The original name of the Jim Cullem Band was the "Happy Jazz Band", and was led by Jim Cullem, Sr. (clarinet).
Before the arranging talents of John Sheridan (piano) were injected into the band, it sounded much like most any other pick-up dixie band.
Re: "Grandpa's Spells" - Ferdinand Morton
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2021 11:43 am
by ParLawGod
Not everyone is as old as am I...
BUT, you're young at heart
Re: "Grandpa's Spells" - Ferdinand Morton
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2021 12:24 pm
by the elephant
It was always the Happy Jazz Band. Did they change it? I remember when The Landing was a dumpy, old warehouse on the river. Later when the huge hotel was built, part of the contract required the owners to build The Landing into the lobby, with riverfront access. I only ever got to go inside the old Landing a few times before this change happend. I liked it a lot. The new place is still really nice, though. (I guess "new" is relative, here…)
Re: "Grandpa's Spells" - Ferdinand Morton
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2021 1:01 pm
by bloke
I tend to recall - as they became widely known (due to the Dixieland Re-Revival and the "festivals phenomenon"), that Jim changed the name to "[The] Jim Cullum Jazz Band".
For those who aren't aware, he (Jr.) passed away roughly two years ago.
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tangential:
The cornet player who led the band I played with (in the early 1980's) is still kickin', and still playing cornet. I believe he's 92.
The 82-year-old (now) banjo/guitar player (from that band - who now tours with country singer, Billy Dean) goes over to Hot Springs (where the cornet player now lives) from time-to-time to play gigs and jam session parties.
The cornet player is probably more known as a world-renowned OBGYN than as a cornetist.
The pianist (who I believe is now 85) still plays gigs DAILY, and plays an hour of tennis every morning.
He grew up in Holland, during WWII. He and his childhood buddies played "chicken" with the German Maschinengewehr 131 (c. 51 cal.) aircraft machine guns - strafing their streets.
Re: "Grandpa's Spells" - Ferdinand Morton
Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2021 6:22 pm
by bloke
Maybe I’m bumping this thread too often, but back to Morton:
It’s not too hard to do this…
Listen to the last strain – in A-flat Major - of Frog-I-More Rag, and imagine it in triple meter - as a slow waltz, rather than in duple meter… It’s really quite sublime.
