[78-L] Let's Raise a Toast (*Klink!*)

[simmonssomer]

Klink was the best tenor man in the Miller reed section. Unfortunately he 
couldn't sing and Beneke was a better commercial attraction.
When it came to jazz Klink was your man. (I'm not forgetting about Caceres 
who was also an excellent but unused soloist in the Miller Band.
He went on to be a regular in the Condon gang.)
 Miller never gave Klink much of a chance. Sometimes a few bars with Beneke 
taking over the rest of the solo opportunity and the rare
feature such as "Yes My Darling Daughter" mentioned by Taylor Bowie.
I spoke to him some ten or so years ago at a NYC saloon and told him just 
that.
He said that he had a dartboard with Miller's picture on it in his bedroom 
in Forest Hills, NY.
Every morning when he woke the first thing he would do is to throw five 
darts at the board.
Miller has become an mythical icon but according to a lot of guys who worked 
for him he was a martinet.
Klink was an intelligent and erudite chap. He went on to join the Benny 
Goodman reeds and did a great deal of steady studio work
in NYC.

Al S.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Taylor Bowie" <bowiebks at isomedia.com>
To: "78-L Mail List" <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 6:16 PM
Subject: [78-L] Let's Raise a Toast (*Klink!*)


> In our recent tenor sax thread,  did anyone give a nod to Al Klink?  I've
> never been one of the hipsters who would run down  Tex Beneke's playing,
> but it's no question that Klink didn't get as many solo spots with Miller 
> as
> he should have.
>
> But...one Miller Bluebird which somehow I'd missed over all the years and
> recentlly discovered...Yes,  My Darling Daughter...wow!  It's that great
> Jack Lawrence adaptation of some old Hungarian (?) tune,  and very tight 
> and
> kick-ass arrangement (Jerry Gray?) and a strong and very exciting tenor 
> solo
> from Mr. Klink.  I have it on a CD in the car and it's one that I will
> sometimes play about five times in a row...truly one of the most exciting
> and driving Miller records I've heard,  with much credit going to Al 
> Klink.
>
> Taylor
>
>
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