Chubby Indicts U.S

VOL. 15—NO. 5 CHICAGO. MARCH 10. 1948 Moguls'; Predicts Woody Herman that the Cavalcade may then go makes his New York bow with Musical Migration Europe Tour in for European engagements, his new orchestra on April 20 starting around September. when he opens at the Hotel By JACK EGAN Commodore for a limited en­ New York—Count Basie has gagement. decided to “play America first. ' Auld Into Deuces The Commodore date will be New York—4 heat wave hit this area in more forms Turning down a deal that would followed by a run at the Capi­ guarantee him $15,000 per week New York—George Auld and tol theater here. than one right in the middle of our winter. Chubby Jackson for a European tour, the Count his band moved into the Three returned from an exciting European tour and he was sizzling. is working on his Count Basie Deuces for an extended engage­ Down Beat covers the news But the bassist's blasts were not directed al the people for Cavalcade, a jazz concert with ment last week from coast to coast. whom he'd played around Scan­ dinavia. Chubby’s observations, which be began making last fall, all point toward a famine of good music not in Europe, where British Leaders Threaten Strike famines of various sorts are quite commonplace, but right London—After years of unsatisfactory broadcasting lee* here in our own country. paid to dance band* leaders by the BR( . the Dance Band The rotund bc-boppcr. who Lena, Ted Give London Treat Directors' Association (DBDA), an association of most of graduated from Woody Herman’s this country's leaders, which is affiliated with the musician* ranks to form his own combo union, decided to open negotia­ (bass, trumpet, tenor, vibes and tions with the BBC for higher has an 18-piece combination drums), became concerned with radio fees to be paid all broad­ Says Heath: “Although my the immediate future of good casting bandleaders. First moves band is the highest paid in the jazz in this country when he were made 10 months ago; since country, it makes no difference voiced his opinions in the Wash­ then the leaders have met with to the BBC, which pays my mu­ ington Daily News on November nothing but noncommittal an­ sicians the same rate as it pays 8. 1947 swers from BBC spokesmen. No the most inferior dance musi­ Columnist Jackson action whatsoever had been cians who sometimes broadcast taken by the corporation to meet for them. Naturally, I cannot Under the heading, "Men of the leaders and work out a new pay such men as Kenny Baker Jazz Are Leaving the Country.” Jack Parnell, Harry Roche and columnist Arnold Fine devoted agreement, and so, after 10 Leslie Gilbert (Heath’s featured his space to Chubby months of weary waiting, the DBDA convened its members on soloists) such pool money—apart “A grave problem confronts Tuesday. January 20, to decide from the rest of my musicians, American music.” Jackson wrote what action they would take. who also expect substantially “It began m the summer of ’46 more for their services- -so, out when the industry’s moguls made At a meeting presided over by of the fee BBC pays me for a such statements as. ‘Jazz is dead Lew Stone, formerly one of the single broadcast I can, by paying It’s a trend toward sweet and country’s top dance leaders and my men above the minimum rate soft melodies.' cuirently directing the London a sum mutually agreed between "These utterances influenced Coliseum’s pit band for Annie us, just about break even. I re­ the nation. Writers began to Get Your Gun, over 50 band­ ceive no money at all.” * compare modern music to me­ leaders decided after three and chanized noise and unintelligible a half hours debate, to pass the Scores Cost $75 sounds Such penmen are ob­ following resolution: Heath further stated that this did not, of course, take into ac­ viously stupid to me.” London—Lena Home’s recent triumph at the London Casino “In view of the long delay on the part uf the BBC in count any new arrangements Pessimistic Ops was aided in no small part by the Ted Heath band, which that leaders ordered for their played there at the same time. Heath, who is England’s top negotiations with the associa­ tion, the corporation be in­ broadcasts. These usually cost Predictions lo which Chubby bandleader, was photographed with Miss Horne backstage at formed that, failing a satisfac­ an average of $75 each and have has reference were made by the Casino. His opinions are quoted at length in the story to be paid for entirely out of the many prominent ballroom opera - from London in this issue. tory development of resumed tors, managers and bookers to­ negotiations by March 31, our leader’s own pocket. Although ward the end of 1946 when box members will cease to broad­ the BBC benefits from the use outdated gimmicks as harmon­ cast from that date.” of such arrangements, it makes office figures on name bands of no contribution whatsoever to the swing school began to fall icas. whistlers and rippling rhy­ Billie Ducats 4fter the meeting. Hardie Rat- thms. Radio is afraid to experi­ their cost. Because of this, many off (liffe, DBDA secretary, stated leaders accept plug money and "The most important contri­ ment with new ideas, sticking to that the increase asked for per­ butions of American music,” the stereotyped and dated com­ Like Hotcakes tained to overall fees paid to (Modulate to Page 7) Chubby continued in his Novem­ mercial numbers. leaders contracted to supply ber notes, “have been the blues “These factors leave the young bands for broadcasting No dis­ (which branched into jazz), hill­ musician completely frustrated New York—Tickets for the Bit­ tinction was made in the memo Universal Buys billy and cowboy styling pop The fellows who try to think lie Holiday concert at Carnegie In the corporation between stu­ tunes: and a category that best ahead are butting their heads Hall, March 27 will be at a pre­ dio and outside broadcasts (A be called movie background against a stone wall. There is no mium by the time this issue hits few weeks earlier the musicians Austin Records music. Jazz, a true American outlet for the modem idiom. the streets, if pre-press time in­ union had banned all bands and product, is not given the proper “It amounts to age versus dications mean anything. Pro­ orchestras from taking part in Chicago- B ill Putnam and encouragement by those in au­ youth: Jolson versus 1947. moter Ernie Anderson reports outside broadcasts from theaters George Tasker of Universal Rec­ thority the advance demand is compar­ unless the BBC agreed to raise ords here worked out a deal with able to that of the recent Stan Gf ne Austin, whose Victor platter Jolson Story Migration Commencing the musicians’ fees for such Kenton Carnegie Hall bash. An transmissions—r emotes from of My Blue Heaven was the first “Hollywood is at least 10 years “The situation calls for action derson’s Chubby Jackson con­ disc to reach the million mark I'm taking it. On December 12, restaurants and hotels were not behind in its musical concepts,” cert. incidentally, was postpon­ included, although these were years ago. to take over 50 mas­ he went on. “Since Al Jolson’s I’m leaving with my band fur a ed from its original date. Febru­ ters which Gene cut under his series of concerts in Sweden and ary 28 well below the rates paid fnr return to box office profits, a studio sessions). own label on the west coast with revival drive is on Music pub­ on the Continent. I’m certain the Les Paul Trio lishers are reaching into their there must be a place where my Edits Attack music will be heard by receptive First release will be March 15, files to bring back songs that Both the Melody Maker and with My Blue Heaven coupled were shriveled and dried up in ears. “If the current clamp on prog- Jess Junks Band Musical Express carried editori­ with an original Cala-California. grandma’s day. Record compan als devoted to the situation, Other well known Austin num­ ies are waxing discs with such ( Modulate to Page 16) pointing out that the time had bers, such as Bye Bye Blackbird For Nicksieland come for action by musicians to and How Come You Do Me. will meet the dictatorial policy of the follow later New York- Jess Stacy scrap­ BBC. The ridiculous position of Sweden Imports Jackson Bop ped his own band to take over leaders was <big band leaders can be ords, is selling well. There are many concerts played throughout Sweden. Members nf the Buddy Greco and his two part­ gauged from the following ob­ screen tests, too, in the offing group are Frank Socolow, sax; Conte Condoli. trumpet; Terry ners who have been causing such servations voiced exclusively to for the beauty from Detroit. Gibbs, vibes, and Jackson, bass. Unit was quite a show, sar­ a stir in Philadelphia music Down Beat by Ted Heath, (Photo by David Sutton) torially speaking, too. circles. Britain’s top bandleader, wb<