[78-L] Earl Hines

[David Lennick]

I have tapes and lacquers of Art Tatum's performances in Toronto in the late 
40s..all unissuable because of a variety of factors including not knowing the 
identity of the other performers in the club sessions, but also because people 
are TALKING all through the stuff recorded in the club and at a private home. 
(I'm also not the owner of the recordings, although some of them were found 
abandoned in a house far from Toronto, so don't ask.)

dl

Ron L'Herault wrote:
> This reminds me of the time in the early 1970s that I saw Teddy Wilson and
> his sons perform at a lounge in the Biltmore Hotel, Providence.  There were
> no more than 15 of us there that night and maybe even less.  We got to chat
> with them, give requests and listen, intently and intimately.  I couldn't
> understand why there was not a mob of people to hear this great pianist.
> 
> Ron L
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: 78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com
> [mailto:78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com] On Behalf Of RUSSELL BARNES
> Sent: Sunday, October 18, 2009 5:52 AM
> To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
> Subject: [78-L] Earl Hines
> 
> 
> 
> During 1965, as a mature student, I spent a year several months in
> Southampton University (UK) 
>   
> Imagine my astonishment when I read a diminutive note on the Student’s
> Events board announcing that, in a week’s time, an Earl Hines would be
> playing the piano in one of the minor lecture rooms.   Ridiculous - was my
> immediate reaction.     I visited the Student’s Enquiries office where a
> bemused clerk said “Who’s Earl Hines.   We got a letter sayin’ he’s
> available so we booked him”. 
>   
> On the day Ernie Bayly (Talking Machine Review) and I arrived at the lecture
> room where less than a dozen students were waiting.    Earl arrived
> (somewhat bemused) – sat at a nice grand piano and played.  Within ten
> minutes some of the teenaged students found this wasn’t their cup o tea -
> and most left. 
>   
> We both moved close to the piano and Earl realised he had a least two
> appreciative listeners.   He finished the first set early and the three of
> us found a bar where we bought Earl a drink with our apologies for the poor
> turn out. 
>   
> He explained that he was on a somewhat hastily arranged US funded
> Educational-Good Will tour to Europe.   He went on to say that where he
> lived in the US he was an honorary member of his local Fire Service. They,
> it appeared, were flush with money and helped sponsor his tour. 
>   
> The second half was a dream come true.  About ten of us sat close to the
> piano as Earl played and chatted, weaving through his background in Jazz –
> I’d seen him previously within the rigours of a Theater arena - but this was
> something very different.   He was spellbinding !!.  
>   
> But so was Art Tatum – let’s not go down that road again. 
>   
> Russ B. 
>   
>