The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-07-14
CRACK YANK
BAND EASES
Obi BURDEN
BY FRANK Z. B0LDEN
(NNpA War Corrsspondsntl

lndia-Burma Delayed Way
over here IN the wilds OF Assam
is a band that is down with it,
bound with it, and around with il,
as they beat out jungle 1--WE that
is alive for the CT jitterbugs and
devotees OF the modern maltrest-
ment OF mad notes and tortured
bars and cleffs. II is the 437th A.S.F.
Band. the only IT o." authorized
by army regulationsl band in the
India Burma Theatre. and is under
the direction OF slim. bespectacled
WOJG Edward c. Lewis. OF Wash
inGton. d. c., who is a graduate OF
music from West Virginia State
college. II is in the fullest sense
OF the word a truly solid" aggre-
CATION.
This CT musical pOwerhouse
generates Its mellow power from
nine piece brass choir consisting
IF FIVE trumpets and four from
bones; a smooth Ave man reed
section; and a rhythm section that
is "out of this world"
IN THE TRUMPET section are
ia Ronnie NJ. Lewis. of Houston.
Tex, who used 10 do his number
with Milt Larkin's band; ia Will
liam p Conan. Cleveland. Ohio;
Pfc. Roland Hayes, Reading, Pa,
Pvt James Grant, Niagara Falls,
NJ Y; and Pvt Roosevelt Clinton.
Chicago, I'll. Lewis is quite mu-
stefan and player. He arranges
many OF the bands numbers. among
which is the outfits theme song
"Wsnderlust." and possesses a GOOD
lip which permits wide range play
ing He won't have to worry about
employment when this fracas Is
over.
The trombone complement has
Cpl. James Buxton. Jamaica. ~ Y;
Sgt william z. Goolsby, Medic,
Pa: and Pfc. Chester w. Lewis.
Youngstown. Ohio. doing the
honors.
Cpl. James ]. Pertun. Chicago;
Cpl. Joe Drew. Chicago: Herman
o. Houston, Cleveland, Ohio; Cpl.
Albert S. Dudley. Detroit; and
Cpl. Walter c. Gordon. Rich
mond, Va, round out q we'll
blended reed quintet. Pertun Is =
bass alto man.
The rhythm section, one which
any big name band back home
could use to advantage has the
"GI Lionel Hampton" Sgt. Al
Richardson. Indianapolis, Ind, an
Tiny Bradshaw alumnus, on the
drums and vibes; Cpl. Cortland
Carter. OF New York; who has
worked such well-knoWn spots as
the Famous Door" and Cafe So
ciety" and has also written several
compositions that are breaking II
I'D back there on main stem. the
latest being The Jitterbugs Broke
II Down" A number which he Is
now receiving royalties on; makes
with the git box" guitar TO you
unhipped squareS): and Cpl. War
rem II. McOwens. OF Mobile, Ala,
an ex-Pha Terrell lumlnary. jives
the bass fiddle or "doghouse."
A rocking, solid, and groovy
quartette featuring Ronnie Lewis
on trumpet; Richardson on the
vioes: Carter on the git box" ana
McOwens over the "doghouse" is
Just like the man in the coffin
dead right in there.
The band reads we'll and plays
its second and third parts with
stunning acumen, a direct result OF
Lewis patient and exacting teach
ing and advice. The maestro HIM
self has a marvellous ear for tonal
perfection and can play any instru-
ment in the band. Together with
| Lewis. Richardson. Carter, and sew
eral others these solid senders" do
not go a-wanting for arrangements
They treat the classics with reck-
less abandon, and their streamlined
versions of the long haired master
pieces are classics in themselves.
Chappie Willets arrangement OF
the well-known Prelude in c
Sharp Minor" is given a WELL
hipped Interpretation by these
jungle jivers. They ride their third
choruses down like the Lone
Ranger with his boots on
Lewis himself took Sl20 out OF
his own pocket to purchase the
outfit a new and much-needed SET
Of drums, which shows the interest
which he has in his charges.
Besides the swing band. Lewis
also has a very good marching
band and a well-trained glee club
which makes the organization q
well-rOundcd one as regards
varied program possibilities.
THIS OUTFIT is one OF the hard
est working units in the entire the
atre. as il works seven days week,
bringing to both enlisted men and
officers that solid touch" OF home
which is expressed in mad music
played by frantic mote hipsters"
for CT cats here on Burmas right
eous mid"
-, (1s,-