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THE NEW HERB POMEROY Union with Herb Pomeroy’S 16-Piece Orchestra, a Musical Institution “We Want a Present-Day Jazz Band

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THE NEW HERB POMEROY Union with Herb Pomeroy’S 16-Piece Orchestra, a Musical Institution “We Want a Present-Day Jazz Band documentary of the different styles of Blessed Relief policy in many clubs was also likely to jazz and the cities where the various bring immediate benefit to enteric, ners. have developments took place. Expanded opportunities for singers; As if to give proof to the contention instru The next step was to obtain a U.S. and lower prices for the patrons of of the tax's opponents that the tax cut doubt photographer experienced in jazz. He nightclubs using such acts. employment for entertainers, Joe Ter­ their contacted William Claxton, whose photo These were the prospects as the fed­ mini, owner of New York's Jazz Gallery ,i con book Jazz West Coast was published in eral government cut the much-criticized and the Five Spot, said that he will now tor er 1955. Claxton agreed to travel around cabaret tax from 20 to 10 per cent, start booking singers. Previously, both Wa the country for three months with Ber­ effective May 1. All over the country, clubs have stuck to instrumental music drawl endt to cover New York; New Orleans; nightspots prepared to shift policy or —which meant that they did not have as mn St. Louis; Kansas City; Sedalia. Mo.; pass the savings along to their customers. to pay the tax. “I have been tempted to it woi Chicago; Detroit; Los Angeles, and San Said George Marienthal, co-owner of hire such acts as Lamhert-Hendricks- strum Francisco. Chicago's London House and Mister Ross and Nina Simone.” Termini said, said, Berendt arrived in New York on April Kelly's: “All legitimate operators will “which would have entailed charging some 15 and is now busy photographing sites pass the savings along. I suppose a few the 20 per cent tax. However, in figuring tance and recording (for Sudwestfunk) jazz will raise prices to make up the differ­ up my profit range, it seemed impossi­ But d musicians in the Manhattan area. ence. Bui 1 know that at Mister Kelly's, ble Now, with the reduced tax, 1 am instru He is the author of Das Jazzbuch, as of May 1, the costs to customers definitely going lo give it a try.” singer published in Germany, and said to have were cut 10 per cent. That is bound to At the Prelude, in Harlem, owner of son sold more copies than any other jazz be a stimulus to business for any club ” Horace James (who has been hiring Nii book in the world—300.000 copies. He Aside from boosted business that mostly jazz trios), said, “I'm tempted, some1 was also responsible for Anthology of makes it possible for clubs to hire better but I haven't decided yet." areas Spirituals and Blues, the first book on acts (or book live entertainment for the Ralph Watkins, w ho has paid the tax gener these subjects to be published in Europe first time, in some cases), a shift in at Basin Street East whenever singers would Th< sician Artist THE NEW HERB POMEROY union with Herb Pomeroy’s 16-piece orchestra, a musical institution “We want a present-day jazz band. A band not influenced empk in Boston for five years, is undergoing the biggest change by the Basie style, a band influenced by small-group jazz. By since its inception. Officially, the group has disbanded. Every member should be a jazz player in his own right. This Cong Actually, Pomeroy is building a new, 13-piece band, more is something we did not have with the larger band. We the ta modern in concept. had men who could play their parts in the section but ies. fo Against obstacles only dedicated musicians can compre­ who were not substantially jazz soloists. In the new outfit, cent hend. the larger group had managed to work regularly over each member will be a soloist except the lead trumpet, old t. the five-year span, always growing in stature. hence there will be no frustrations for the sidemen.’' tax o The band started with a Basie-ish sound With originals Pomeroy said the new band will not have the sound of per ci contributed by local musicians, the book in recent years a “big. big hand or a small hig band, but rather a big was has been divided between the mainstream sounds and more small band" with emphasis on and much space reserved empk contemporary offerings. for soloists. Since its organization. Pomeroy's powerhouse crew has The style will emulate present-day small-group jazz had a permanent home audience, on Tuesdays and Thurs­ similar to that ot the Miles Davis Sextet and Horace Silver's days, in the small, 90-seat downstairs room of the Stable quintet, Pomery said, and there will be good melodic line in Boston's Copley Square. with good soloists. Concerts, three LPs—Life Is a Many-Splendored Gig He said the major contributor among arrangers probably (Roulette) and Band in Boston and The Band and I will be Arif Mardin, a Turkish student at the Berklee (United Artists)—occasional dates at Birdland and the school here. (See Up Beat, this issue.) Gary McFarland, also K Apollo threater in New York City, plus well-received ap­ a student, who did some ot the more recent things for the pearances at the Boston Arts festival. Boston Jazz festival, big band, also will be writing, as will Pomeroy. P( and the Newport Jazz festival in 1958 brought the band Ten of the 13 ehairs are filled- The rythm section will an ever-increasing acceptance. retain drummer Jimmy Zitano and pianist Ray Santisi Th< Pomeroy described the circumstances that led to the from the old band. Bassist John Neves will be returning after of D. decision to change. being away from the band for a year and a halt. He was jockc “The reasons are twofold: one is economic, and the the original bassist. Three ot the four saxophone chairs are big h< other is my attempt to find the right type of musician tor filled. Dick Johnson, alto; Varty Haroutouian. one of two select the type of band I want to have. On the financial side, tenors, and Jimmv Derba, baritone. Sinatr we found that trying to take the band out of the Stable Instead of a trombone section, there will be two men tion, and on the road for concerts and one-nighters or say. into doubling trombone and bass trumpet, the trumpet used pri­ vocali New York for a club date or a recording session was marily on the up-tempo tunes and the trombone on ballads. name: prohibitively costly. Sixteen men were involved and the Gene DiStasio and Dick Wright will handle these. Four picket fees represented by that number made the price too high. trumpets will be used. Nick Capezuto will play lead. In­ Evi Thirteen men may not present the same problem, and we stead of fronting. Pomeroy will play one of the trumpets few s just may get more work. in the section, which leaves two trumpet chairs unfilled still tc “Professionally, in a city of this size, it is difficult to find “All of the fellows who are definitely in have agreed on 1.1 16 men who are musical compatibles, who are free to play to travel,” the leader said. “After six months of working ising two nights a week, who are not lied down with important in the Stable and rehearsing the new book, we may just be Benn' daytime jobs. There just isn’t that much talent here Boston, able to go after some of the more lucrative bookings. I ising unlike New York or Los Angeles, has no large reservoir don't mean that we will be a permanent road band, but at most of jazz musicians. least wc will be available' (folio Hend 14 • DOWN BEAT.
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