateur tenor player, wanted to jam with us, so we had to times. There was never any answer. Once I got a busy signal. with him too. Billy play the tunes he knew. It was rather depressing. That was encouraging. Scotty worked with him too. Billy “Meanwhile,"Meanwhile, I heard the story of what had happened. The had worked with .”Bennett'" Bean had a trio with agent had booked Louis Stewart on a tour and he was the “So"So had Hal. And Hal and had a trio with Walter is living in Berlin." leader and he didn'tdidn’t like the rhythm section and after about Walter Norris on piano. I believe Walter is living in Berlin.” Walter two months ago' I the third gig, he disappeared. Nobody knew where he was; he “He"He is,”is," Herb said. “I"I saw Walter two months ago. I was with me and we went to was hidden somewhere. And that’sthat's why she didn’tdidn't want to played a gig there. My daughter was with me and we went to play much any more." hear the name again. Lishis househorrt. for dinner. He doesn’tdoesn't play much any more.” “Well"Well on my third gig with him, we were playing at the get an idea' Bank of Ireland at the Fine Arts Center in Dublin. Beautiful Herb said, “I'oI compose a lot. I sit there and I’llI'll get an idea. Then say, 'Okay, hall. This time we were going to play some real tunes. I pulled I’llI'll write it out and edit it and edit it. Then I’llI'll say, ‘Okay, Transpose up out some things I thought didn’tdidn't require any rehearsal. We let’slet's see what it sounds like on the saxophone.’saxophone.' Transpose up were in a small wardrobe. There was a piano there. And there quick. you should try to finish it was aabigbig sign saying, ‘Smoking'smokingnotallowed.not allowed. WeWehavehave smoke “Even"Even if a tune is not finished,finished, you should try to finish it go back and correct it' I detectors.’detectors.' And Louis Stewart was sitting undemeathunderneath the sign, somehow. And then I can always go back and correct it. I ol-ouis, edit for a month' I'll smoking aacigarette.Icigarette. I said, ‘Louis, we go on in a few minutes. can write a tune in ten minutes and then edit for a month. I’ll 'Oh my gosh, this is much And the sign says No Smoking.’Smoking.' He said, ‘Oh'Oh don’tdon't worry transpose it for alto, and think, ‘Oh my gosh, this is much things to do that improve it, about it, man.’man.' better.’bettei.' I’llI'll immediately findfind things to do that improve it, it was perfect." He laughed' “Now"Now he lived in Dublin and had played here before. We although on the piano I thought it was perfect.” He laughed. in your mouth, and the way go on the stage and the firstfirst tune we play is The Red Door, “But"But somehow, you put the horn in your mouth, and the way it. I make a quick note ’Sims' tune. I played the melody and did some choruses. I breathe and the way I live changes it. I make a quick note No piano. He starts playing a solo. I look over at him. And of it on the computer."computer.” who plays more than smoke is coming out of him. And all of a sudden it started I said, “I"I have a theory that anyone who plays more than with the influence of the smelling bad. I tried to be real cool. I said, ‘Louis,'Louis, you’reyou're on one instrument plays the second one with the influence ofthe played saxophone before he fire,fire, man.'man.’ He said, ‘Don’t'Don't wonyworry about it, man, don’tdon't worry first.first. And since Scott LaFaro played saxophone before he some extent explain his about it.’it.' And he finishesfinishes his choruses. He had a lit cigarette took up bass, that may to some extent explain his and I think you in his pocket, and it bumedburned a big hole in his jacket. He was melodicism. Oscar Peterson played trumpet, and I think you projection. very calm about it. We played the rest of the gig, and every- can hear it in the playing, that bright projection. Bill Evans played French horn before he thing was cool. played flute.flute. Bob Magnusson played French horn before he piano before he played "We“We were going from the second gig to the third. We were played bass. Jack DeJohnette played piano before he played tenor before he played drums' I driving. I’mI'm telling a story about a little band I had together in d**t.drums. John Guerin played tenor before he played drums. I of the other instru- Cincinnati, Ohio. He said, ‘Who'Who was in that band?'band?’ I said, ‘I'I think what you hear is thethe conception of the other instru- had a guitar player named Billy Bean.’Bean.' And all of a sudden he ment.”ment." Hank Jones, playing gets hysterical. He says, ‘Billy'Billy Bean! That’sThat's my favorite Herb said, "I“I heard a solo album by Hank Jones, playing but it was like a guitar player.”’player."' like Tatum. He was doing his own thing, but it was like a play like that'" “That’s"That's the connection,”connection," Herb said. “I"I really liked Billy tribute to Tatum. I didn’tdidn't know he could play like that.” same thing at a pafi at Bean, but I had never thought of him with such lofty . . . .”." “I"I heard Jimmy Smith do the same thing at a party at playing piano, and he I said, “Yeah,"Yeah, Hal Gaylor loved him.”him." Sarah Vaughan'sVaughan’s house. He was playing piano, and he “Louis"Louis said, ‘What'What happened to him?'him?’ And I said, ‘I'I have sounded so much like Tatum.”Tatum." no idea.'idea.’ Well, I get back to Hamburg. About a week later, I “Jimmy"Jimmy Smith, the organ player?”PlaYer?" ol'm instrument. He said, 'Well, get a letter from a man named Seth Greenberg. He said, ‘I’m “Yep."Yep. Piano was his original instrument. He said, ‘Well, Tatum imitation for the evening,' and walked writing a biography on Billy Bean, and I’mI'm sending you some that’sthat's my Art Tatum imitation for the evening,’ and walked pictures to download.’download.' One of them was with Hal Gaylor.Gaylor' I away from the piano.”piano." organ. Two years ago I recognizedrecognizedDonDon Payne in one of them. I told the guy, ‘I'I really Herb said, “I’m"I'm not a fan of organ. Two years ago I And I was very good friends can’tcan't tell you much. I worked with him one summer for about played an event for Ken Poston. And I was very good friends six weeks in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1960. He was a great player'player. with .”Carter." And this guy said, ‘Billy'Billy gave up on life about thirty years ago "Oh.“Oh. Dear dear Benny,”BennY," I said. It was like ajam session. And I walked and just stays home.’home.' I said, 'Can‘Can you give me his telephone “I"I finishedfinished my set. It was like a jam session. And I walked

5 September 2005 v

CD, one might add that it out, and a car pulled up, and it was Benny Carter and his of surprise.”surprise." But listening to this CD, one might add that it which of course can be the biographer, Ed Berger. And Benny said, ‘I'I came here espe- is also the sound of discovery, which of course can be the gets into phrases and cially to hear you.’you.' And I said, ‘Well,'Well, you missed it.’it.' We sat cause of the surprise. Herb Geller gets into phrases and Herb is absolutely individ- together for the next set and there was an organ and it was whole tunes in unexpected ways. Herb is absolutely individ- and no one sounds like Herb' He ,oy,very, very,"ry loud. AndAnd, it was hurting me, andand I was concemedconcerned ual. He sounds like no else, and no one sounds like Herb. He a full tone, and a slow forforBenny'sBenny’ s health. Benny said, ‘Herb,'Herb, diddidyouyou everevermakemake any has a unique approach to inflection,inflection, a full tone, and a slow is playing alto or soprano records with organ?’organ?' I said, ‘I'I think I made one.one' I sat in once romantic vibrato, whether he is playing alto or soprano of You, By Myself with Wild Bill Davis in Atlantic City.'City.’ He said, 'I‘I did twotq'o saxophone, which he doesdoes onot II'll’ll Be Tired ofYou, By Myself My Plan. And of course records — the firstfirst and last. I never did it again.”’again."' andand Ii Guess II'll‘ll Have to Change My Plan. And of course I said,- “It’s"It's an instrument that can overpoweroverpowff anything he'she’s inexhaustibly inventive. by a lovely British rhythm with its loud pedal.”pedal." He is abetted in the enterprise by a lovely British rhythm piano, who has worked “Yeah,”"Yeah," Herb said, “You"You can’tcan't compete with it.”it." section that includes John Pearce, piano, who has worked Farnon, , Art I said, “I’ll"I'11 tell you a story about that. Joe Mooney was a with Jack Pamell,Parnell, Robert Farnon, Conte Candoli, Art Lee. The bassist is Len good friend of mine. He was playing a giggig andand singing, and Farmer, Eddie Daniels and Peggy Lee. The bassist is Len Hamilton, Joe you know how softly he sang. Remember his Nina Never Skeat who had worked with Ruby Braff, Scott Hamilton, Joe The drummer is Bobby Worth' Knew withwithsauter-Finegan?Sauter-Finegan? Well that night, it was a rich, loud Newman, and Bob Wilbur. The drummer is Bobby Worth. crowd and the gig was in a very noisy club somewhere on It’sIt's a lovely, sensitive rhythm section. played for Roger Kellaway, he looked Central Park South. And Joe gave up singing that night, since When I played the CD for Roger Kellaway, he looked in the Dark, and nobody was listening, and just played organ, and he kept shocked at the opening phrase of Dancing in the Dark, and pause: "It's joyous! It's such raising the level with that pedal in orderorderjustjust to be heard. And said after barely a moment’smoment's pause: “It’s joyous! It’s such a minute more, 'oAnd such roman- at the end of the set, he sat down with me, and said, ‘Well,'Well, I joyous music!”music!" And after a minute more, “And such roman- so effortless. There's no didn’tdidn't shut them up, but I sure had them crescendo-ing like tic music. It’sIt's so inventive, and so effortless. There’s no hell.”’hell."' sense ofoftrying.trying. He has complete command and doesn’tdoesn't even “He"He played accordion too,”too," Herb said. have to think about it. “And"And piano. A lovely, sweet, gentle man. I never knew “That’s"That's what we all strive to achieve.”achieve." anyone who bore misfortune with so little lament. He had 1993, Herb was automatically been crippled by polio and he was blind, and yet he remained At the end of November, 1993, Herb was automatically percent of salary. "December aareallyreally funny cat. I remember when he moved back to Florida pensioned from the NDR on 60 percent ofsalary. “December from New York, he said, ‘If'If this is the Apple, there’sthere's a wormworrn 1 was my firstfirst day of freedom!”freedoml" he said. then. I subbed for a in it.’it.' And when I asked him if he had a swimming pool in “I’ve"I've done a few things there since then. I subbed for a honored with a concert Florida, he said, 'No,‘No, I’llI'll just go out and dive in the dew on week for the second altoist, and I was honored with a concert a few years ago I did a the grass.’grass.' for my seventieth birthday, and a few years ago I did a concert for them with . for them, playing the I came to know Herb Geller when Alastair Robertson, the “In"In October I’llI'll be doing a concert for them, playing the for the proprietor of the small British Hep label, told me that he was solos on the arrangements for the Art Pepper producing an album by Herb Geller of some of the songs of Plus Eleven album.”album." recorded and, eventually, Arthur Schwartz. I suppose somebody else may have done One can only hope that it is recorded and, eventually, Herb Geller in recent that before, but I don’tdon't know about it. And I have always released. We have heard far too little of Herb Geller in recent admired Schwartz, ranking him close to Jerome KemKern as one years on this side of the Atlantic. of our greatest melodists. The recording was to include Herb Geller, you can Dancing in the Dark, II'll’ll Be Tired of You, Alone Together, I IfIfyouwantyou want to catch up with the currentHerbcuruent Geller, you can album by writing to Alastair Robert- See Your Face Before Me, Come A-Wandering with Me, By get the Arthur Schwartz album by writing to Alastair Robert- Myself,Myse$ Haunted Heart, A Gal in Calico,Calico,II Guess II'll’ll Have to son at [email protected]@hepj azz. co.uk. Change My Plan, You and the Night and the Music, TheyThey're’re 12 ayear at PO Box Either TToooo Young or TToo00 Old, Oh But I Do , Something You The JazzletterJazzletter is published 12 times a year at PO Box U.S. per year Never Had Before, Something to Remember You By, and 240,240, Ojai,Ojai, California, 93024-0240. $70 U.S. per year Subscribers That's Entertainment. U.S. and Canada, $80 for other countries.countries' Subscribers for friends for Listening to it, I realizedrealized I hadn’thadn't heard Herb Geller in may buy introductory gift subscriptions for friends for bY Gene Lees. years. Whitney Balliett once aptly defineddefined jazz as the “sound"sound $35. Copyright ©@ 2005 by Gene Lees. 6