1«. 1954 DOWN Very Young Man With NEW YORK ON STAGE—Ed Wynn may do a musical next season. He has three Horn—Frankie Avalon affers, one from J. J. Shubert. He hasn’t been on the local stage since 1942 . .. Another great comedian is due back next season. Jimmy Savo New York—When he was 9,^ will star in a musical based on hia short novel, Little World Hello. Frankl« Avalon saw Harry Age with the oldest about 15. They recording of Tho Hook and Trum Jimmy hasn’t been on Broadway since 1943 . . . Burl Ives is currently rehearse for kicks, but all the fledg pet Sorrento (written by Anthony). nt City Center as Captain Andy ia Showboat . . . Stage shows resumed Eames in the movie, Young ling musicians, Frankie affirms, As Ray himself pointed out in a Lm with a Horn. He stayed for at the Loews State April 17 for the first time since December, 1947. recent conversation, “It’s Frankie’s Heading the first bill were Julius LaRosa, Ell a Fitzgerald, und Archie thr second tiiuw and went back There’s a good possibility that tone that moot impressed me at Bleyer , , . Nat Cole will be on Toast of the Town May 16 . Tony Kror more times. Frankie had de- Frankie soon may have a steady first. It has a depth, warmth, and bded to learn the trumpet and lead «ngarement at a new teen-age quality that "nak>-< him sound uke Bennett is nt the Boulevard in Queens. A few yean ago, ns Joe Bari, Eland. Tony was singing a few blocks away for $15 for the weekend. His “night club” to be opened in Phila a much older musician thar. he take has gone up. I Three years have passed. At the delphia in about three months. Ac really ia. A lot of people who hare Lge of 12, the determined Frankie JAZZ—Milee Davis, blowing well, had a swinging group at Birdland cording to present plans, the room heard just the record laugh at me for two weeks with Kenny Clarke. Lucky Thompson Perry Heath, and M now not only a trumpet-playing will be open late afternoons, only when I tell them it was made by Horace Silver. Kenny has become a businessman on the side. He's Amer Bandleader, but has a hit record on soft drinls will be served, and a 12-year-old<” Babel “X”: has appeared on tele Frankie will lead his band in dance ican representative for Sonor, a new drum company out of We«tphalen Prartiee« All Day Germany . .. Drummer Art Mardigan has been playing Sundays at the Mrion with Jackie Gleason and Open Door in the Village with Brew Moore and Tony Fruscella . . . jhnky Lee; won a Paul Whitemun With all of hia practicing, re Frankie didn’t get the tunes that frV snow contest: has guested with Baby Lawrence 1« dancing weekends at Tony’s in Brooklyn. That's hearsing, and occasional tripe to made h.m a star on I abel “X” un where some major modern jam sessions have been held recently with the (Tommy Dorsey, Louis Prima, and New York and the coast to record til the morning of the date. He |Hsrr> James, and is a protege of and make guest appearances, likes of Thelonious Monk, Charlie Mingus, anti Miles Davis . . . Metro practiced all day and kept working pole jazz policy is so successful that the Seventh Ave. bar now has two |Ray Anthony, whose office has the Frankie is still a full-tune scholar through a record session that lasted [youngster under personal manage- full jazz bands. Red Allen went in April 27 opposite Jimmy McPart at Vare Junior high school. He’s on three hours. land. With Red are Coxy Cole, Buster Bailey, Claude Honkin«, Herb the honor roll ana has the normal “Were yon scared?” asked Fred I Frankie’s father should be Fleming, and Lloyd Trotman. number of enthusiastic outside in Benson, Frankie’s and Ray’s man Norman Grans cut another date with Lionel Hnmpton, Oseur Peter (credited with having provided the terests. “I go bowling and play ager. krampet-strTick boy with the all baseball. I can’t play football be son, Ray Brown, and Buddy Rich. The next day he added Buddy important initial support for his cause of i he possibility of being “Yes,” admitted Frankie, “when DeFranco, and the results are said to be among Buddy’s most ex basical ambitions A Philadelphia hurt, but I’d sure like to.” we started, but it turned out to be citing performances on record. Buddy also cut an album of ballads with pretty easy. The only thing in I his regular unit (Bobby White, Sonny Clark, Eugene Wright) . .. The (steelworker who plays piano flu Selects Own Clothes ently for his own amusement, the thought you had to play it only Six have been held over at Ryan’s . . . Billie Holiday is being act for Uder Avalon arranged for Frank- The surprisingly mature, soft once and then the record was made. a tour of Alaska ... As of present plans, Louis Armstrong’s August spoken 12year-old also selects his It’s a lot more than that though.” September tour of Europe is off. He may go to The Sands in Las \\*gas m’s first trumpet lessons. I For a year Frankie studied with own clothes. And in a profession No matter how many hours re instead . . . Gene Krupa 1s at the Embers, and will be there until June [Danny Dee, a Philadelphia dance in which sartorial flamboyancy is cordings or daily practicing take, «7. bead musician. He now has trans not uncommon, the young star is a Frankie seems always ready for RADIO, RECORDS, TV—Victor has signed Jane Kean (of the Betty ferred to Seymour Roeenfeld of n od« I of 1astefu« consoi«attain with more Th* boy's ego has remained and Jane night club act) to do pops . . . Columbia has added Art the Philadelphia Symphony orches a leaning toward smartly tailored uninflated despite all his recent ac Carney of the Jackie Gleason show to its roster . Victor has cut an tra. From the beginning, Frankie blue suits. claim, but there is a deep, not-to- original cast album of Golden Apple. First time the company has gone taa practiced four to five hour* a In this matter of careful drees be-denied drive in him to build a off Broadway for a musical (the show has moved uptown now) . . day. Sometimes,” he say a casually, as well as in his trumpet playing, career as a bandleader. This m Initial sales of the label “X” jazz reissues has been brisk. Bodes wel. ri practice six.” Frankie is much influenced by his one youngster who’ll never have to for the rest of the aeries . . . Victor sig «d Jaye P. Morgan . . . Sarah favorite trumpet player, Anthony. take a vocational guidance test; he Vaughan cut eight sides for Em Arcy with her pres« nt trio (Roy Begins When 10 “I like the way Ray plays, and 1 kn< ws what he wan'a. Haynes, Jos Benjamin, and John Malachi) . . . John Levy, George Frankie’s career as a bandleader like the sound of it," says Frankie, “He asked me quite seriously the Shearing's manager, has signed west coast singer Ernie Andrews. began at 10. The crew started with “because it’s a full sound.” other day,” said Benson, “if he It musicians, many of them be It wai this matter of foil sound could ever front the Billy May CHICAGO tween 18 and 20. Now the band in Frankie’s own work that sur band.” Art Tatum’s trio and Bill Russo’s quintet are current at the Blue ■embers are nearly all Frankie’s prised many initial listeners to his Note, with Stan Kenton alumnus Conte Candoli coming in on May 14 with his unit. Alternate attraction will be Rose Murphy (remember*). . . . The Lecuona Cuban Boys revue hit the Edgewater Beach hotel on May 11 for a month’s stand . . . Lurlean Hunter now singing her vel Prado Joins With Fatha Plans To Start vety songs at the Cloister room of the Maryland hotel. Nat Cole’s Chez Pare»« date was moved up t > May 26. Sophie Tucker and the Mary Kaye trio remain there until Nat arrives . . . The Blue Rogers To Record Angel dropped the Monday night I Come for to Sing sessions ... At A 'New Sound' Ork the ballroom’s, George Rank’s ork comes to Melody Mil) May 12 and New Concert Suite Hollywood—Pianist Earl Hines is planning to start a "new Jimmy Featherstone inaugurated the new Regent terpery on the sound” band here during the early part of this month. The southwest side. Hollywood — Perer Prado, with Art Kassel’s ork was supplanted by Gay Claridge’s crew at the his regular band (the Local 47 official debut was scheduled tentatively for May 8 at the Los group organized for him here by Angeles Press club. ♦ —■ - - — - Martinique . . . Tiffany Records waxed four sides by Carl Ravazza, and num peter Bill Roeder) augmented Associated with Hines, a long Jan Garber cut four for Dot. . . Georgia Gibbs is headlining the Inter from 14 to 20, ended a series of time jazs figure, ar writers are Toscanini Going national Brotherhood of Electrical Workers shows, May 3-8 .. . WNBQ RCA-Victor recording sessions by Pete Rugolo, Bill Millard, and is placing its -U roophonic sound broadcasts on a regular monthly waxing a 15-minute concert buite, a songwriter Joe Green. Emphasis Back To Milan basis. Joseph Gallichio, the NBC orchestra, and a guest star featured collaboration between Prado and will be on their original works and on each stanza. Shorty Rogers. arrangements. Milan, Italy — Arturo Toscanini HOLLYWOOD Among the musicians added to Hines, who has used only small is returning nere to live after his JAZZ NOTES: New hotspot in the southwest side of L.A. is the ttt Prado band for the opus were combos for th« last several years, retirement as director cf the NBC Californian (Santa Barbara Ave. rear Western), managed by Chuck Shelly Manne, drums; Maynard «aid the new unit will have 11 Symphony orchestra. Toscaaini’s •nansion in Milan contains his valu Landis, fonrerly of the Tiffany club, und with a con bo headlined by Ferguson, and Pete Candoli, trum men, plus his new vocal prospect, Max Roach, Sonny Stitt, and trumpet-comer Clifford Brown. And we pets, Bob Cooper, tenor; Milt Penny Lynn of San Francisco The able collection of paintings and item belatedly that Max Roach’s spot at drums with the Howard Rum Bemhart, trombone. Shorty also group, made up mainly of young theatrical viuvenirs. It was here sey Lighthouse All-Stars at Hermosa Beach was taken by Stan Levey, ployed on a portion of the suite. musicians, was ready to go into also that Toscanini became re recently of the Kenton crew ... In the Hollywood hangout- as this The composition, in four move rehearsals at this writing nowned as chief conductor at La went to press th<> spotlight was on Art Tatum at the Royal Room, menU with unusual vocal effects The working format has four Scala. Georgie Auld, with a rhythm trio, at the Tailspin. Each was pulling based on native African chants, saxes, two trumpets, two trom Officials at La Scalu have told these clubs out • t recent slumps. will be released on an LP, two bones, und three rhythm, *>ut the reporters they hope Toscanini will DANCE BEAT: Spade Cooley in a string of combination danci and movements to each side Many of unusual color will come from an accept some kind of arrangement TV shows from Pomona’s Rainbow Gardens during April and Mai the other recordings Prado is doii g assortment of doubles, Hines said. whereby he will act as supervisor (Saturday nights) while Les Brown took over Saturday nights nt Al for Victor here are his mambo In addition to the featured girl or artistic adviser. Donahue’s Santa Monica ballroom while Donohue fulfilled commitments treatments of American standards. vocalist, the group being assembled There is also the possibility that here also ha • two male solo singers Toscanini occasionally may conduct he made prior to becoming bandleader-operator of the bench dancery. and an eight-voice choir among the benefit performances in hi« native . . . Jimmie Grier, whose band was the take-off point for Bing Crosby country. at Ambassador Hotel’s Cocoanut Grove in 1931, now heading small (but Chicago Gets instrumentalists. very pleading) little band at same hostelry’s Casino room, cocktail spot a few steps from the famous Grove. Said Jimmie: “I don’t work so A Cafe Society hard, I have more fun, and make more money than in the big-band days.” Chicago — Another Chicago nit- Show Of Shows' Plans ADDED NOTES; Look for Marilyn Monroe’s disc debut on Victor ery has changed its name and pol with a soundtrack album from her next picture, River of No Return ... icy to become an in time spot fea Watch for a lively autobiography of a musician (and a contribution turing talent suited to smaller Big Use Of Steve Allen to the jazz story) in The Blue Violin. The subject is Joe Venuti, with room? a foreword by B. Crosby . . . Benny Carter supervising pl ater session Former Palmer House headwait New York—The growing success of Steve Allen as a TV for Jimmy Maddin, th» Ray Bolger protege (Down Beat, Feb. 10). er, Rudy De La Grass, took over During the summer Bolger will reissue those filmed TV shows he did the Club 19 on the near north side, personality (Down Beat, March 24) has been signalized by with Maddin, whose Mambo rights at Hollywood’s Mura! Room are so renamed it Cafe Society, and his signing for the starring role in 15 of next season’s Your big the blues-singing saxist-bandleader-entertainer will add more Span opened on April 29 with a bill Show of Showa series on NBC-TV.f ish accent to his act featuring singer Janet Brace, who Now that Imogene Coca and Sid NOTABLE QUOTES (from an article in Theme magazine on Gerry records for Decca. Caesar have decided to pursue their Martha Wright In Mulligan by Arlene (Mrs. Mulligan): “All art forms are act.« of love, separate TV careers, producer and for a man to perform nightly the rites of love before an audience director Max Liebman decided on Television Series not completely attentive is shattering.” Chi’s Streamliner Allen us the man to preside over New York — Singer Martha GOSH! the comedy-and-muHic reviews. On Wright, currently tourine hotels Inks Chet Baker the weeks Allen isn’t on, Liebman and clubs, has hi gun a 52-wvek SAN FRANCISCO—Keith Weu- ardson said the trio took a Fresno plans to present independent pro- series on ABC-TV in th>- spot fol dell Erickson, his wife Jean, and,State College professor, E. P. Chicago—The Chet Baker quar ductio’is starring name performers. lowing Wulter Winchell. Bobby John Leoni, all of Oakland, were Womak, for $5,001* for a partner- tet (including Ruas Freeman, Allen will be used in comedy Hackett and his group will be ?ea- arrested in Fresno in April and ship and bilked another songwriter, piano), will make its first midwi'Mt sketches und will also perform us tured regularly as will pianist Nor charged with bilking hopeful song- j a chemist, out of $10,000 Like jau ciub appearance at the Mid a singer and danctr in production iran Paris. Format will include writers. Erickeon and Leoni at one Barnum said . . . town in St. Loui.« June 11-18- He numbers. Though this format will guest stars such as John Raitt, time operated Twentieth Century Buddy Motsinger now on piano, then nlayp a three-weeker at th«- n> more formal that Steve’r- usual Robert Merrill, and Guy Mitchell. Music, on Oakland firm that spon with Joe Mullen on bass, at the Streamliner her« starting June 26. TV contex, Liebman doee plan a Miss Wright is best known for sored a radio program looking for Golden Nuggett . . . George Pro Current at the Streamliner is the 15-minute “Afterpiece” as the final her appearance in South Pacific talent and which issued Horizon bert cut several sides in L A. with Terry Gibb quartot, to be followed of each review. On this section, Glen Osar r is the musical arranger Records, a label recording only new the Firehouse Five and then re hy Eddie Hevwood’s trio, Buddy Allen and his guest stars will en for the program with choreography songwriters’ material. Fresno dep turned to the Marty Marsala band DaFranoo’s combo, and Baker. gage in ad lit repartee. by Frank Westbrook. uty district attorney Walter Rich- (Turn lo Page 17)