The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-05-06
In New York
BY PAUL HARRISON

4 - : "a
BY PAUL HARRISON
New kMusicians are, I'm
sure, the craziest people in the
world. Tin Pan Alley musicians, /
mean. And crazy in amusing ways
There was q trap drummer who
went to Roosevelt Field and bor-
rowed a plan without permss-
sion. Never had been In the air,
before, but he took OFF oil right,
few until his gas ran out, then
cracked up in q swamp. Didn't
hurt him; he was smacking his
traps that night as usual.
There was another, a bass fiddle
or dog house" player, who had
been married nine times, liked to
cook dinners--atrocious messes--
for his friends, and always was
talking about suicide. "C-Mover
for dinner," he'd say. got a
new Chinese recipe. Entertain
ment afterward, too. Go'nta kill
myself" His pals went, hoping to
deter him from any drastic act.
But finally the threats began to
pail, so a time came when nobody
showed up for a dinner he'd plan
ned. He put his head in the oven.
appropriately enough, and turned
on the gas.
Informed Of the deed, his friends
all made about the same succinct
comment: "A right guy, but a
lousy cook" 1t was his life or
ours"
Fiddle Time Away
A certain horn-tooter, much in
demand, is a kleptomaniac. Steals
from stores, mostly cheap trinkets. ;
And gives 1t all away. Take this
home to your wife, my good man."
he'll tell taxi driver, and will fill
the fellows lap with rings, brace
let's and fake pearl necklaces. For-
tunately he makes lot of money,
SO is able to pay for his offerings.
They're hard livers, many of
them. For no known reason, lot
of musicians smoke reefers-cig-
aretts made of the narcotic mari
juana. Others drink. When their
own work Is done they take bus
mans holiday in later night clubs.
They drive through red lights,
park in front of fire plugs, and
usually have pocketsful of sum-
monses. But nothing seems to de-
ter them from keeping early morn
ing appointments for photograph
recordings or additions. They're on
hand, and perform fiawlessly. True
artists, really, with genuine genius
and unstinting devotion to their
work.
One night a trumpet player
named Blk Beiderbecke went to a
piano and played composition he
called I'm a Mist" Not even his
intimates knew that he could play
piano at all. But I'm Mist" is
still sherished among profession
ais as gem of tricky technique.
Beiderbecke dropped dead one day.
Bank Notes
The orchestra world has dozens
Of its own celebrities whose names
never are heard by the dancing,
listening public. They're men of ex-
ceptional talent, and are the back
bones Of bands in which they play.
There content with anonymity.
no responsibility, and big pay.
They can have as many jobs, day
and night, as they're able to han
die Some receive higher pay than
them. A thousand dollars a week is
no unusual wgae.
Ever hear Of Arthur Schutt?
Probably not, yet he's the top
among dance orchestra pianfsts.
Joe Venuti, ditto on the, fiddle. A
trombonist, named Min Mole earns
as much as five United States sem
ators. Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey
are masters of trombone and sax.
The late Eddie Lang was the high
est-paid of all orchestral guitar
lists. Joe Tarto il star matador of
the bull-fiddle.
Measure Of Success
You have heard of Red Nichols,
| but mostly because he's an or
chestra leader. Musicians recog-
nize him as the daddy of the mod
ern 'hot" style. as it differs from
what we used to call jazz. Even
the word "jazz' is anathema to
bandsmen now. Tin ear" is their
contemptuous term for. jazz music.
Ernest Loring Nichols once
played in the orchestras of White
man, Lopez and Olsen., Directed
the orchestras at two Gershwin
shows, too. Along his way he de-
veloped q style-new Hicks" and
stop rhythms," an accentuation
OF Individual instruments against
La harmony background. Well, may
be ia better not try to explain.
Anyway, music men recognised
new style. They'd say, "So-and SOS
band Is beginning to play very
Nichols"
A few men who have worked
for Nichols are the above-named
schutt, venuti. Mole, Dorseys.
Lang and Tarto. He used 70 be
In their category; was q maestro
OF the trumpet. Played In the opery
house In Ogden, Utah. when he
was 3. Now he's 80. Scarcely
anybody in the country cen play
the sikittish trumpet pieces ho has.
composed. The titles Of two %
them will give you an Idea; zee
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