 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2009-05-31 21:37
Dear Troops,
I was asked by an elder of my church if I had celebrated yesterday and was confused. Knowing that I was a clarinet player, he clarified his question to ask if I had known that yesterday, May 30th, was Benny Goodman's 100th Birthday.
I am a little shocked that we as a community so blatantly missed this centennial.
As penitence we all have to watch three hours of Benny Goodman YouTube Videos.
................starting now.
.............................Paul Aviles
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Author: Neil
Date: 2009-06-01 01:01
I have to confess, I saw that he was born in 1909 but I failed to realize that that was 100 years ago. It doesn't seem like that long ago I saw him on the Dick Cavett show. Anyways, Happy Birthday, Benny!
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Author: ned
Date: 2009-06-01 07:15
''.....As penitence we all have to watch''............................The Benny Goodman Story - starring Steve Allen.
...............''hey Fletch old this for me will yuh?'' This probably the most cringeworthy line of this epic biopic . The highlight for me was Gene Krupa's drumming and excellent gum chewing!
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Author: FDF
Date: 2009-06-01 22:16
ned,
Krupa was great, but apparently you weren't listening. Don't know what you think is great, but please respect a clarinetist who made the instrument popular in the 20th and is still highly regarded in the the 21st. We should all be celebrating Goodman. Thanks, Benny, and Happy belated Birthday.
FDf
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Author: ned
Date: 2009-06-02 00:32
''..........please respect a clarinetist who made the instrument popular....''
Geez FDF, where's your sense of humor? We Aussies thrive on irony and stirring the pot. Did I say anything to besmirch Benny Goodman's playing? I think not.
I was responding to Paul Aviles suggestion that we pay penitence etc etc.......at least he appears to have a funny bone.......
I certainly do respect BG's contribution to the jazz genre, but I have far less respect for those biographic films which are more or less, factually and historically incorrect. The Benny Goodman Story fits in to this category and the ''Fletch'' line stands out as being particularly galling (or extraordinarily funny) depending on your point of view.
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2009-06-02 00:54
Well, I guess I won't get my "good" reed or Portnoy mouthpiece back now!
Gave them to Benny at Murray Snyder's repair shop in NYC in the early 1960s. I was there with Bernie Portnoy, tagging along as his student.
They've been playing Benny 24/7 here in NYC on the radio for weeks leading up to his Birthday on the 30th, what a treat!
He is missed by all of us, with many stories to tell about "the boss."
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2009-06-02 02:39
Cool! I never realized he was born the same year as my grandpa. My grandpa outlived him considerably, having passed away in 2003...
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Author: johnniegoldfish
Date: 2009-06-02 12:33
A little bit off topic, but thought you might find it interesting.
I was rebuilding my house, quite old, and went to a business that specialized in taking houses apart and reselling the windows, doors, etc. I bought an exterior wooden door and the seller claimed it came from Benny Goodman's house in Armonk, NY. (do not know if he even lived there) maybe I should take it down and make reeds out of it.
Just sayin'
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2009-06-02 13:34
Great comments, folks, count me in ! I still enjoy looking in a bio book and at charts of some of his favs?, as [dis]arranged by someone. Cheers, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: FrankM
Date: 2009-06-02 15:08
http://www.billcrowbass.com/Writing/To%20Russia.htm
if you have not read this account of the Russia trip....
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Author: ned
Date: 2009-06-03 01:42
''....Don't know what you think is great, but please respect a clarinetist who made the instrument popular in the 20th and is still highly regarded in the the 21st....''
On second thoughts FDF, there are a number of players who fit in to your self proclaimed category (i.e.) ''made the instrument popular'', amongst whom one can also count Acker Bilk, perhaps he can be accredited with respect too.
I won't necessarily rate Benny Goodman (or Acker Bilk) on any particular scale as it happens, as we (and the famous) all have our part in the scheme of things, though modest our efforts may be in comparison.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2009-06-03 12:19
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104713445
Frank M- I have read that account of Benny (and others). While it does perhaps cause me to think less of him as a person, I still have high respect for him as a musician and what he accomplished.
There are many distasteful stories about Mingus and others, but they still had great impact on the musical world.
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Author: mrn
Date: 2009-06-03 17:29
On the topic of Benny Goodman stories, I thought this was funny.
"It's safe to say that there was virtually nothing that [vocalist Helen] Forrest liked about Goodman, certainly not his insistence on calling everyone 'Pops'--including Forrest--because he couldn't be bothered to learn names."
(From "Fever: The Life and Music of Miss Peggy Lee" by Peter Richmond)
And lest we not forget...he was a vocalist, too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MNrdGq9cuU&feature=related
(Be sure to watch the whole clip. It's funny.)
Post Edited (2009-06-03 17:54)
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Author: GBK
Date: 2009-06-03 18:31
There aren't enough adjectives to describe Benny Goodman the man, as he was one of so many contrasts.
He could be rude, infuriating, absent-minded, cheap, self-centered, ruthless and insecure.
He could also be stunningly brilliant, an insatiable workaholic, an ambassador, a great humanitarian, respectful, generous and loving to friends and family.
My favorite line about Goodman is when he took his band to Russia in 1962. When they returned to the USA, Zoot Sims was asked what it was like playing with Benny in Russia.
His answer: "Every gig with Benny is like playing in Russia" ...GBK
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