The Omaha guide., 1946-02-09
New York Show Fronts...
By Don De Leighbur
LIONEL HAMPTON DISCUSSES ESQUIRE SELECTIONS,
CHALLENGES O HERNIA BAND TO
BATTLE OF JAZZ 49,.

New York Following publication of the Esquire ALL
American Jazz Band selections for 1916. a delegation Of
white and colored fans descended upon Lionel Hampton in
his dressing room while he was playing a n engagement at
the Strand Theatre on Broadway. | had just been discuss
ing with Hamp certain economic trends in the future of
Negro musicians, when one of the bobby-soxers opened the
conversation with the remark that they felt brought down
because Hampton's band was not selected as the band of
Ine year.
1--WE love and appreciate Duke Ellington she said.
'Hbut everybody knows the bind for kicks is yours, Lionelr.
She was a white girl. THE injustice was done when the
critics allowed sentiment to get in the way of good and fair
Judgment IN picking Duke Ellington and Woody Herman
as the two most outstanding swing bands of the year,
Il believe those cats must be blind put in a colored
youth as he got Hampton's autograph on his autograph
book. Il don't argue against their choice of Woody Her
man; he undoubtedly is the greatest white swing crow a.
round when you're picking them for swing and good jazz;
but Duke didn't get in your class this year, Lionel, and we
all know it. That was shown in the broadcast from the
radio theatre when Ellington and Herman we're put togeth-
er liz what was really a battle of swing. | sure felt bad as
Herman and his boys got the best of Duke. We all feel he
did, because Duke just wasn't hitting while Herman, Club
by Jackson, Bill Harris and the others we're riding like
mad and jumping all the way
Il sure wish your band had been up there against Woody
Herman instead of Dukes put in a colored girl of around
IL years of age. Il bet you'd make Woody faI off. After
all, Lionel, Woody s. all your stuff; he even tries to use
your riffs. He grabs everything in sight. But l bet you'd
know what to do. Wouldn't you?"
Lionel shifted his position on the couch SO re cCuII talk.
His valet was busy getting out Coca Colas from the icebox
for his guests.
'TI outplay Woody Herman any day, any night, any
time and any where" Lionel said in a matter-o---lc: lone.
my boys really want some of him. We've been praying
that sOmeday or somewhere W could get WooCy into a
battle of music. He'll know what it means if he does sc.
up against u.s.
Hampton then went on to elaborate. He felt deeply
hurt that his band wasn't considered the top banE of the
year by the majority of the Esquire experts who made the
selections of Herman and of Ellington. incidentally,
Count Basic, whose great Jump crew today ranks with some
of the bands he has had in the past, wasn't happy about it
either. But Hampton was candid as he noted that his
band rated top consideration if only for freshness of ideas,
executions, and enthusiasm by his musicians.
eve created just as much as Ellington Hampton de-
clared. by that | mean, we feature bOogie-wOogie and
blues orehestrated and ride tunes. Our arrangements are
as unusual and outstanding as those of any other band.
That's why today my band is the most copied Of al the
swing crews. Even now, Woody Herman is trying to get
another bass player so he can have two like we do. |
think am the first big band leader to put in Two pass play
ers to accentuate the rhythm section. Look at what we
carry: five trumpets, five trombones, five saxes, piano.
drums, guitar, two bass fiddles and vibraphone. In our
rhythm section we have seven parts-the two bass fiddles,
guitar, drums, piano, vbres and baritone sax. And look
at our soloists: there's Arnett Cobb who plays as much if
not more tenor sax than anybody else in the business.
Then there's Herbie Fields, our great white aio sax player,
who all critics agree is the top man. And there isn't a p-
anist in any band who can stand up to my Milton Buckner.
There's the man for you. That guy plays what SOME folks
call "arranger' chords and that's what makes such numbers
as Ramps Boogie Woogie', and 'Beulah Boogie." and
others such solid tunes with SO much rhythmic background
4 Every band with any kind of name is using riffs my band
originates. including Woody Herman. We originate them
they copy 'em,| mean Woody and all the others.
The audience in the dressing room became larger as
publishers, song writer's, musicians, fan and newspaper.
men started coming in. Hampton then stressed the fact
that his one big desire for 1916 is to battle it out with
Woody Herman and his Herd for musical supremacy.
sIu meet him on Sevenfh vauu or or prooJu.u -. I
or 4 o'clock in the morning. I'll take him on at noon.
anywhere I'll give every nickel of my end to charity. lust
to settle once and for all who has the greatest swing band,
he concluded.