Great Encounters
Book excerpts that chronicle famous encounters among twentieth-century cultural
icons
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The story of W.C. Handy's first recording session, and meeting James Reese Europe
As told by David Robertson, author of W.C. Handy: The Life and Times of the Man Who Made the Blues
W.C. Handy |
James Reese Europe |
When Cab Calloway and Dizzy Gillespie Fought Over a Thrown Spitball
As told by Milt Hinton, David G. Berger, and Holly Maxson, authors of Playing the Changes: Milt Hinton's Life in Stories and Photographs
Photo Copyright by the Milton J. Hinton Photographic
Collection
Dizzy Gillespie, the Palace Theater, Cleveland, 1939
When John Hammond "discovered" Billie Holiday
As told by Dunstan Prial, author of The Producer: John Hammond and the Soul of American Music
John Hammond |
Billie Holiday |
When Peggy Lee joined Benny Goodman's band
As told by Peter Richmond, author of Fever: The Life and Music of Miss Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee and Benny Goodman
When Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker Played 52nd Street
As told by Brian Priestley, author of Chasin' The Bird : The Life and Legacy of Charlie Parker
photo Frank Driggs Collection
Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker
The interconnected lives of Cassius Clay, Malcolm X, and Sam Cooke at the time of the Clay/Sonny Liston fight, Miami, 1964
As told by Peter Guralnick, author of Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke
Cassius Clay and Sam Cooke, c. 1964
The influence of Tommy Dorsey on Frank Sinatra
As told by Peter Levinson, author of Tommy Dorsey: Livin' in a Great Big Way
Tommy Dorsey and Frank Sinatra, c. 1941
When the Minneapolis Lakers played the Harlem Globetrotters; Chicago, 1948
As told by Ben Green, author of Spinning the Globe: The Rise, Fall, and Return to Greatness of the Harlem Globetrotters
George Mikan of the Minneapolis Lakers and "Sweetwater" Clifton of
the Harlem Globetrotters
Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong in Chicago, 1926
As told by Howard Reich and William Gaines, authors of Jelly's Blues: The Life, Music and Redemption of Jelly Roll Morton
Jelly Roll Morton |
Louis Armstrong |
When drummer Joe Morello joined the Dave Brubeck Quartet
As told by Doug Ramsey, author of Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond
photo Paul Desmond Collection
The Dave Brubeck Quartet, 1958, during a State Department tour
Joe Morello, Eugene Wright, Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond
|
The interconnecting paths of heavyweight champions Jack Johnson and Joe Louis
As told by Geoffrey Ward, author of Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson |
Joe Louis |
Duke Ellington at Newport, 1956
As told by Newport Jazz Festival founder George Wein
|
Duke Ellington and George Wein, with Errol Garner, backstage at Newport |
When Lionel Hampton Hired Dinah Washington, 1942
As told by Nadine Cohodas, author of Queen : The Life and Music of Dinah Washington.
photo Frank Driggs Collection
Dinah Washington and Lionel Hampton |
The first meeting of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn
|
David Hajdu, author of Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn, writes about the first meeting of Strayhorn and Duke Ellington. |
When Chet Baker played with Stan Getz, 1953
photo by Leif Collin
Chet Baker and Stan Getz |
|
James Gavin, author of Deep in a Dream: The Long Night of Chet Baker,
writes of the difficult relationship of Chet Baker and Stan Getz in 1953.
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When Gene Krupa hired Roy Eldridge
Paul Testa
Gene Krupa and Roy Eldridge |
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John Chilton, author of Roy Eldridge: Little Jazz Giant,
writes about when drummer Gene Krupa hired trumpet great Roy Eldridge to play in his band in 1941.
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Gary Giddins, author of Bing Crosby: A Pocketful of Dreams, The Early Years, 1903 - 1940,
writes about the initial encounter of Crosby and Louis Armstrong.
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When Richard Rodgers met Lorenz Hart
Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart |
|
Frederick Nolan, author of Lorenz Hart: A Poet on Broadway,
writes about the first meeting of song writers Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart.
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When Rahsaan Roland Kirk appeared on Ed Sullivan's last show in 1971
Ed Sullivan and Rahsaan Roland Kirk |
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John Kruth, author of Bright Moments: The Life and Legacy of Rahsaan Roland Kirk,
writes about the time Kirk appeared on what turned out to be Ed Sullivan's final television show.
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The Lester Young/Coleman Hawkins Kansas City battle
photo by Daniel Filipacchi
Lester Young |
photo
Lee
Tanner
Coleman Hawkins |
Douglas Daniels, author of Lester Leaps In: The Life and Times of Lester "Pres" Young,
writes about the 1934 Kansas City "cutting contest" between Young and Coleman Hawkins that may or may not have taken place.
|
When
Miles Davis hired John Coltrane
Miles Davis |
John Coltrane |
Ashley Kahn, author of The Making of Kind of Blue and A Love Supreme:
The Story of John Coltrane's Signature Album, writes about the circumstances
of Miles Davis hiring John Coltrane for his quintet. |
When
Charlie Parker played for Igor Stravinsky at Birdland, 1951
Igor Stravinsky |
Charlie Parker |
Alfred Appel, author of Jazz Modernism: From Ellington and Armstrong to
Matisse and Joyce, writes about the time he was witness to Charlie Parker
playing for Igor Stravinsky at New York’s Birdland in 1951. |
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